Canelo Crime bags Simon McCleave’s DI Ruth Hunter series

Louise Cullen, Executive Publisher, has acquired World English language print rights to Simon McCleave’s bestselling DI Ruth Hunter novels from Millie Hoskins at United Agents in a twenty-two book deal. 

Simon McCleave’s first novel The Snowdonia Killings was published in 2020 and became an Amazon bestseller. The series has now sold over 2 million copies, winning a massive fanbase for the novels featuring former London cop DI Ruth Hunter as she embarks on a new role within the North Wales Police. Instead of the rural peacefulness she envisioned, the detective is faced with brutal murders, trafficking, corruption and much more. 

Canelo Crime will publish the novels in mass market paperback from summer 2025 onwards, with all twenty-two novels due to be available in this format by spring 2027, including three yet-to-be published works. 

Former script writer and producer Simon McCleave has worked on films such as The Full Monty and TV series including Silent Witness, The Bill and Eastenders. The Ruth Hunter books are currently in development as a television series to be filmed on location in North Wales in 2024, which is also where Simon lives with his wife and two children.

Louise Cullen says: ‘I vividly recall the phenomenal response to The Snowdonia Killings when it was released nearly five years ago, and I’ve long admired Simon’s skill as a writer and publisher of his own works. It’s incredibly exciting to be working with Simon and Millie, and continuing Canelo’s recent programme of collaboration with self-published authors to bring top-tier digital series to a wide new audience in print.’

Simon McCleave says: ‘I’m so excited to be working with Canelo. I’ve loved writing the DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia crime books and I’m so incredibly grateful to all readers for the series’ success. I’m thrilled to be bringing those books to a much wider audience with Canelo’s support.’

The Snowdonia Killings, The Harlech Beach Killings and The Dee Valley Killings will be published in mass market paperback in June 2025, with subsequent novels in the series to follow. For more information please contact [email protected]