Tor signs A Devil of a Crime by T Kingfisher in two-book deal

Tor, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, has acquired A Devil of a Crime and a second novel by award-winning author T  Kingfisher, the pen-name of Ursula Vernon, who also writes comics and children’s books.

Editorial director Sophie Robinson acquired UK and British Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in an exclusive two-book deal from Helen Breitwieser at Cornerstone Literary Agency. Executive editor Lindsey Hall acquired US rights for Tor US.

Tor UK will publish A Devil of a Crime, a “charming murder mystery about a retired devil and retired angel who must team up to catch a killer stalking their small town – before all hell breaks loose”, on 11th March 2027.

Its blurb reads: “When the murder of a priest rocks a quiet small town in North Carolina, the prime suspect is who else but the local retired agent of hell, Nicholas Fallen. But Fallen long ago traded his pitchfork for gardening shears and smites only the beetles who try to feast on his carefully cultivated tomato plants.

“If the reformed devil is to clear his (relatively) good name, he’ll have to pick up the mantle of detective, and partner with the last person he’d choose: retired angel Serafina Fuller. As more bodies turn up and their peaceful retirement starts to go up in flames, the two will stop this killer. Come hell or high water.”

Robinson said: “With every book, T Kingfisher seems to get better and better, and Devil of a Crime shows how she can turn her pen to any sub-genre and make it uniquely, wonderfully ‘Kingfisher-ish’. Full of warmth, humour, heart, and a grumpy retired devil, who, of course, loves to garden, this book will delight fans old and new.”