Mudlark snaps up Morgan's murder history in 24-hour pre-empt

Mudlark has snapped-up a “brilliant, gruesome and fascinating” history of murder in the UK by lawyer and début author Kate Morgan in a 24-hour pre-empt.

In his first major acquisition for the new HarperCollins imprint, editorial director Joel Simons acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Euan Thorneycroft at A M Heath. Murder: A Biography will be published in May 2021. 

The publisher explained: "Delving behind the cases that make the headlines and into the plenty that don’t, it’s an exploration of the crimes, characters and trials that have been so instrumental in shaping the law of murder over the centuries–the victims, killers, lawyers and judges. Alongside the likes of Ruth Ellis (the last woman to be hanged in the UK) and the big companies facing prosecution for corporate manslaughter in the 21st century, the book recounts stories of the likes of Richard Parker, the cannibalised cabin boy whose death led the Victorian courts to outlaw the defence of necessity to murder; the strange tale of Daniel M’Naghten and the ‘M’Naghten Rules’, which is still employed to define the criminally insane in law courts today; of the tragic case of ‘Church & Knott’ and the law of unintended consequences; and of Dr Percy Bateman, the incompetent GP whose actions changed the law on manslaughter."

Morgan said: "I'm beyond excited to be making my publishing début with HarperCollins and Mudlark. As a booklover as well as a writer, I love their thought-provoking and intelligent books and am thrilled that Murder: A Biography will be in such good company. I'm looking forward to shining a light on this fascinating area of the law and bringing these cases, victims and killers back to life." 

Simons added: "I'm over the moon to be publishing this absolutely remarkable non-fiction début. It’s one of those rare finds that ticks all the right boxes: brilliant stories, gruesome plots, impeccable research, surprising histories and expert analysis–all told through a motley cast of vengeful spouses, complacent doctors, insane cannibals, abused partners and shoddy employers. Kate’s approach is totally original and her writing is crisp, artfully produced and completely gripping. I can’t wait to work with her on this totally compelling and unquestionably original book."