Spy novelist Clements moves to Bonnier Zaffre from Hodder

Rory Clements, bestselling author of the John Shakespeare series of Tudor spy thrillers, has joined Bonnier Zaffre from Hodder & Stoughton to pen a "major" new series.

Clements will join his long-term publisher, Kate Parkin, in a three-book deal brokered by agent Teresa Chris.

The new series of thrillers is set in the 1930s and features a maverick Cambridge don, Thomas Wilde. The first title in the series, Corpus, will publish in hardcover in January 2017. 

Corpus, described as a "big canvas international thriller", is set "against the drumbeat of war", moving from Berlin to Cambridge, from Whitehall to the Suffolk coast, and from the Fens to the Aragon Front in Spain.

Parkin said: "The arrival of an author of Rory’s stature marks a significant moment in the Bonnie Zaffre story. Corpus plays brilliantly with history in a way that will appeal to fans of Robert Harris, C J Sansom and William Boyd. I could not be prouder to be publishing this wonderful author."

Clements added: "I’m incredibly excited to be joining Bonnier Zaffre. This young, innovative and dynamic team has a true passion for books and I was blown away by the enthusiasm they showed for the new Tom Wilde thriller series. I know I’m in the very best of hands."