Michael Joseph snaps up Ward's superyacht thriller

Penguin Michael Joseph has snapped up an “unputdownable superyacht" thriller, A Stranger on Board, by Cameron Ward. 

Publisher Joel Richardson and editor Grace Long secured world rights in a two-book deal from Julie Fergusson at the North Literary Agency. A Stranger on Board will be published in paperback and e-book in June 2022. 

“The must-have summer thriller follows ex-marine Sarah French, as she takes up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work aboard a luxury superyacht,” PMJ said of the thriller. “But as they head into open water, tensions between the crew quickly build. And when someone goes missing, Sarah has a terrifying realisation. One of them is a killer. And all of them are suspects.” 

Ward is an alias of author Adam Southward. He has previously written the Alex Madison series, published by Thomas & Mercer, and has contributed to charity crime anthologies including Afraid of the Christmas Lights for which he was longlisted for a CWA Short Story Dagger, and the upcoming Afraid of the Shadows. 

He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Joel, Grace and the Penguin Michael Joseph team. Their expertise and passion in this genre is second to none, and I count myself lucky to have found such a wonderful home.” 

Richardson said: “After 18 months trapped at home, I could not resist the chance to escape with this unputdownable thriller. It combines an irresistibly luxurious location with a nerve-shredding tense plot – imagine 'Vigil' but with your head above the water. It will be the perfect summer read next year.”