Canelo Crime bags a new Liverpool-set crime series from debut Sean Watkin

Canelo Crime have acquired World English language rights to a new crime fiction series by Sean Watkin from Jordan Lees at The Blair Partnership in a three-book deal. Commissioning Editor Siân Heap signed the deal before departing from her role, supported by Executive Publisher Louise Cullen who will publish the works.

Black Water Rising is the first novel to feature DCI de Silva & DS Barclay, detectives with burdens to bear in the form of PTSD suffered by de Silva and assumptions about Barclay being a diversity tickbox for the force. They must put these struggles aside and come together to face down a serial killer operating across Merseyside, targeting teenage girls. The series follows the duo through personal strife and gritty, compelling cases across Liverpool.

Sean Watkin was born and raised in Liverpool and studied a BA and MA in Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University. He has been shortlisted for Fresher Writing Award, Book a Break Prize and Bristol Short Story Prize. His writing has been featured in The Gay UK magazine, and The Content Wolf e-zine, as well as other LGBTQ+ publications. Sean lives in Liverpool with his partner and two dogs.

Louise Cullen says: ‘Finding a crime series set in Liverpool has been a long-held ambition for the Canelo team, and I am delighted we have found such a stunning series with Sean. He is a true talent and someone we’re looking forward to introducing readers to with Black Water Rising.’

Sean Watkin says: ‘Working with the team at Canelo has been a dream! My aim with Black Water Rising was to create an authentic Liverpool voice in the crime space and to tell stories with complex characters and situations. Canelo has really understood what I’m trying to achieve, and I’m looking forward to developing this series with the team. I can’t thank Louise, Alicia, and Siân enough for their support and encouragement.’

Black Water Rising will be published in April 2025, in mass market paperback and ebook, with the next two books to follow in 2026. For more information please contact [email protected]