Oneworld signs new historical trilogy from Moore

Oneworld has acquired a new historical fiction trilogy from Syd Moore, to be published by its book club imprint Magpie.

Jenny Parrott acquired world English-language rights from agent Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq. The first book in the series, The Grand Illusion, will be published in April 2024, and is set during the Second World War, featuring a top secret government department that was created at a critical point in the war as Britain was preparing for invasion.

Moore has twice been shortlisted for CWA Daggers, and Oneworld’s crime imprint, Point Blank, has published eight previous titles with a contemporary setting by Moore.

Parrott said: “Syd and I go back a long way now, and I was delighted when she came with a most original idea featuring the secret service department that operated from the lower underground levels of Wormwood Scrubs prison, and of course we have one of Syd’s trademark resourceful feisty heroines in Daphne, the stage illusionist recruited by Section W to help the war effort. The brilliantly researched event the story closes with is alleged to have taken place in real life. This is historical fiction that will please Syd’s current fans but also find her many new readers."

Moore said: “It’s an absolute joy to continue my long relationship with Oneworld and find a new pathway, through historical fiction, to a series of novels set in a period I have long been fascinated with. The Second World War, feminism and governmental occult machinations aren’t obviously intersectional, yet the feedback has been so enthusiastic I can’t wait to unleash a new heroine on the publishing world.”