May is officially here, and along with it, another brilliant week at the MM Agency! From a double cover-reveal to award-nominations and more, we can’t wait to catch you up on all of the news.

 

 

First off, we are thrilled to unveil this gorgeous cover for the up-coming anthology Of This Our Country, which will feature an essay by Agency author Yomi Adegoke. This non-fiction anthology will feature personal essays from 24 acclaimed Nigerian writers, where they will share memories and experiences of Nigeria that can be found nowhere else, bringing to the fore a country whose influence can be found everywhere. Yomi is an award-winning journalist who is currently a weekly columnist for The Guardian. Having recently been chosen as the new host for The Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast, she was also featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.

 

 

We’re also excited to reveal this cover for The Lost Girl of Berlin by Ella Carey. This heart-wrenching WWII historical novel tells the story of war correspondent Kate Mancini, reporting on the aftermath of the devastating war for her readers back home in New York. When Kate rescues a silent orphan who she fears will otherwise perish, she teams up with a fellow journalist, handsome Rick Shearer to find her safe house. Returning to post-war New York she and Rick grow closer, only for Rick to be unjustly imprisoned on a charge he knows nothing about.  Kate knows she must do all she can to free the man she loves. But that means returning to Germany, to seek out the little orphan girl who is her only chance at salvation. Kate and Rick saved Mia—will she help them both now?

 

 

Louise Gooding, author of the children’s non-fiction anthology Just Like Me, has been nominated for the Positive Role Mode Award at the National Diversity Awards 2021. Louise’s book, which was published by Studio Press/Bonnier Books, brings together stories of 40 inspirational figures from around the world, all of whom are physically and/or neurologically diverse. Huge congratulations to Louise on her nomination!

 

 

 

Freya Sampson’s The Last Chance Library, set to be published by Berkley/Penguin Random House US in August, is currently in the top 5 of all requested Netgalley books in the US. Freya’s debut novel launches us into the story of June Jones, a lonely librarian who has never left the sleepy English village she grew up in. When the council announces plans to close her library, June’s whole world is threatened, forcing her to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.

 

As an Amazon bestselling author, Caroline Mitchell has sold over one million books worldwide, so it comes as no surprise that all four books in her hit DI Amy series are currently on the UK top 100 charts. Truth and Lies (Amazon Publishing), the first book in the series, is also currently at No. 4 in the UK Amazon Bestsellers chart and No. 1 in all its categories.

 

In some other wonderful bestseller news, Rona Halsall’s gripping new thriller, The Liar’s Daughter  was at No.39 on the Amazon Bestsellers chart over the weekend, and Melanie Hudson’s The Night Train to Berlin was also in the top Amazon 100 this week. Congratulations both!

 

Also recently making a splash is Helly Acton’s new book The Couple. Soon to be published this month by Zaffre/Bonnier Books, The Couple has been chosen as one of Red Magazine’s best books of May.

Joining it on the list is Elizabeth Macneal’s highly-anticipated new novel, Circus of Wonders, which is published next week by Picador/PanMacmillan. Circus of Wonders has also been picked as part of Apple’s Best of May Round-up, and this week The Times called the book ‘beautifully written and filled with character and life’.

 

 

Circus of Wonders was not the only agency novel to appear in The Times this week. Katherine Faulkner’s unputdownable thriller Greenwich Park (Raven Books/Bloomsbury), which continues to delight new readers with its suspenseful twists and turns, was recently described as ‘’a taut tale of secrets that won’t die. Faulkner delights in letting her self-entitled characters reveal their many faults by themselves. She also competently handles the rising tension as we careen towards a bloody showdown.’’

We are also so excited for C.L. Taylor, whose recently published Her Last Holiday  (Avon/HarperCollins) has captured the attention of eager readers everywhere, hitting No. 12 on the Sunday Times bestseller list in less than one week of sales. It was also featured on the Financial Times’ round up of best new crime fiction!

Having been recently translated into German, Inga Vespa’s page-turning mystery The Long Long Afternoon (Manilla Press/Bonnier Books) received glowing praise in one of Germany’s oldest leading newspapers, Frankfurter Allgemeine.

The reviewer comments; “Vesper designs an idyllic scenario around the geranium-enveloped pool, only to deftly stir up the cold waters. It is a delight to read, especially due to Inga Vesper’s ability to find individual voices for each character… starkly showing how deeply the thinking of the 50s was suffused with misogyny, racism and antisemitism.”

 

Our IRD team have also made some amazing deals this week:

Czech and Slovak rights in The Yearbook by Holly Bourne have sold to Slovart

Portuguese (EU) rights for The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby have been sold in a two-book deal to Presenca