Walker Books acquires Indian mystery adventure from debut author Kothari

Walker Books has signed a two-book deal with debut novelist Dev Kothari. The first title, Bringing Back Kay-Kay, is a middle-grade mystery set in contemporary India.

Senior commissioning editor Emma Lidbury and Walker US executive editorial director Susan Van Metre secured world English language rights from Ben Illis at The BIA. Bringing Back Kay-Kay will be published in April 2024 with a second standalone title to follow in 2025.

Bringing Back Kay-Kay sees "12-year-old Lena’s world turned upside down when her beloved older brother goes missing after summer camp". The synopsis says: "The police dismiss Kay-Kay as just another teenage runaway, but Lena knows they are wrong. Tired of not being listened to, powerless to reach her parents through their grief and unable to imagine a future without her brother, Lena sets off to find him.

"As she journeys across India to retrace Kay-Kay’s last known steps, Lena embarks on a parallel journey of discovery. Lyrical and evocative, the story is both a tense and mesmerising mystery and a deep, joyful celebration of the bond between siblings."

Kothari won the Commonword Diversity YA novel prize in 2018 and went on to gain an MA in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University. She said: “Lena and Kay-Kay’s story is inspired by some very special things in my life, and I can’t wait for children to read it. I am so happy and proud to be publishing my debut with Walker Books. It has been an absolute joy working with Emma and Susan, who both immediately connected with the sibling bond that lies at the heart of the mystery adventure.”

Lidbury added: “Dev’s debut novel blew us away – not only has she created an intriguing mystery story, but also a lyrical, evocative exploration of the relationship between a brother and sister. Dev conveys emotion and tension with such warmth: we were captivated by her writing from the off, and can’t wait to introduce young readers to Bringing Back Kay-Kay.”

Van Metre commented: “Bringing Back Kay-Kay works on multiple levels: as a thrilling mystery, a love story, a celebration of poetry, and a travelogue of the big, vibrant country of India. It’s rare to read something as exciting as it is beautiful, but Dev is a rare talent and we are so happy to welcome her to Walker.”