Quercus to publish 'Sweden's Stephen King' Mats Strandberg

Jo Fletcher Books, an imprint of Quercus, has bought a Swedish bestseller by "Sweden’s Stephen King" Mats Strandberg.

Jo Fletcher, who runs the imprint, bought world English rights to horror novel Blood Cruise through Lena Stjernström at Grand Agency to publish in summer 2018. Strandberg is currently working on the screenplay with Sara B Elfgren, co-author of his YA series (Hammer), for Silvio Entertainment which won the film rights.

Blood Cruise chronicles a nightmare trip aboard a ferry, the Baltic Carisma, which becomes cut off from the outside world. As the reader gets to know the misfit passengers and crew – the lonely old woman seeking adventure, the failed popstar who now runs the karaoke – the evil on board is slowly revealed. And what turns some ordinary people into heroes can bring out the worst in others.

Fletcher said: "I’m thrilled to be welcoming Mats to the JFB list with this sharp, relentless, incredibly atmospheric novel. It stayed with me long after I read the last word, and left me nervous about turning out the light: exactly what great horror’s supposed to do. We’re going to have fun with this one."

Stjernström, c.e.o. Grand Agency, said: "Mats Strandberg is one of the most praised Swedish authors right now, and we have been quite picky about choosing the strongest publishing houses in different territories for his great horror debut novel. Jo Fletcher at Jo Fletcher Books will be the perfect home for Blood Cruise and I look forward to see the book conquer the English-speaking market."