Joffe bags two 'tightly woven' crime novels from Somasundrum

Joffe Books has landed two mystery novels from Bangkok-based author Mithran Somasundrum. 

Editorial director Emma Grundy Haigh acquired world rights to the Detective Vijay series, following Somasundrum’s submission to the inaugural Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour. Grundy Haigh signed a two-book deal direct with the author. 

In the first currently untitled book, translator-turned-detective Vijay must uncover who hired the gunman when a young author is shot. It will be published in e-book and paperback in autumn 2022.

"After many years of writing short stories about Vijay for Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, I am delighted Joffe Books has given me the opportunity to publish his first novel-length case," Somasundrum said. "I hope there will be many more to follow."

Grundy Haigh added: "I immediately fell in love with Mithran’s wry dialogue and keen sense of genre. Add tightly woven plotting, a masterfully handled cast of characters and a brilliantly unexpected twist, and you have a book with enormous international potential."