HQ takes two more historical novels by Hare

HQ has snapped up two more historical novels by Louise Hare. 

Manpreet Grewal, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Nelle Andrew at Rachel Mills Literary. The first book in the contract, yet to be titled, will be a follow-up to Miss Aldridge Regrets, which is published by HQ on April 28th.

Miss Aldridge Regrets is a historical murder mystery set in 1936 on board the Queen Mary, and introduces the protagonist, Lena Aldridge. The sequel will be published in summer 2023 and picks up just a few weeks after the events of Miss Aldridge Regrets and opens with the discovery of a dead body in the street–that of a woman who has fallen from a second-storey window. In her hand is a passport bearing the name Lena Aldridge. Is the woman really Lena? And who would want to hurt her?  

Hare is best known for This Lovely City (HQ), which was featured on the inaugural BBC Two TV book club show, “Between the Covers”, and was shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize.  

Grewal said: “Louise is a brilliant talent, and I’m delighted we get to work on more books together. She has a wonderful eye for detail and infuses her writing with rich detail that transports readers to that time and place, while also creating a world and characters that resonates with the here and now. Louise has created something very special in Lena Aldridge, and readers are already falling in love with this complex heroine so I’m excited about what lies ahead for both Louise and Lena.” 

Hare added: “I love working with Manpreet and I’m so pleased that we get to continue for another two books. Launching a debut at the beginning of a global pandemic wasn’t easy but the team at HQ did a brilliant job publishing This Lovely City and I felt incredibly supported throughout. I’m excited to see what we can achieve next.”