Transworld strikes two-book deal for more crime from Masson

Transworld has bought two more crime novels by Deborah Masson, whose novel Hold Your Tongue won the 2020 Bloody Scotland Crime Debut Award.

Commissioning editor Tash Barsby bought UK and Commonwealth rights in a two-book deal from Oli Munson at A M Heath. The first will see the return of Masson’s Detective Eve Hunter, in which the team investigate a fire at a local children’s home, with the second book set to be a standalone crime novel about a CCTV controller with a twisted agenda.

Barsby said: "I’m so thrilled to continue working with Debs – she is such a talented writer who is brimming with ideas, and she paints her hometown of Aberdeen as the dark, atmospheric backdrop to her novels with such authenticity and vigour. I can't wait to return to the world of the inimitable DI Eve Hunter, and am so excited to meet Debs’ brooding new character in her standalone – I know he’ll be one to remember."

Masson said: "I feel very lucky to be able to continue to work with Tash and everyone at Transworld. I’m looking forward to bringing more of DI Eve Hunter and the team to readers and also excited to explore my creativity through a standalone thriller."

Masson’s second novel featuring DI Eve Hunter, Out For Blood, will be published in paperback in December, with an early e-book.