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Riverrun lands Kiernan’s first ‘mesmerising’ standalone thriller The End of Us
Riverrun has landed The End of Us, the first standalone thriller by the author of the Frankie Sheehan novels Olivia Kiernan.
Publisher Stef Bierwerth acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Sue Armstrong at C&W for publication in hardcover, trade paperback, e-book and audio in June 2023, followed by a paperback edition in 2024.
The End of Us tells the story of Myles and Lana Butler, who live on a gorgeous new development in Wimbledon, London, leaning on a mortgage that is just within reach. When one of Myles’ investments fails they are bound to lose everything.
The publisher’s synopsis continues: “Gabriel and Holly Wright have just moved in next door. The Wrights are sophisticated, ambitious and apparently very wealthy. At an after-dinner drink with their new neighbours, Myles and Lana share their worries and a solution is suggested between the couples – life insurance fraud. For a cut of the pay-out, the Wrights would help them. No one thought they were serious. No one agreed they’d actually go through with it. And no one mentioned it would involve murder. Then, one night, Lana doesn’t come home.”
Bierwerth said: “When we first heard about Olivia’s idea for a standalone thriller the whole team realised very quickly that this was going to be a very special project indeed.
“The End of Us reminds me of some of the evergreen classics by Highsmith and Hitchcock with its slow-building tension and mesmerising characters. It’s a beautifully crafted thriller and Olivia’s most accomplished novel yet. Welcome to Belvedere Court, home to the Butlers and the Wrights and prepare for a chilling ride that will leave you with a deliciously spine-tingling finale.”
Kiernan commented: “I feel incredibly excited and privileged that the talented team at riverrun, Quercus are publishing my first standalone thriller, The End of Us. It has been a dream to work with my brilliant editor, Stef Bierwerth, on this book and I can’t wait to share the results with readers.”
Last year LA-based Freedom Films and producer Victoria Smurfit optioned the film and TV rights to Kiernan’s Frankie Sheehan series, with Smurfit set to play the Dublin-based detective.
