Sphere nets two more thrillers from McDermid as Kremer takes over as agent

Sphere has netted two more thrillers from Val McDermid. 

Lucy Malagoni, fiction publisher, acquired UK and commonwealth rights from Lizzy Kremer and Jane Gregory at David Higham Associates, with Kremer taking over as McDermid’s agent when Gregory retires at the end of this year. 

The first novel in the new deal will be the next instalment in the Karen Pirie series and will be published on 12th October 2023 in hardback, trade paperback and e-book. The first episode of “Karen Pirie”, a three-part drama starring Lauren Lyle in the title role, airs on ITV from 25th September. 

McDermid has sold just over four million books for £22.9m via Nielsen BookScan in the UK, with 2009’s A Darker Domain (HarperCollins) her biggest seller, on 192,334 copies sold in paperback. Her work has been translated into more than 40 languages and adapted for radio, theatre and television.  

Malagoni said: “I couldn’t be more delighted to continue working with the inimitable Val McDermid. She is utterly peerless in the crime fiction community, pushing the boundaries with every new book, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for Karen next year.” 

Gregory said: “After an eventful and wonderful journey of 35 years, I am delighted that Val has chosen Lizzy Kremer to represent her in the future. I know that the combination of Lucy Malagoni, the Little, Brown team and Lizzy means that I am leaving Val in very safe hands.” 

Kremer added: “It is an honour for me to represent Val and to get a sense of the dynamic and generous team that surrounds her at Little, Brown. I’ve heard the First Minister of Scotland has a mug on her desk printed with the words ‘What would Karen Pirie do?’ and my focus now the deal is done will be on trying to get one of those for myself.” 

McDermid said: “I’m delighted with this new deal. Having Lucy Malagoni and the rest of the Sphere team at my back fills me with confidence that my books are in the best possible hands. Every writer needs reliable support so we can concentrate on what we’re supposed to be doing. For 35 years that support has included the remarkable Jane Gregory who has shaped my career in so many ways. Her last act has been to orchestrate a seamless handover to Lizzy Kremer. I couldn’t be more optimistic about the future, both for Karen Pirie and 1999, the next in the Allie Burns series.”