Mushens strikes first six figure deal at new agency for Claire Douglas

Michael Joseph has acquired two new thrillers by Claire Douglas for six figures in what is also the first deal for Juliet Mushens at her new agency CaskieMushens.

Maxine Hitchcock, publishing director at Michael Joseph, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to The Perfect Guest and one other psychological thriller by Douglas from Mushens at CaskieMushens.

The Perfect Guest will be Douglas’s fourth book and will be published in summer 2018. The premise reads: "After the renovation of a guest house in the Brecon Beacons, Kirsty and her family open their doors to their first set of customers. But when one of the guests is found dead Kirsty's new way of life is threatened." 

Douglas’s most recent title, Local Girl is Missing has sold over 100,000 copies in the UK, according to Mushens, and was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Mushens said: "Claire’s writing goes from strength to strength and I’ve been delighted by the success of Local Girl Missing: I’m confident that the Penguin team will build her even more with this new deal."

Hitchcock said: "We are utterly thrilled to have more Claire Douglas novels to look forward to. She is one of the most exciting authors to emerge in the psychological thriller genre and we believe will be one of the most enduring. Local Girl Missing was one of 2016's big success stories and we look forward to another bestseller this summer with Last Seen Alive, a truly addictive and heart-thumping read."