Wildfire takes two new thrillers from ‘master of the page-turner’ Abbott

Wildfire has snapped up two new thrillers from Rachel Abbott, author of And So it Begins and The Murder Game (Wildfire).

Fiction publisher Jack Butler acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to two as-yet-untitled books from Lizzy Kremer at David Higham Associates. US and Canadian rights were simultaneously acquired by Ruth Tross, publisher at Bookouture.

Abbott’s And So It Begins, the first book in a series featuring Sergeant Stephanie King, was published by Wildfire in 2018, followed by The Murder Game in 2020.

The first as-yet-untitled book in the two-book deal will take place after the events of The Murder Game, focusing on a woman who returns reluctantly to a small Cornwall town 11 years after her teenage sister disappeared when it soon becomes painfully clear that she should never have come back.

This third book in the Stephanie King series will be published in paperback, e-book and audio in September 2023, with the date for the fourth book yet to be announced.

Butler said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Rachel on two more incredible thrillers. She is master of the page-turner, delivering unbeatable suspenseful stories time and again for her many loyal readers. This book will be a massive highlight in the thriller calendar in 2023, and we can’t wait to publish it.”

Abbott commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with the brilliant team at Wildfire again and excited to work with editor Jack Butler. I’m looking forward to sharing the latest Stephanie King thriller with readers and I hope they love it as much as I’ve loved writing it.”