JM Dalgliesh moves to Transworld with backlist and new titles

Transworld, a division of PRH, has acquired numerous backlist titles as well as new novels from bestselling author JM Dalgliesh, formerly a self-published author more recently published by Bookouture.

In a deal struck directly with the author, Finn Cotton, acting publishing director at Transworld, acquired world English-language rights to 28 catalogue titles – comprising the Misty Isle, Hidden Norfolk and Dark Yorkshire series – as well as world all-language rights to eight frontlist titles, including a new Orkney-set series to be published in January 2027.

The Orkney series will introduce a new detective and cast of characters, “taking the reader into the heart of an isolated rural community where everyone is hiding secrets”, the publisher said.

The publisher has also acquired film and TV rights in the Misty Isle series and the new Orkney series. The seventh book in the Misty Isle series, The Missing Dead, will be published by Bantam in July 2026.

Cotton said: "I’m thrilled to be working with the brilliant JM Dalgliesh to bring his books to an even wider audience, both here in the UK and around the globe. I’ve long been a fan of his addictive, immersive storytelling. It’s no surprise his crime novels have become so successful, and I can’t wait to see what more he can achieve with Transworld as his publisher.”

Dalgliesh said: “I am delighted to be partnering with the biggest brand in global publishing to bring my characters, both new and existing, to a wider audience. There is a lot to come from me and I’m only just getting started.”