Summer-themed sequel to The Very Merry Murder Club coming from Farshore

Farshore has signed a second, summer-themed collection of crime and mystery stories by 13 middle-grade authors in children’s books.

The Super Sunny Murder Club follows The Very Merry Murder Club and features authors such as Robin Stevens, Serena Patel and Patrice Lawrence.

Aleena Hasan, editorial assistant at Farshore, acquired world rights to the collection of summer mystery stories aimed at readers aged nine to 12.

Like The Very Merry Murder Club, it will be curated by Stevens and Patel. The cover and inside illustrations will be created by Waterstones Prize-winning illustrator Harry Woodgate. The Super Sunny Murder Club will be published in paperback on 6th June 2024.

The authors who will feature alongside are Abiola Bello, Maisie Chan, Benjamin Dean, Nizrana Farook, Roopa Farooki, Sharna Jackson, Patrice Lawrence, Elle McNicoll, E L Norry, Annabelle Sami and Dominque Valente, all of whom were part of The Very Merry Murder Club (Farshore) which was selected as Waterstones Book of the Month in November 2022. The new summer collection will also feature a new story from Stevens. 

Farshore said: "Mystery solving never ends – not even for the summer holidays. Each author puts their own twist on the classic mystery genre, with a sizzling summer-themed spin, featuring locked room murder mysteries at a famous bookshop, deadly chandelier disasters at a wedding, and an end-of-year school comedy play which turns to tragedy.

"The stories feature characters both new and familiar, and all the budding detectives will put their skills to the test, whether on a holiday in the sweltering tropics, or at the cragged British seaside."

Hasan said: "Robin Stevens and Serena Patel have once again curated a collection of brilliantly twisty mysteries to entertain budding young detectives and that we know is going to be the top holiday read for every child next summer. With another stellar author line-up and The Very Merry Murder Club having been such a massive hit last year, The Super Sunny Murder Club will be in every child’s summer holiday suitcase."

Stevens said: "This new anthology is perfectly puzzling and delightfully deadly, a real summer holiday treat. I’m delighted to be able to contribute a story this time, and so proud to be able to showcase the talent of so many brilliant authors and Harry, our illustrator." 

Patel said: "I am thrilled that we get the chance to offer readers another fabulous anthology filled with sinister crimes and summer sleuthing. The writers and illustrator in this collection really are some of the best in children’s books and an anthology is a great way to introduce them to new readers."