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Headline has acquired two new standalone thrillers from Simon Kernick.
Editorial Director Toby Jones bought UK and Commonwealth rights to two books from Amanda Preston at LBA.
The first novel in the deal, Kill a Stranger, will be published in November 2020. Billed as "a masterclass in page-turning suspense", it is told from four different points of view and it begins when hotelier Matt comes home to find his wife missing—and the body of a woman he’s never seen in her place. When a phone in her hand rings, a voice tells Matt he has 24 hours to clear his name and save his wife.
Kill a Stranger will be Kernick's 20th full-length novel. The author has been published by Century since 2008 and most recently published Die Alone with Century (November 2019) with the paperback to follow this June.
Jones said: "It is an absolute privilege to welcome Simon to Headline, who is deservedly one of the most popular thriller writers in the UK. His novels are uniquely exhilarating—always framed by an irresistible hook, they are electrifying in pace, loaded with tension and driven by unforgettable characters. From the very first sentence, Kill a Stranger sucks the reader in like quicksand—and we can’t wait to publish it with an imaginative and attention-grabbing launch."
Kernick commented: "I’m hugely honoured and very excited to be joining the Headline team. I’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm they’ve shown, especially my new editor, the inimitable Toby Jones, and I look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration, starting with my new standalone thriller, Kill a Stranger."