Q & A on Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll

 In your own words, please tell us about Tell Me Lies. 

This novel is a dark twist on that most difficult of dilemmas – should you forgive a cheating partner? In Tell Me Lies, troubled Hannah’s world spirals to a very dangerous place where she must ask – is it even safe to forgive her cheating husband? The story is further complicated by Hannah’s childhood trauma which makes it very hard for her to decide if all the mysterious happenings around her are the result of her paranoia. Or if she’s right to be so afraid.

You worked as a BBC TV news presenter before turning to writing thrillers. What made you want to start writing? Did your career in the media help you as a storyteller? 

I wanted to write fiction from an early age and started novels in exercise books right back in primary school. A careers adviser wisely steered me to journalism which I loved, working in newspapers for years and then television. My decades as a reporter allowed me to walk through extraordinary emotional landscape. So many stories about bad things happening to good people. I never let go of the dream of writing fiction but I didn’t find space for it until my life was less hectic.

Now, as an author, I never use real stories in my fiction but I do absolutely use that emotional landscape from my years in journalism. The memory of all the ripples in the pool after a crime or a tragedy. Especially the memory of the haunted look in the eyes of anyone who’s lost a loved one to a crime. That stays with you.

To me fiction feels like a safe space to explore the many difficult themes that troubled me across all those decades as a journalist. I’m not afraid to use challenging themes but I try always to write as sensitively as I possibly can. I feel it all very deeply so I do find some scenes very hard to write. Often I have to take a good long walk before a challenging chapter.

There is a tangible feeling of claustrophobia and isolation in this book after you suffered a freak accident a year ago and channelled the trauma of this into your writing. What happened?

I’d started this book (and had a deadline for it) when I suffered this terrible freak accident. A year on, I still can’t quite believe it happened …

I’d had my flu jab and felt a bit ‘off’. In the night I went to the bathroom and felt decidedly wobbly. I’m prone to fainting and thought I’d better get back to bed – but alas didn’t make it! I fainted down a single step – possibly into the door frame. Upshot was I managed to break my hip. 

And my heart!

This was just before my 30th wedding anniversary and we had big treats planned ,including a stay at the Burgh Island hotel. Instead I spent my anniversary in hospital (in shock) having an emergency full hip replacement!

Because of Covid, my husband wasn’t allowed in the ambulance and visiting was very restricted. Ambulances were queuing outside my local hospital (Derriford) the night I fainted so we had to go to Torbay hospital which I didn’t know at all. I’ve never been so thrown. Or scared.

Recovery was tough. I’m normally so fit and independent so this big mobility upset (crutches and strict rules to avoid dislocation) really knocked my confidence for a while. Also my brain was foggy for a few weeks (shock, I assume, plus painkillers ) and I couldn’t write. I knew that my lovely publisher would put the deadline back if necessary. But I didn’t want that. So once I was able to write again, I felt desperate to do nothing but write. So I finished writing Tell Me Lies in this really strange and intense place. Unable to drive. Unable to get about properly.

I realise now that I put a lot of my shock, isolation and feelings of claustrophobia and disorientation into the writing of Tell Me Lies. It wasn’t intentional but I see now looking back that my strange headspace at the time really suited the story. So, as horrible as the whole hip drama was, I think it’s made for a much stronger book. 

Thankfully I’m fully recovered now and so launching this book feels particularly special to me. (Note to self: Rebook Burgh Island Hotel to celebrate!)

This story is delightfully complex and unique. How did you come up with it? Do you plot everything out before you write? 

The character of troubled Hannah – with her childhood trauma – came to me first, very powerfully, but I wasn’t sure what story to put her in. Then I remembered a stay in an idyllic cottage in Cornwall where I’d been spooked by a reference in the visitor book to a ghost. For a night, I was listening out for every creak of the floorboards – suddenly this beautiful cottage felt alien and quite threatening!

I realised I wanted to put those two things together - Hannah with her troubled background and an idyllic cottage that somehow turns dark. The plot just grew from there.

I’m more of a ‘pantser’ than a true ‘plotter’ but I did have a short synopsis written up before I started the novel. Other themes and strands emerged in the writing.

A key theme in the book is the support given – or not – by close friends when tragedy strikes or relationships are betrayed. Should cheating spouses be given a second chance, or should we walk away from infidelity?

I don’t think anyone can reach my age without having seen someone in their wider circle face this terrible dilemma. Forgive or walk away from a cheater? How on earth do you give advice? I’ve known people get past an infidelity and others fall apart over it. There’s no right or wrong way. Ask Google and you will get MILLIONS of answers. It’s a messy and heart-breaking dilemma and that’s why I wanted to explore it in this book, adding the darker dimension of danger.

You often draw on real life locations as settings in your books. Tell us more about the house on which you based Owl Cottage? 

When my two boys were small we took many idyllic holidays on The Lizard in Cornwall. Twice we stayed in this gorgeous cottage with owls hooting at night from the nearby trees. I LOVED it but one day noticed a reference in the visitor book to a ghost. I was verily spooked and that night was listening out for every creak of the floorboards. I’m embarrassed to admit it took a while for me to get a grip and the idyllic place felt temporarily alien. So when I was thinking of a setting for this book, I had that special cottage very much in my mind. That strong memory of it suddenly seeming darker for a time. I wanted to return to the cottage to celebrate finishing the book but it’s been sold. I tweaked the layout and the geography of the property too as I’m not sure the new owners would like the idea of my dark story being set there but it helped enormously to have a real and beautiful cottage in mind when I was writing.

You live in Devon and Tell Me Lies is set in Cornwall. You’ve said before that the area around Porthleven is one of your favourite places. What is special about Devon and Cornwall?

I’ve always loved the south-west. My late mother was born in North Devon so we visited a lot in my childhood. Lots of memories of the seaside and the beautiful farmland. When I was offered the role to present the BBC regional TV news in the south-west, I genuinely couldn’t believe my luck. A glorious place to work and to bring up my family.

As much as I love Devon, we also liked a change of scene when our two boys were small so had lots of bucket-and-spade holidays in Cornwall. The Lizard was our favourite and I fell in love with Porthleven in particular. Our boys are adults now but my husband and I still visit Porthleven regularly and I often use the area in my books. It’s very special. A picture-perfect harbour with friendly people, glorious views and, for me, magical memories.

There is controversy about people having second homes in these areas, and the tensions between locals and holiday let owners features in the book. What has been your experience of this situation? Do you sympathise with one or the other, or can you see both sides?

I sprinkled a reference to the second homes controversy into this book because it’s increasingly debated across the south-west and it’s something we do need to think about. I have regularly rented cottages in Cornwall so I worry I wear an ‘hypocrisy hat’. I know that Cornwall needs the money from tourism but it also needs more affordable homes for its young people and holiday rentals are driving up prices. So I’m troubled by the debate and that’s why I put it in the book. I can definitely see both sides and feel we need to somehow find a balance. I don’t have the answer but the problem of locals being priced out of the housing market needs to be talked about.

What is aphantasia, and how does this affect your writing?

I discovered not long ago that I seem to have an unusual form of aphantasia which means my ‘mind’s eye’ doesn’t work quite like other people’s. I haven’t had a formal diagnosis but every test and survey I’ve taken online tells me that I do have this strange condition.

Aphantasia means that you can’t conjure an actual picture when you close your eyes. If you tell me to picture an apple, I close my eyes and see only black. What I do instead is I remember what it feels like to look at an apple. I can’t even conjure a picture of my family members. I mean I know what they look like and I can describe them. But if I shut my eyes, I can’t ‘see’ them.

This both shocked and fascinated me because I do have a very good memory and I would argue (and hope!) that as a writer I have a vivid imagination. What I’ve learned is that for me imagination is very sensorial rather than pictorial. Conceptual visualisation. If I’m remembering or imagining a place (like the cottage in my new book), I close my eyes and remember what it felt like to be in the space. I don’t see any pictures but I vividly recall the actual sensation of standing in the space. The smells. The sensations. I can turn my head to the side and remember all the detail of the many things I saw. What was on the fridge. The fabric of the curtains. But I don’t actually see any pictures at all.

I thought this was the same for everyone. So it was a shock to learn that many people can call up actual pictures when they close their eyes.

When I write, I experience everything very deeply. I used to say I ‘see’ scenes in my head but what I realise now is that it feels as if I’m in the scenes myself or watch them as if from a doorway. I walk through it all with my characters. It feels very real, very vivid to me – but it’s sensory, not actually pictorial.

I found all this so fascinating that I decided to weave a strand into this book and so gave my main character a form of aphantasia.

What do you think people find enjoyable about thrillers? What other thrillers have you enjoyed recently? 

I think the tension and pace of thrillers are the big draw. The questions and the stakes. What is going on? What’s already happened? Just how bad are things going to get?

Woven carefully, a good thriller with great characters is a safe space to examine scary material. And there is that stronger chance of justice and resolution in a book which life does not always offer.

I adore Lisa Jewell as a writer – also Belinda Bauer. And I think it’s hard to beat the Kate Atkinson Jackson Brodie series.

I love that there are so many sub genres within the fabulous crime umbrella. Something for all readers. I write at the emotional, psychological end of suspense but there are terrific books dealing with serial killers, fabulous procedurals as well as the upsurge in cosy crime. As I say, something for everyone.

I also love that the crime writing community is so friendly. It always makes me smile at festivals to see these lovely warm, fun people having a good time together. You’d never imagine some of the grim plots going on in our heads!

Tell Me Lies poignantly and thoughtfully explores the experience of living with trauma, and how we lie to ourselves and other people in order to cope. What inspired this plotline? 

I’ve always been drawn to the theme of loss and recovery. Or failure to recover.

I lost my mother to cancer when I was seventeen and while I had a very loving wider family, it was a difficult time in an age when many people were uncomfortable talking about loss. I think there’s a strong tendency to say ‘I’m fine’ after a loss – because what else can you say? And many people worry about what to say to someone grieving, so say nothing at all.

It’s great that there are so many charities now helping people of all ages, especially children, with bereavement. Grief is tough but it’s a process and I feel that we all need to learn how to support each other and be more open talking about death and how we get past – or rather learn to live with – losing someone beloved.

Across my decades in journalism, because of my own experience, I was inevitably drawn to stories involving loss and I felt huge compassion for anyone grieving. I often came across stories where unresolved grief or unresolved trauma had bled into later life and so I like to shine a light on this in my fiction. I’m not saying I’m any kind of expert but I’ve witnessed a lot of pain as a journalist and I feel very sad about that. And as a writer, I often feel compelled to work my way through that landscape of hurt in my fictional stories. I tend to put my characters through a lot in my books but in my heart, I’m always willing them back out into the sunshine.

Tell Me Lies by Teresa Driscoll (Thomas & Mercer ) Out Now 

Deep in a rural hideaway, it's only the owls watching them…right? After a betrayal that sent their marriage into freefall, Hannah and Sam are desperate for a fresh start with their eight-year-old daughter Lily-and where better than picture-perfect Owl Cottage in beautiful Cornwall. But something about the holiday home stirs dark memories for Hannah… When she finds dead creatures on the doorstep and hears mysterious knocks at the door, Hannah can't help wondering whether someone is messing with her-or whether the past she's been running from has finally claimed her sanity. As the disturbing events at Owl Cottage seep out into the local community and the police become involved, Hannah turns to Sam for help, but when he dismisses her worries, she wonders if she was wrong to ever trust him. Are the memories making her paranoid, or is this something more sinister than she dares imagine?

Introducing Keera Duggan by Robert Dugoni - Extract from Her Deadly Game

Keera Duggan peered across the King County courtroom to the swinging wooden door and willed her father to walk in. Leaving him to lunch alone had been a mistake. The bailiff entered from a door behind the elevated bench and commanded the few people in the courtroom to rise as Superior Court Judge Ima Patel retook her seat behind her desk, instructed the three people in the gallery to sit, and invited Officer Greg Walsh to retake the witness stand. Walsh pushed through the railing gate and made his way past the jurors. He looked official in his navy-blue uniform and utility belt. His SPD badge glistened. Walsh wore the belt at the request of the young prosecutor standing at the adjacent table. Keera used to give officers the same advice, despite the efforts of many judges to prohibit weapons in their courtrooms. 

 Patel turned her attention to Keera. “Counsel,” she said. “Will Mr. Duggan be joining us this afternoon?”

Patrick Duggan had sparred with King County prosecutors for four decades, including Ima Patel before she ascended to the bench. “Sparring” was a polite term. Patsy had routinely knocked out prosecutors, earning his nickname, the Irish Brawler, a moniker he wore as a badge of honor. The prosecuting attorney’s office felt differently. Patsy had not been opposed to hitting below the belt, throwing elbows in the clenches, and rabbit-punching out of the break. He defended his clients the way he’d won a Golden Gloves boxing tournament as a young man—any way he could. But alcohol abuse had softened Patsy’s punches and slowed his reflexes, if not yet his razor-sharp mind, and prosecutors and jurists on the King County bench knew well his binge drinking. When she’d been a prosecutor, Keera had heard colleagues in the office say, “If you want a chance to beat the Brawler, save your best witnesses for the afternoons, and hope Patsy Duggan goes on a bender.”

Clancy Doyle, apparently now Keera’s client, looked at the empty chair at counsel table with genuine concern. With good reason. Keera sat second chair at this DUI trial only at the insistence of her eldest sister, Ella, now the managing partner of Patrick Duggan & Associates. Babysitting duty. Ella had suspected Patsy to be on the brink of a binge. Damned if she hadn’t been right.

 Keera knew almost nothing about the details of Doyle’s case.

 “Counsel?” Patel asked, sounding impatient.

 Keera rose and tugged at the lapels of her black suit. “Mr. Duggan has been detained,” she said, as if her father had a dental appointment that had run long. “I’ll conduct the cross-examination of Officer Walsh.”

 Patel’s lips nearly inched into a grin. Keera clearly wasn’t fooling at least one person in the courtroom. “Proceed,” Patel said.

 Officer Walsh looked tightly wound as Keera approached. He expected a confrontation. The prosecuting attorney, also young, inched to the edge of her chair, prepared to stand and defend Walsh with objections and interruptions intended to throw Keera off her game.

They wouldn’t.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer) Out Now

A defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master's deadly match? Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family's failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has. With the right moves, she hopes to restore the family's reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career. Keera's chance to play in the big leagues comes when she's retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There's little hard evidence against him, but considering the couple's impending and potentially nasty divorce, LaRussa faces life in prison. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera's former lover, who's eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense. As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and deadly game that's more than Keera bargained for. When shocking information turns the case upside down, Keera must decide between her duty to her client, her family's legacy, and her own future.

More information about Robert Dugoni and his work can be found on his website. You can also find him on Twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook.

Capital Crime Amazon Publishing New Voices Award Winner Announced

 

CAPITAL CRIME ANNOUNCES DARREN BOYLE AS WINNER OF 2021 AMAZON PUBLISHING NEW VOICES AWARD 

Capital Crime has announced London-based journalist and writer Darren Boyle as winner of the 2021 Amazon Publishing New Voices Award for his thriller The Black Pool. 

He will receive a £1000 cash prize, a trophy, and a potential offer of publication from Thomas & Mercer, the mystery and thriller imprint of prize sponsor Amazon Publishing, whose authors include Mark Edwards, Claire McGowan, Dreda Say Mitchell and Damien Boyd. The announcement was made by judges Victoria Haslam and Tariq Ashkanani during a digital event hosted by Capital Crime Festival Director Lizzie Curle and broadcast today. It is available to re-watch here.

Boyle has more than 20 years’ experience working in the national media in Dublin and London. The Black Pool is set in contemporary protagonist who ventures deep into the murky world of gang- is he willing to risk for the ultimate story? 

Boyle has more than 20 years’ experience working in the national media in Dublin and London. The Black Pool is set in contemporary Dublin and features a journalist protagonist who ventures deep into the murky world of organised tiger raids gang- How much is he willing to risk for the ultimate story? 

Victoria Haslam, Amazon Publishing editor and New Voices Award judge, said: ‘It’s been a complete pleasure to read our finalists for the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award – the exceptionally high standard of entries has made this an incredibly difficult decision. However, Darren’s storytelling, setting, and authentic voice really shone, and he is an exciting new voice in the crime fiction world. I am delighted that we are crowning Darren our winner for 2021!’ 

Tariq Ashkanani, Thomas & Mercer author and New Voices Award judge, said: ‘It was absolutely fantastic to be a part of the Capital Crime New Voices panel this year. Finding new writers that can bring their unique voice to the crime genre is so important, and is a wonderful way to shine a light on the diverse talent that’s out there. Darren Boyle’s novel The Black Pool was an instantly gripping story, told with a fabulous, quirky voice and brilliantly sharp dialogue. But the quality of all the entries was incredibly high- trying to choose a favourite was very difficult!’ 

Haslam and Ashkanani, together with members of the Capital Crime Advisory Board, chose the winner from a list of 10 finalists. These were announced on 13th September and decided by popular vote, with members of the Capital Crime community, including Book Club members and all Festival passholders, voting for their favourite entries online. 

The Amazon New Voices Award is open to unpublished mystery, thriller, and crime fiction manuscripts in English from writers around the world. 

In acknowledgement of the quality of this year’s entries, the judges gave two honourable mentions to the shortlisted writers Patti Buff, a native of southern Minnesota who has lived in Germany for the last twenty years (for The Ice Beneath Me), and Casey King, an Irish crime writer from County Cork (for No Time to Cry). 

Generously sponsored by Amazon Publishing for the first time this year, the New Voices Award is a flagship event of Capital Crime, the UK’s leading year-round celebration for crime and thriller fiction. Capital Crime’s live festival will return to a new and tented venue in a central London park from Thursday 29th September to Saturday 1st October 2022. The celebrated crime and thriller festival will feature a wide-ranging line-up of events focused on accessible, mainstream fiction loved by readers around the world. Limited early-bird tickets are now available to purchase here. 

Lizzie Curle, Capital Crime Festival Director, said: “We’re very proud to be able to champion the next generation of voices in the crime fiction world with the help of Amazon Publishing and readers. Readers and crime fiction fans are at the heart of everything we do, and the Amazon Publishing New Voices Awards uses an innovative program which allows for them to vote for the book they’d like to read. Darren Boyle is their winner and we know he, and the other shortlisted writers have an exciting road ahead of them. A heartfelt thanks to all who have entered and voted in this year’s awards.” 

The response to this year’s award was overwhelming: hundreds of entries from around the world, with writers from countries including France, India, Canada and the Netherlands. 

Join the conversation via capitalcrime.org | @CapitalCrime1 

Amazon Publishing New Voices Award finalists for 2021 announced!

 

Congratulations to the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award finalists for 2021! The Capital Crime advisory board along with Amazon Publishing editor, Victoria Haslam & Thomas & Mercer author, Tariq Ashkanani will decide on the winner very soon. Thanks to all who have voted for their favourites and to everyone that entered!

THE AMAZON PUBLISHING NEW VOICES AWARD

 THE AMAZON PUBLISHING NEW VOICES AWARD

*** ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2021 NEW VOICES AWARD 

CAPITAL CRIME PRESENTS THE AMAZON PUBLISHING NEW VOICES AWARD

Capital Crime is running an exciting new competition, sponsored by Amazon Publishing, to discover new voices in the crime and thriller fiction community, and to further their writing careers.

The Amazon Publishing New Voices Award is now open! Submit the first 3 chapters of your unpublished novel & be in with the chance to win a £1000 prize, along with a potential publication offer from Thomas & Mercer For full T&Cs & to enter go here.

Capital Crime announces Amazon Publishing New Voices Award

 

CAPITAL CRIME ANNOUNCES THE AMAZON PUBLISHING NEW VOICES AWARD, A COMPETITION INCLUDING A POTENTIAL 

THOMAS & MERCER PUBLISHING DEAL 

Writers of unpublished mystery, thriller, and crime fiction manuscripts are eligible to compete for a cash prize from Capital Crime and a potential offer of publication from Thomas & Mercer, the mystery and thriller imprint of Amazon Publishing. 

5 May 2021 – Capital Crime, the UK’s leading year-round celebration for crime and thriller fiction, is pleased to announce that Amazon Publishing will sponsor the 2021 New Voices Award, open to unpublished mystery, thriller, and crime fiction manuscripts in English from writers around the world. 

The winner of the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award will receive complimentary registration to the next Capital Crime Festival; a £1,000 cash prize; a trophy; and potential offer of publication from Thomas & Mercer, the mystery and thriller imprint of Amazon Publishing (terms & conditions apply). 

Additionally, ten finalists will be considered for a potential offer of Thomas & Mercer publication, while also receiving day passes to the next Capital Crime Festival. 

Amazon Publishing editor Victoria Haslam and Thomas & Mercer author Tariq Ashkanani, whose debut thriller Welcome to Cooper is forthcoming in October 2021, will serve alongside Capital Crime’s Advisory Board on the judging panel for the award. 

Victoria Haslam says: “At Amazon Publishing, we’re particularly keen to see New Voices Award entries from underrepresented writers who’ll bring diverse perspectives to the mystery, crime, and thriller genre. I can’t wait to find new stories from around the world that our readers will love.” 

To enter the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award writers must submit the first three chapters of an unpublished mystery, thriller, or crime fiction manuscript as a PDF, as well as an entry fee of £10, to Capital Crime’s submission portal. The closing date for entries will be 3rd August 2021. After entries have closed, there will be a voting period where members of the Capital Crime community (both Book Club members and Festival passholders) will be able to vote for their favourites online. 

The ten most popular entries will form a shortlist to be announced in September 2021, after which the judges will select the winner to be announced in October 2021. Winners and finalists will also be celebrated at the next Capital Crime Festival in London. 

Capital Crime co-founder David Headley says: “The Amazon Publishing New Voices Award is a brilliant opportunity for aspiring writers to raise awareness and receive recognition for their work.” 

Capital Crime co-founder, screenwriter, and author Adam Hamdy says: “We’re excited to engage and support the next generation of talent. This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to have their work represented and published.” 

2019’s New Voices Award received almost 1,000 entries from around the world, with writers from countries including UK, the US, France, Sweden, Japan, Bangladesh, China, Brazil, Denmark, and Indonesia submitting their English-language crime fiction for consideration. 

For further information on eligibility and other aspects of the competition, please contact Capital Crime’s Production Manager, Lizzie Curle, via her email lizzie@capitalcrime.org. 

For all media enquiries, please contact Sophie Goodfellow and Emma Mitchell at FMcM Associates on sophieg@fmcm.co.uk and emmam@fmcm.co.uk. 

Amazon Publishing to Launch Brand New Series from Bestselling Author Patricia Cornwell

International bestselling, award-winning, and ground breaking author Patricia Cornwell will introduce a new heroine for the technological age with Quantum, coming from Thomas & Mercer in 2019

Thomas & Mercer, an imprint of Amazon Publishing, announced it has closed a two-book deal with #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell, and will launch a new series from the groundbreaking writer beginning with Quantum in late 2019.

Thomas & Mercer acquired World English rights in the deal and will launch Cornwell’s new series with Quantum in 2019, with a second book planned for 2020. Cornwell is represented by Jeremy Barber, Partner, United Talent Agency. Thomas & Mercer Editorial Director Grace Doyle will serve as Cornwell’s editor.

Quantum weaves military action, espionage, and space age technology into the story of a young NASA test pilot/aerospace engineer, Captain Calli Chase, whose quest to uncover the secrets behind her fighter pilot twin sister’s murder takes her to the highest echelons of power: from NASA’s Langley Research Center to the White House to Scotland Yard to INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, France. And beyond.

“Patricia Cornwell’s all-in approach to writing her iconic Dr. Scarpetta series catapulted forensic science into pop culture, paving the way for an explosion of entertainment featuring all things forensic across film, television, and literature, and if her current adventures at NASA are any indication—she’s learning to spacewalk—we’ll all be experts on space science and exploration very soon,” says Mikyla Bruder, Publisher, Amazon Publishing. “We can’t wait to introduce Patricia’s new heroine to readers next fall.”

“I wanted the very best publisher in the galaxy to launch Captain Chase,” says Patricia Cornwell. “I couldn’t be more excited about taking this journey with Amazon Publishing.”

“Patricia is a groundbreaking author and a leader in her field. The emergence of Amazon Publishing as a global presence marks a significant shift within the publishing landscape,” says Jeremy Barber, Partner, United Talent Agency. “I'm excited by the potential this relationship has to reach readers worldwide.”

Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, in 1990, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. It went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d'Aventure prize—the first book to claim all of these distinctions in a single year. Today, Cornwell has sold over 100 million books, and her novels and iconic characters are known all over the world.

Also known for her investigation into the Jack the Ripper case, Thomas & Mercer published Cornwell’s #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert, a FutureBook Book of the Year winner.