Penguin Michael Joseph lures Mark Edwards with traditional publishing deal

Penguin Michael Joseph (PMJ) has bought Mark Edwards’ thriller The Wasp Trap, in what will be the bestselling author’s first solo traditional publishing deal. 

Publisher Joel Richardson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in two books, from Madeleine Milburn at the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. The Wasp Trap will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook in summer 2025.

Edwards first broke through as a self-published writer on Amazon’s Kindle. This will be his first traditional publication as a solo writer; in the mid-2010s Edwards published four titles with HarperCollins, co-written with Louise Voss. Most recently, Edwards has been published by Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer with his bestselling thrillers including The Magpies and Here to Stay. He has won or been shortlisted for several major crime writing prizes.

The Wasp Trap is the story of Will, who spent the summer after graduation working for an eccentric psychology professor on a revolutionary new website, which ended in tragedy. Now he’s unexpectedly been invited to a reunion at one of his former colleague’s houses – but when he arrives, it’s immediately clear something isn’t right, and that someone is willing to kill to find out what really happened that summer.  

Edwards said: “I’ve had huge fun writing this dark and twisty tale, which is partly based on my own experience working for a start-up based at a remote country house. It’s enormously exciting to be taking this next big step in my career, and I know I’m in great hands with Joel and the whole team at Penguin Michael Joseph. I cannot wait to invite readers to my dinner party from hell.” 

Richardson said: “Mark has been one of the most beloved writers in the thriller genre for a long time now, with an unmatched gift for creating truly twisted villains, and I’m absolutely delighted to bring him to Penguin Michael Joseph.  

“The Wasp Trap is stingingly good – Lucy Foley meets ‘Saltburn’ meets The Psychopath Test, and I have no doubt it will delight his enormous existing fanbase, while introducing him to a whole new readership.” 

Milburn said: “Mark has long been a multi-million bestselling author dominating the digital market, and now Penguin Michael Joseph has given him a thrilling opportunity to do the same in the traditional space, while going to even greater heights on a global level.   

“This move will cement his brand as one of the biggest names in the thriller world and The Wasp Trap is the perfect novel to launch in hardback.”