Severn House scoops anthology from the Detection Club

Severn House has scooped Playing Dead, a new anthology from members of the Detection Club, including Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, Felix Francis and Lynne Truss, edited by novelist Martin Edwards.

Senior commissioning editor and acting editorial director Rachel Slatter acquired world English rights from Georgia Glover at David Higham Associates. The anthology is due to be published in spring 2025 in celebration of the 80th birthday of the Detection Club’s seventh president, Simon Brett.

"It’s a real honour to be involved in this fantastic collection celebrating much-loved cosy mystery author Simon Brett, who we’re incredibly proud to publish,” said Slatter. “And what better way to wish him a happy birthday than a collection of stories from some of British crime writing’s top talent." 

Edwards is the eighth and current president of the Detection Club, the world’s oldest social network of crime writers, according to the publisher, formed in 1930. Previous members include Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, G K Chesterton and John le Carré. Edwards commented: "The Detection Club is a small dining club with a fascinating heritage. To keep the club going, members collaborate on books from time to time, donating their stories with great generosity. We are delighted to have the chance to pay tribute to our president emeritus, the hugely popular Simon Brett." 

Brett served as the club’s president for 15 years and was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours 2016 for services to literature and was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He is also the author of more than 100 novels according to the publisher.