Matt Brolly comes to Canelo

Here at Canelo we are thrilled to announce that we are working with Matt Brolly, one of the most exciting crime writers working today. Please see below for the press release. We absolutely can’t wait for the publication of Zero later this year. Roll on November!

Canelo acquires three novels from Matt Brolly

Canelo is delighted to announce the acquisition of World English language rights in three novels by bestselling author Matt Brolly from Joanna Swainson at Hardman & Swainson.

In an extraordinary new crime series Matt Brolly takes us to the near future. After a global economic collapse, a grim new system of criminal justice has arisen.

Zero, the first novel in the series, follows Detective Inspector Kate Swanson as she leads an investigation into the kidnapping of a high court judge. As a series of explosions ramp up the stakes, and Swanson battles with her superiors, her own warring instincts and the city’s political factions, she faces a seemingly insoluble case. With a dystopian twist on the police procedural, Zero is a taut, atmospheric thriller that explores themes of crime and punishment, and how much our personal freedoms should be sacrificed for a crime-free society.

Canelo will publish in November 2016, with a second Swanson novel also agreed and planned. They have also acquired the latest novel in Brolly’s bestselling and acclaimed DCI Michael Lambert series. The first two books in the series, Dead Eyed and Dead Lucky, were published in 2015 and 2016 respectively by HarperCollins.

Matt Brolly said ‘Zero is a slight departure from my first two DCI Lambert novels. Set in a near-future dystopia, it is a traditional crime fiction story set in a world where every crime is punishable by death. I am delighted to be working with Canelo on this new, exciting release. I have been so impressed with the enthusiasm and passion shown by the team and can’t wait to be part of their growing and impressive list.’

Joanna Swainson said ‘I was completely drawn to DI Swanson, a complex character facing a tough challenge with quiet determination in a deeply unsettling world. The Canelo team’s energy, their enthusiasm for Matt’s work and their author-focused business-savvy approach fills me with confidence that we have found Matt the perfect home.’

Michael Bhaskar, Publishing Director at Canelo said ‘Matt Brolly is a truly accomplished crime author with an outstanding track record. His novels are intense, totally absorbing but also, that rare thing, genuinely original. He is able to take crime in new and exciting directions, creating characters, plots and scenarios that feel fresh, different and totally compulsive. We can’t wait to publish him.’

About Matt Brolly: Following his law degree where he developed an interest in criminal law, Matt Brolly completed his Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. He lives in London with his wife and their two young children.