HQ Digital to publish CJ Skuse's 'darkly funny' new novel
HQ Digital is set to publish Sweetpea series author CJ Skuse’s new novel, a "darkly funny coming-of-age thriller from the world of the Sweetpea series".
Editorial director Priyal Agrawal acquired World English language rights to Darling Bud from Jenny Savill at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. Darling Bud will publish in e-book, audiobook and paperback on 4th June 2026.
Darling Bud follows Ivy, the 16-year-old daughter of Sweetpea killer, Rhiannon Lewis. The synopsis continues: "Ivy is a typical teenager, annoyed by the scratchy labels on her school uniform, old men who wolf-whistle and her mother the serial killer.
"But when the local predator – better known as Ivy’s football coach – is found dead, could it be that she has discovered her own taste for blood?"
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Skuse said: "I’m thrilled that Ivy’s story is finally getting out there. It’s quite a different perspective from Rhiannon’s in the Sweetpea books, but I just felt there was one more story worth telling and it was her teenage daughter’s.
"There are lots of little Easter eggs for fans of the original series, and a few surprises along the way, but I hope it will also welcome brand-new readers along for one last crazy ride."
Agrawal added: "I’m thrilled to be working with CJ on this exciting next step in the Sweetpea universe, which has garnered such loyal fans both on the page and on the screen.
"This new novel has all of the devilish humour and tense edge-of-your-seat action that CJ’s readers adore, alongside a wonderful new heroine grappling with her roots. We can’t wait for readers to meet Ivy."
