Simon & Schuster pens three-book deal with writing duo Nicci French

Simon & Schuster has landed three books from Nicci French. 

Suzanne Baboneau, managing director in the adult publishing division, and Katherine Armstrong, deputy publishing director in adult fiction, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, including audio, from Sarah Ballard at United Agents. The first book will be published in autumn 2023. 

“For me, as for Nicci French’s legions of fans, the arrival of the new Nicci French every year is a very special moment – and it’s wonderful to have the team at S&S ready with open arms to receive the next three of these precious works,” commented Ballard. 

French is the pseudonym for the writing partnership of journalists Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. They have written 24 novels, with their latest, The Favour (Simon & Schuster), publishing in hardback in October 2022. Their first novel with Simon & Schuster, The Lying Room, was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, while the second, House of Correction, was highly commended for the 2021 CWA Gold Dagger Award. 

Baboneau said: “A woman is missing. Her husband seems strangely indifferent to her disappearance. Why? This is the tantalising beginning of Nicci French’s next novel, the first of our exciting new deal. Nicci and Sean take their readers so cleverly and instinctively from initial unease to apprehension, tension and ultimately to nerve-tingling terror. We are truly thrilled to be continuing our publishing partnership and have the highest of ambitions for their ongoing success.”

French said: “We’ve been immensely grateful for the passion and enthusiasm of the team at Simon & Schuster and are so glad that our relationship with them is continuing. We’re very excited about the coming years.”