Zaffre signs two-book deal with Hart

American author John Hart is moving to Bonnier Books UK imprint Zaffre in a two-book deal.

Ben Willis, publishing director at Zaffre, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Kerry Nordling at US publisher St Martin’s Press. 

The first book in the deal, literary thriller The Unwilling, will be published in July 2021. It is described as "an exploration of family and the past, of prison and war and the indelible marks they leave on a community".

Willis said: "John Hart is one of the greatest living American thriller writers, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be his new publisher. The Unwilling is a gripping, nail-biting read. But, like all of John’s novels, it is also deeply moving, at once heartbreaking and hopeful—and ultimately unforgettable. Readers from across the literary spectrum will adore it."

Hart commented: "To any author, a novel is like a child, and like any good parent we want that child to have the best home and the greatest odds of success in a challenging world. The Unwilling is my seventh 'child', and I'm inordinately proud of it, as I am of its new home in the UK, Bonnier Zaffre. Kate Parkin is a brilliant m.d., and Ben Willis one of the most exciting publishers in the business. They have a clear vision for The Unwilling, and my utter confidence in their ability to execute it. I look forward to working with their team, and couldn't be more excited about this new chapter in my life."

Hart previously published five novels with Hodder & Stoughton: Redemption Road (2017), Iron House (2017), The Last Child (2010), Down River (2008) and The King of Lies (2008). His sixth novel, The Hush, was published by Macmillan US in 2018.