Polygon laps up whisky distillery murder mystery by debut author Clark 

Polygon has acquired The Malt Whisky Murders by debut crime author Natalie Jayne Clark, pegged for publication in early 2025. 

The world rights deal was brokered between Polygon senior editor Alison Rae and Jenny Brown of Jenny Brown Associates. 

Perth-native Clark’s debut novel was picked up following a pitch at Scotland’s international crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, with a pre-emptive offer from Polygon arriving “within a week”. 

The synopsis reads: “When a dilapidated whisky distillery comes up for sale in Campbeltown, a place once hailed ‘Whisky Capital of the World’, Eilidh and her wife Morag jump at the chance to run the first women-owned whisky distillery in Scotland. But a grisly, decades-old secret is soon revealed: two dead bodies have been stuffed into whisky barrels, perfectly preserved in single malt. To add to their woes, a TV crew has just arrived, and the locals won’t leave them alone.” 

“There are several close calls for the women as well as whisky tastings, ceilidhs, protests, scandals and everything you’d expect from a wee Scottish town imprisoned by its own geography. No matter how hard you try, the locals will always find out your secrets.” 

Brown said: “Natalie wowed everyone at Bloody Scotland with her fabulous pitch. We’re thrilled to be working with the Polygon team to bring this fresh, distinctive crime novel to readers.” 

Poet and certified whisky ambassador Clark described the acquisition as “an absolute dream come true.” She continued: “To go from an idea, to pitching to a room of agents and publishers at Bloody Scotland, to gaining a wonderful agent and book deal in a very short space of time has been a glorious whirlwind of joy. I’m thrilled to embark on this literary journey with Polygon and to work with such an incredible team. I can’t wait to share Eilidh and Morag’s (mis)adventures in whisky and love and murder with the world.”