Canelo Crime to publish crime debut by Richard & Judy Book Club-selected author Anna McPartlin
February 07, 2025
Executive Publisher Louise Cullen has acquired World English language rights to the debut crime novel by Anna McPartlin from Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown in a three-book deal.
The Silent Ones is the first in a planned series featuring female garda Mary Shea. Set in rural County Kerry in 1980, it opens with the shocking discovery of the body of a newborn child laid out on the local beach – clearly harmed with intent. The novel centres around uncovering what would lead a person to commit such an atrocious act, and locating the culprit. Mary Shea has been sidelined throughout her policing career but now gets the chance to put her skills and empathy to use and peel back the layers surrounding the murder.
Anna McPartlin is an Irish screenwriter and internationally best-selling novelist. Her television work includes The Gone, an original crime drama series she co-created, co-wrote, and executive produced with Michael Bennett for RTE and TVNZ, recently acquired by the BBC for UK distribution. Anna’s acclaimed, heartbreaking novel, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes, was a Richard & Judy Book Club selection and bestseller. Since then Anna has written a number of fiction works for adults and children. The Silent Ones will be her first crime fiction novel.
Publication will be in export trade paperback for Irish retailers in September, and ebook at that time, with a mass market paperback release in the UK and North America for Spring 2026.
Louise Cullen says: ‘I was immediately drawn to Anna’s writing when I started reading The Silent Ones. She demonstrates an enormous capacity for empathy, and her ability to convey the nuances of the characters, place and time readers encounter in the novel is exceptional. As many of us reframe our experiences and understanding of things from previous decades, this is a timely and compelling series. It is a masterclass in how crime fiction can entertain us as well as move us. Anna is a joy to work with and I’m thrilled to have her on the Canelo Crime list as we embark on ambitious plans working with our DK colleagues.’
Anna McPartlin says: ‘Wow, how lucky is Canelo to sign me? Not as lucky as I am to join Canelo and work with the incredible Louise Cullen, whose passion for storytelling, love of strong characters, and wicked sense of humour match my own. I’m thrilled to be part of this bold, forward-thinking team!’
Sheila Crowley says: ‘I am very excited for Anna’s wonderful new crime series. Readers will love how she writes about a particular time in rural Ireland, featuring the most memorable female garda at the heart of the story. Anna’s writing is always full of emotional punch.’
The Silent Ones will be published in September 2025 in Export Trade Paperback and ebook, with a mass market paperback to follow in Spring 2026. For more information please contact [email protected]