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Zaffre has acquired Kat Ailes’ debut novel The Expectant Detectives, which was runner-up for the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2021.
Senior editor Kelly Smith acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Jemima Forrester at DHA Books in a two-book deal. The Expectant Detectives will be published in hardback, audio and e-book in June 2023.
The publisher describes The Expectant Detectives as “Motherland” meets “Midsomer Murders” in this “fresh and funny” mystery about a group of soon-to-be mums who turn detective when there’s a murder at their antenatal class.
Smith said: “Kat’s book is a much-needed tonic for our time. It is a witty, warm read that literally had me laughing out loud (thank goodness for home-working!). It’s been such a joy to work with Kat and Jemima on this exciting project, and I can’t wait to share this must-read mystery with readers."
Ailes, an editor and freelancer, said: “What a joy this whole process has been! It started out as something to amuse myself in lockdown/new parenthood and... here we are? One whole book later.
“And it’s all thanks to a bunch of excellent people – first of all the CWIP judges who saw something in my incoherent ramblings about pelvic floors and murder, then Jemima who has been a tireless supporter and all-round wonderful agent, and now Kelly who just totally got it and has been an absolute dream editor. It’s all been one glorious jape and I’m hugely looking forward to seeing what we get up to around publication.”
Forrester said: “The Expectant Detectives is such a breath of fresh air. It came in at a time when the news was filled with doom and gloom and I was really craving some lightness and humour – and it more than delivered. Kat had me in stitches within a few pages and her heroine, Alice, is instantly engaging and relatable. I’m so excited to see how the team at Bonnier publish this and can already tell we’ll have a lot of fun along the way!”