Douglas strikes six-figure deal with Michael Joseph

Michael Joseph has bought two books from thriller writer Claire Douglas in a six-figure deal.

Maxine Hitchcock, publishing director, bought acquiring UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada to titles in a six figure-deal from Juliet Mushens at Caskie Mushens Ltd. Penguin Germany has also acquired two new novels in a six figure deal.

The first novel in the deal follows a woman who answers an advert in the local newspaper for a live-in female companion to a rich older lady. But after she starts the job she is alarmed to discover two of her predecessors, who she resembles, disappeared in suspicious circumstances, and are eventually found dead.

It will be published in August 2020, with the second novel publishing in 2021.

Mushens told The Bookseller: "Claire is a brilliant writer and is going from strength to strength - I signed her off the back of a short story competition in 2012 and it has been incredible to see her become an international bestseller over the course of her four novels. Her new book has all the ingredients readers have come to expect - the darkness which exists behind closed doors, ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances, and clever twists and turns."

The acquisition follows a six-figure deal struck for Douglas in 2017 with Michael Joseph, struck by Mushens in her first deal at the Caskie Mushens agency. The author’s four books have sold almost 248,000 copies, just over £1m, according to Nielsen BookScan. Three of the four have been Sunday Times bestsellers.

Local Girl Missing sold more than 130,000 copies in Germany which was published by Penguin Germany last year, Mushens said. Douglas’ novels are published in 15 countries worldwide.