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Headline wins Kellerman back

18.01.08 Alison Flood

Thriller writer Jonathan Kellerman is moving back to Headline from Penguin after three years, as the publisher unveils plans to return him "to his rightful place on the bestseller lists in the UK".

Deputy m.d. Jane Morpeth paid a "substantial" sum for UK and Commonwealth rights in four new novels by Kellerman. The first, Bones, will feature Kellerman's hero psychologist Alex Delaware, and is due in autumn 2008. The second, True Detectives, will follow in spring 2009.

Morpeth also acquired 16 backlist Kellerman titles from Little, Brown UK, which Headline will reissue from February, starting with When the Bough Breaks. Headline is also planning a repackage for the six Kellerman titles it published between 2001 and 2004.

Penguin poached Kellerman from Headline in 2004 with a reputed £2m offer for four books. At the time, it was Kellerman's third move in as many years.

Headline m.d. Martin Neild said: "I couldn't be more pleased that Jonathan has decided to return to Headline. At a time when he has become a number one New York Times bestseller and his sales around the world are growing at an exciting rate, we are determined to echo that success and return him to his rightful place on the bestseller lists in the UK."

Penguin Rights deal headline Alison Flood James Kellerman

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