Hemlock Press buys two from William Shaw

Award-winning crime author William Shaw has signed a two-book deal with HarperCollins imprint Hemlock Press.

Julia Wisdom, publisher of Hemlock Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada for two novels.  The deal was negotiated by Karolina Sutton at CAA. The first book will be published in summer 2025.

Shaw, who is best known for his highly regarded crime novels set in and around Dungeness, is creating a new series to be set on the south Devon coast. This introduces Eden Driscoll, a detective inspector with the Met, whose life is upended when the news comes through that his sister has gone missing off the coast of Devon, and the young son he never knew she had is now his responsibility.

Wisdom said: "William Shaw’s combination of brilliantly realised settings, beautifully delineated relationships and highly intriguing plots makes him an exceptional crime author.

"I’ve long been a fan of his Dungeness-based books, and am thrilled that we have the opportunity to launch a series that promises to deliver on all three fronts: a stunning setting and suspenseful story, with a touching and emotional family bond at its core. The quality of his writing, the strength of his plotting and the depth of his characterisation makes him a perfect fit for Hemlock Press, and we are all looking forward to working with William on future books."

Shaw said: "I’m excited to be setting this new series in a part of Devon I grew up in and love. It’s a beautiful coastline, but it’s changing fast and there’s a great deal going on under the surface. That means there’s a lot for me to write about and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed creating a cast of characters to explore this world."

Sutton said: "William Shaw is one of the most exciting and sophisticated British crime writers writing now. His ability to marry great intrigue with a sense of place with astute social observation reaches new heights with this series. Old and new fans are in for quite a ride."