Hodder picks up two new ‘thrilling’ Kelly novels

Hodder & Stoughton has signed two as-yet-untitled psychological Gothic novels by Erin Kelly ahead of its publication of her ninth standalone book, The Skeleton Key, in September 2022. 

Jo Dickinson, executive publisher at Hodder & Stoughton, bought UK and Commonwealth rights to the two books, including audio, from Sarah Ballard at United Agents. The first will be published in 2024 and the second in 2026. 

The Skeleton Key has been dubbed by the publisher as a “brilliant novel about two families, one book and a deadly legacy whose threat is undimmed two generations later.”

For its release Hodder has created an ambitious pre-publication marketing campaign to run through the summer, including bespoke proofs, tailored online events and a bookshop treasure hunt, all emphasising Kelly’s position as “an innovator in fiction writing”. 

Previous books by Kelly include The Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties That Bind, He Said/She Said, We Know You Know, Watch Her Fall  and Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the TV series of the same name. 

In 2013, The Poison Tree became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read in 2011. He Said/She Said spent six weeks in the top 10 in both hardback and paperback bestseller charts, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award, and selected for both the BBC Radio 2 and Richard & Judy book clubs.  

Dickinson said: “Time after time, Erin Kelly creates intricately plotted thrillers, full of menace and invention, with brilliantly realised settings and mesmerising characters. I am so excited by her ideas for these new novels. It is a joy to work with Erin and I am thrilled to have signed two more novels.”

Kelly added: “I’m over the moon to continue working with Jo Dickinson and the rest of my Hodder family. They have consistently published my books with ambition, creativity and passion, and their plans for The Skeleton Key and the two books beyond are thrilling.”