Transworld falls for Thompson’s ‘addictive’ novel Love in the Time of Serial Killers

Transworld has acquired Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson, described as “an addictive rom-com about a true crime obsessive who suspects her new neighbour might be a serial killer, or something worse… a potential love interest.”

Commissioning editor Alice Rodgers bought UK and Commonwealth rights for Love in the Time of Serial Killers and Thompson’s next novel With Love, From Cold World from Tawanna Sullivan at Berkley Trade for Transworld’s Bantam imprint. The first book will be published in paperback, e-book and audio in March 2023, and the second in August 2023.

According to the publisher, Love in the Time of Serial Killers has been “a TikTok favourite” since its original release in August 2022 by Berkley Trade, a division of Penguin Random House US.

The synopsis reads: “PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analysing the genre in her dissertation – if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.

“It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbour, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). But it’s not long before Phoebe realises that Sam might be something much scarier – a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armour to reach her vulnerable heart.”

Rodgers said: “It is so easy to see why readers are falling in love with Love in the Time of Serial Killers. In both of her novels, Alicia has created amazingly real, flawed characters that you can’t help but fall in love with, and her warm, funny and romantic writing will keep you glued to the pages.”

Thompson said: “I know UK readers are some of the most passionate, and I couldn’t be more excited to have my books with Transworld!”