Authors Fiona Barton and Lizzy Dent find new home at Pellerin Books
Pellerin Books has made two new acquisitions, a psychological thriller by Fiona Barton and a Formula 1 sports romance series by Lizzy Dent.
Laura Palmer and Jessie Sullivan, co-founders of Pellerin Books, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in Repeat After Me by Barton from Madeleine Milburn at the Madeleine Milburn Agency. The novel, described as “a twisty, propulsive courtroom drama exploring toxic female friendship, the dazzle of fame and the unbearable cost of revenge”, will be published in paperback and e-book in early 2027.
Barton was previously published by Transworld across a 10-year career and five novels. Her work has been translated into 37 languages and optioned for television by Further South Productions, while her bestselling debut The Widow was optioned for film by Lionsgate. Before writing thrillers, Barton was a journalist at the Daily Mail, news editor at the Daily Telegraph and chief reporter at the Mail on Sunday.
Palmer and Sullivan said: “Fiona Barton is a phenomenal storyteller and one of the defining voices in psychological suspense. Repeat After Me is a gripping, twist-laden courtroom thriller with an unforgettable heroine at its heart – it lifts the lid on the hushed, hidden world of the Crown Court in the way The Widow lifted the lid on the world of tabloid journalism. We are thrilled to be welcoming Fiona to Pellerin and can’t wait to introduce her to new readers, and to bring her loyal existing readership a thriller that more than delivers on everything they love about her work.”
Barton commented: “I am thrilled to be part of this new and exciting publishing journey with Pellerin. Huge thanks to Laura Palmer and Jessie Sullivan, and my wonderful agent Madeleine Milburn.”
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In other acquisition news, Peyton Stableford, commissioning editor at Pellerin Books, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in two new books and two previously published titles by Lizzy Dent from Hattie Grünewald at The Blair Partnership. The books will be published in e-book, audiobook and paperback from July 2026.
Dent is the author of eight books, translated into six languages. Her debut novel, The Summer Job (Viking) is currently in TV development. Before becoming a novelist, Dent worked in TV marketing and developed content for the BBC, ITV, Cartoon Network, Red Bull and Religion of Sports. She is a former BAFTA interactive judge and Sheffield DocFest mentor.
Pellerin Books will publish Drive Me Crazy in summer 2026, followed by a second F1 sports romance novel from Dent in 2028. The publisher will also release two previously published romances in summer 2026 and summer 2027.
Stableford said: “Lizzy has raced onto the sports-romance track with Drive Me Crazy, the perfect novel for fans of first loves, off-limits workplace hook-ups, anxiety-inducing car races and flirting across a global array of dreamy destinations. F1 superfans, and even those like myself who had yet to catch on to the motorsport obsession – will find their hearts racing for this gorgeous and sexy romcom.”
Dent said: “I’ve poured my love of Formula 1, enemies-to-lovers tension and all the drama of the paddock into Drive Me Crazy, and finding a home for it in the UK with Pellerin couldn’t feel more right. It’s lights out and awaaaaay we go!”
Grünewald said: “I’m over the moon that Lizzy Dent’s beloved romcoms have a new UK home. Pellerin have really blown us away with their long-term vision and commitment to author care. It’s a match straight out of the pages of a romance novel.”
