Canelo Crime swoops for two more Oxford Mysteries by Alis Hawkins
June 26, 2024
Commissioning Editor Kit Nevile has acquired World English Language rights to two new historical crime thrillers by Alis Hawkins from Francesca Riccardi at Kate Nash Literary Agency in a two-book deal.
The Oxford Mysteries are set in the city and university during the 1880s, at a time when the first women were being admitted to lectures. One of these students is Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughan, a fiercely intelligent young Welsh polymath with dreams of becoming an investigative journalist. Accompanied by Basil Rice, a closested Jesus College fellow forced to hide his sexuality for his own safety, they will solve a slew of murders and crimes that occur under the heights of the Dreaming Spires.
The first book in the series, A Bitter Remedy, is shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger 2024, and was also longlisted for the Gold Dagger.
A former speech and language therapist and current freelance writer and editor, Alis Hawkins is a founding member of Welsh crime writers’ collective, Crime Cymru, and was inaugural chair of Wales’s international crime fiction festival, Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival. Her Teifi Valley Coroner series, set in mid-nineteenth century West Wales has twice been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger. A Bitter Remedy, the first book in the Oxford Mysteries, has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger 2024.
Nevile says: ‘Not only are these exceptionally plotted, engaging historical mysteries, but they are elevated by their critical intelligence, reframing the homophobia, misogyny and sexual politics of the late Victorian era under a modern lens. Alis is a phenomenal talent, and I’m so happy to be working with her again to bring more of Non and Basil’s stories to light.’
Hawkins says: ‘It is a real pleasure to be working with Kit on these novels. Canelo bought into my vision for the series immediately and wholeheartedly, and I’m thrilled with the way in which they have put their publishing heft behind the series. I look forward very much to Non and Basil’s next chapter being published next year.’
Riccardi says: ‘I am so pleased that more Oxford Mysteries are in the pipeline. As well as being atmospheric and pacy, Alis writes wonderfully formed stories which highlight historical prejudices and give readers modern-facing characters to really root for. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Non and Basil.’
Book Three in the series will be published in October 2025 in ebook and hardback, with Book Four following in February 2027.
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