Jasper Joffe, chief executive officer of independent publisher Joffe Books, has acquired Choc Lit from previous owner Lyn Vernham for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 2009, Choc Lit is an independent publisher of romance and women’s fiction. Joffe will be taking over Choc Lit’s list of around 250 titles, and relaunching the books specifically for the digital market, with a focus on marketing and design.

Joffe said: “We love Choc Lit and are delighted to acquire the company from Lyn Vernham. Lyn has built one of the most outstanding publishers of women’s fiction and romance in the UK. It’s an honour to take forward this brilliant publisher with its unique tasting panel of readers who help select the books to publish.

"We aim to build on the list’s exceptional quality and to find new opportunities to reach even more readers. It’s a great fit for our future as an all-genres commercial publisher.”

Vernham added: “I’m delighted to see my baby go to such a good home in Joffe Books. It has been almost 14 years of absolute fun and an honour to help so many authors. We set out to create a romance brand that would support debut and lesser known authors on the road to publication.

"We have launched over 60 authors, two-thirds of which were debuts. Some have gone on to be very successful in our genre. I’m very proud of them all and what the team has achieved. I wish Jasper every success as they continue to develop the brand.”

In 2019, Joffe Books acquired the Robert Hale backlist from Crowood Press, reissuing authors including Roger Silverwood, Frances Lloyd, David Hodges and Bill Kitson. The publisher went on to acquire Ostara Publishing in 2022, reissuing and rebranding crime writers as D M Greenwood, V C Clinton-Baddeley, Frank McAuliffe and Ian Morson. 

READ THE BOOKSELLER ARTICLE HERE

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Joffe Books won the Trade Publisher of the Year Award at the IPG Awards yesterday.  This was very much a team effort, and is testament to the extremely high quality of the books we've been privileged to publish this past year and our wonderful readers who we appreciate.

Thank you to the IPG judges and a massive well done to the Joffe Books team!

READ MORE HERE

We’re delighted to announce #JBPitch, the Joffe Books Twitter pitch party series, on 14 March, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. GMT. Pitch your unpublished novels in 280 characters or less directly to the Joffe Books acquisitions team. If we ‘like’ your pitch, we’ll request three chapters and a synopsis to read more closely. And one lucky writer will receive a 30-minute consultation.

We’re looking for our next bestselling author — and it could be YOU!

At Joffe Books, we want to see many more diverse voices in commercial fiction! If you are or are writing commercial fiction with characters that are BAME, LGBTQ+, working class and/or have disabilities, we especially want to hear from you!

HOW IT WORKS

On 14 March, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. GMT, tweet us your pitch in 280 characters or less, using the #JBPitch hashtag. You can also indicate your novel’s genre by using the optional hashtags listed below.

If we ‘like’ your pitch, that means we want to see more and welcome you to send three chapters and a synopsis to info@joffebooks.com.

WHO CAN SUBMIT

We would like to read a pitch from any writer working on a novel in one of our favourite genres of commercial fiction (see below), who has written at least three complete chapters and a synopsis, ready to submit if we ask for it.

We especially want to invite writers from communities typically underrepresented in the publishing industry to participate. If you identify as a writer from an underrepresented community and would like to flag this in your pitch, please feel free to use the hashtag #UC in addition to any genre hashtags below.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

The pitch tweet should be no more than 280 characters. If we ask to see more from you by ‘liking’ your tweet, please submit three chapters and a synopsis of the whole story, including spoilers (no more than a page).

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We want to see punchy pitches that immediately grab us, whatever the genre. We want to be excited by pitches that reveal an addictive plot and fresh voice, and characters we want to root for.

We are looking for pitches in one of our favourite genres, including:

·         Cosy crime

·         Chiller thriller

·         Crime thrillers

·         Domestic noir

·         Historical mystery/romance

·         Murder mystery

·         Police procedural

·         Psychological thriller

·         Reading group

·         Romance contemporary/romcom

·         Saga

·         Traditional mystery

·         Women’s fiction

·         WWII mystery/romance

To get a great feel for what we publish, head to our books page.

THE PRIZE

The prize for pitches we have liked is editorial and marketing feedback on your first three chapters and a synopsis of the whole story. So if we have ‘liked’ your pitch, please send your chapters and synopsis to info@joffebooks.com. We will return feedback within a week of the receiving your email. From the submissions we receive, we’ll choose one author to receive a 30-minute online consultation with an editor from the Joffe Books acquisitions team. We’ll email the winner within a week receiving their email to set up a date and time.

FAQ

Do I have to have completed my full manuscript to enter?

No. All you need are three chapters and a synopsis ready to share.

Can I pitch multiple novels?

No. Only your strongest work, please.

Can I give multiple pitches for the same novel?

No. Please only tweet one pitch for your novel.

If I’ve already submitted my book to the Joffe open submissions, can I pitch it?

Absolutely!

If my book was previously self-published, can I pitch it?

Yes, go for it.

Can I participate even if I don’t live in the UK?

Yes, we are a global publisher with authors from all over the world. So long as the manuscript is written in English, we will happily consider your pitch.

Can I pitch outside the requested genres?

No. We do not publish sci-fi, fantasy, novellas or short story collections, YA or children’s, non-fiction, or anything paranormal. Please do not pitch any of these genres.

I can’t be on Twitter on that day, what do I do?

You can schedule your pitch tweet, so you don’t miss out.

My pitch was ‘liked’! What’s the next step?

Please email your first three chapters and synopsis to info@joffebooks.com. We will return feedback within a week of the receiving your email. We can guarantee that we write back to everyone who submits.

My pitch wasn’t ‘liked’. What should I do?

Don’t be defeated! There are still ways to get your book noticed. You can also submit via our open submissions. What we connect to during the pitch party depends on a host of factors. Some pitches are more in line with what the acquisitions team are looking for right at that moment. Some writers are more practiced at pitching than others. Some books are simply easier to pitch than others.

We actively encourage you to keep writing, keep honing your pitch and keep trying to get published.

OPTIONAL HASHTAGS TO DESCRIBE GENRE/THEME

Please find a list of hashtags below, to help identify your pitch’s genre at a glance.

#CC = Cosy crime

#CHT = Chiller thriller

#CT = Crime thrillers

#DN = Domestic noir

#HMR = Historical mystery/romance

#MM = Murder mystery

#PP = Police procedural

#PT = Psychological thriller

#RG = Reading group

#RCR = Romance contemporary/romcom

#S = Saga

#TM = Traditional mystery

#WF = Women’s fiction

#WWMR = WWII mystery/romance

Gretta in 1997

Gretta in 1971

We are very sad to announce the death of our author, Gretta Mulrooney. She will be missed by her many readers as well as by everyone lucky enough to work with her at Joffe Books. She was a brilliant writer who dazzled both in psychological insight and at the level of the sentence. She was a wonderful person who brought laughter and warmth wherever she went.

Gretta Mulrooney (1952–2023) was born in London to Irish parents, Hugh and Peg. She took a degree in English at the University of Ulster, Derry, and lived for a few years in Dublin, working various jobs. Gretta returned to England to teach before taking up social work and started writing in her thirties, publishing for children and young adults with Poolbeg Press, Dublin. She was commissioned by BBC Radio Four, who broadcast her short stories. These were followed by five novels of literary fiction, published by HarperCollins, Robert Hale and 4th Estate. The first of these, Araby, gained critical acclaim for its accurately observed characters and pathos. Margaret Forster wrote, ‘I loved it. It’s such a sweet story, without being in the least sentimental. There are moments when the reader is absolutely there, so acute is this novelist’s ear and eye.’

It was when Gretta began working with Joffe Books in 2015 that her focus moved to crime fiction and psychological thrillers, which had long been her passion. She developed Tyrone Swift, a detective who appeared in a series of books, in parallel with DI Siv Drummond in another series. Tyrone allowed her to explore a character with a complicated personal life, while Siv is grieving and lonely — a fighter, but smart. She introduced a new character with Daisy Moore. These books excited her, and, like many authors, she spoke through her protagonists. Her commitment to both character and plot was testament to her skill as a writer.

Gretta died suddenly but peacefully in January 2023. She leaves behind four siblings — Mary, Jim, Kath and Hugh — who, in her own words, were her very own diaspora. The space she leaves behind is mischief-shaped, adventurous and caring. Gretta loved a stomp along the coast (but never beaches) and spent time with family in Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. She was acutely perceptive in her understanding of people and never lost her good sense of fun. With her son, Darragh, she was a part of every corner of a large and scattered family.

Gretta — never Margaret ­— was a remarkable person; she shaped so many lives for the good and she will be much missed. To use her own words, spoken by Tyrone Swift, “May you live as long as you want to, and want to as long as you live . . .”

We are THRILLED to announce that Joffe Books has been shortlisted for the Independent Publishers Guild Award for PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year!

Thank you to the IPG committee for the nomination and a massive THANK YOU to all our incredible authors and dedicated readers who helped make this possible.

Words from the judges: ‘Joffe Books had a best-ever year with growth in sales, staff and output. The judges admired its collaboration with authors and its direct to consumer approach, powered by extensive digital marketing, including via TikTok. It acquired more crime titles from Ostara and partnered with other publishers on digital rights. The standards of acquisitions and production at Joffe Books are very high, and the online marketing is exceptionally good.’

Discover the full list of shortlisted publishers on the IPG’s official website and congratulations to all the IPG shortlisted publishers! 

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant has signed World rights in the latest gripping Detective Rachel King thriller by bestselling author Helen H. Durrant.

Kate says: "From the dramatic opening scene in which the body of an elderly woman is found carefully posed on the altar at her local church, her  hands bound with white ribbon, a white rose grasped between her fingers, I was hooked.  With twist after twist, this is one rollercoaster of a read.  Readers will be thrilled by this outstanding new series entry from an author at the top of her game."

Helen says: "I'm thrilled to be working once again with the great team at Joffe Books on the latest Rachel King adventure. After an enforced sabbatical of three months a gruesome murder throws Rachel into the thick of it. But Rachel is doubting her ability to cope. The pressures of the job and of being a one parent family are taking their toll."

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ONE OF BRITAIN’S FAVOURITE CRIME AUTHORS SURPASSES 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD!

 Lincolnshire author Joy Ellis has achieved the incredible milestone of 3 million copies sold. Joy Ellis has been a much-loved, bestselling author on the Joffe Books list since 2016 when Jasper Joffe succeeded in tracking her down via a story in a local Lincolnshire newspaper and persuaded her to sign up with his eponymous publishing company. Since the relaunch of Joy’s backlist with Joffe, her combined works have sold more than 3 million copies and been translated into more than a dozen languages.

Ellis, who has just signed her 30th book with Joffe Books, started out as a florist. After having her manuscripts rejected over 40 times, getting paid 45p in postage stamps by her first publisher, Joy has become not only a multiple #1 bestseller but has now also surpassed the milestone of over 3 million copies sold and over 1 billion pages read on Kindle Unlimited, which is equivalent to another 5 million sales.

Ellis is the author of three #1 bestselling series: Detective Nikki Galena, Matt Ballard and, recently optioned for TV by Richard Armitage, the Jackman and Evans series. The 6th instalment in Ellis’s Jackman and Evans series, The Patient Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards Crime & Thriller book of the year in 2021.

Joy Ellis says: “Three million books sold, one billion pages read on Kindle Unlimited… well, I can write a novel, but how to describe in a few words, what this means to me, is almost impossible. It’s quite surreal, and I almost feel like it’s happening to someone else! All I can say is that this could never have happened without my incredible publisher, Joffe Books, so a huge thank you to them for believing in me. Thank you too, to my amazing readers… thank you for believing in Nikki, Jackman, and Matt! I’m overwhelmed by your kindness in taking them into your hearts and onto your bookshelves! Speechless! (For once….!)”

Publisher Jasper Joffe says: “The day I finally managed to track Joy Ellis down was one of the best days of my life as a publisher. She is an outstanding storyteller who with every finely crafted sentence draws the reader further into her fiendish plots. And her characters are rounded and inspire real love and connection— even her villains are complex and human. I couldn’t be prouder that we’ve sold three million of her books and have just signed her thirtieth title, and not only that, I’m lucky enough to call her my friend as well as her publisher.”  

KEY FACTS

·       Joy was shortlisted for British Book Awards Crime & Thriller Of The Year in 2021 alongside Richard Osman, Lee Child and Ian Rankin.

·       Ten UK number one bestsellers on Amazon.

·       Translated into 14 languages including Arabic, Croatian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Italian, Russian, Swedish and Turkish.

·       Her Jackman & Evans novels are audio bestsellers narrated by acclaimed actor Richard Armitage.

·       Bookseller magazine number one bestselling author.

Joy Ellis Bio

Joy grew up and lived in Kent, trained in floristry in Mayfair and ran her own highly successful floristry business in Weybridge for many years. In the mid-1990s, she followed her lifelong love of books, first as the manager of an independent bookshop in Leatherhead, Surrey, then as a writer. When she retired, Joy and her partner Jacqueline and their two spaniels settled in a village just outside Boston, captivated by the Lincolnshire Fens. Two spaniels have now become seven, and 45p stamps have become 3 million copies!

Joy’s happy home life is far removed from her storylines, however, and while she loves living in the misty Fens, the area provides a remote and eerie backdrop to her novels. Joy is also able to add the authenticity vital to any crime thriller by drawing on Jacqueline’s inside knowledge, to confirm procedures and the reality of tackling brutal crime and criminals in a modern police force.

About Joffe Books

Founded in 2014, Joffe Books is proud of its history of innovative publishing. Thanks to the unflagging passion and dedication brought by everyone in Team Joffe, they have built a reputation for crafting great books for readers, long-term relationships with authors and agents, and fleet-footed marketing. It is now the largest independent publisher of e-books in the UK. Joffe was shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Joffe Books Prize aims to increase the diversity of voices in crime writing.

For more info, images or review copies contact

office AT joffebooks.com

www.joffebooks.com

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that C.J. Connolly, has been shortlisted in the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award category with her novel, The Love of My Other Life, for the UK based Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms. 

CJ Connolly is a writer and communications professional based in Vancouver, Canada, and originally from theUK. She is the author of The Love of My Other Life, a contemporary romance novel with a magic realism premise, set in present-day New York City. CJ has a background in  communications and journalism, with two decades of editing, writing, and marketing experience in the Vancouver and London media and tech industries under her other identity, Joannah Connolly. She has also hosted a real estate focused talk radio show and has experience reporting on local TV news and speaking on conference panels. In her free time – in addition to writing novels – she is a passionate singer, and a member of a vocal harmony group in Vancouver.

She commented, 'As a debut author, I never imagined I would be shortlisted for an incredible award such as this one! I couldn't be more thrilled and honoured that The Love of My Other Life was
popular enough among the reader-judges to be placed alongside such great competition. How exciting!’

Jean Fullerton, the RNA Chair, commented, ‘Once again, our lovely reader-judges have had the  almost impossible task of creating award shortlists from what is an unbelievable number of cracking, page-turning novels. Thankfully they have, and I can only say this year’s shortlist books are the crème de la crème of romantic fiction.’

Sharon Ibbotson, the RNA Awards Coordinator, said, ‘Our genre continues to go from strength to strength, providing escapism, delight and delicious romance with the turn of every page. Our
shortlisted books, voted for by real, everyday readers, are a testament to wordmanship and the dedication of their authors, who we congratulate today.’ 

The awards, which have been held since their inception in 1960, are highly respected in the UK publishing industry. Previous winners include Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen and Milly 
Johnson. The awards are unique in that they are judged entirely by readers, without input from any industry professionals. 

The winners of the awards will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Novel Awards ceremony on Monday 6th March 2023 at 6.30pm.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY OF C.J. CONNOLLY’S DEBUT NOVEL THE LOVE OF MY OTHER LIFE

Nina Kicul has been promoted to managing editor of Joffe Books as Lahli Trevis, who has freelanced for the publisher, steps into Kicul’s former role of production editor and Jasmine Callaghan joins as project editor.

Kicul, who starts in her new role immediately, joined Joffe Books in 2019 and has, the publisher said, made significant contributions to the company, overseeing, for example, the rebranding of Pauline Rowson’s Detective Andy Horton mysteries in early 2022.

Chief executive Jasper Joffe said: “I am delighted to promote Nina to managing editor at Joffe Books. She was our third employee, starting as publishing assistant in 2019, and through her talent, hard work and amazing energy she has proved herself with every promotion. I am sure she will do an outstanding job.”

Kicul said: “I feel extremely lucky to have been part of Joffe Books from the beginning. It’s been an honour watching the company and team grow and go from strength to strength and being a part of its evolution and success. I’ve worn many hats over my time at Joffe Books but donning the cap of managing editor is a privilege.”

Trevis has moved from the royalties team at HarperCollins to fill the position of production editor, left vacant by Kicul’s promotion, and Callaghan, previously with the Mark Allen Group, rounds out the editorial team as project editor. Callaghan will oversee the rebranding of backlist titles to bring them to a new audience.

Callaghan said: “Words can’t describe how thrilled I am to have joined the dynamic and innovative team here at Joffe Books. It’s such an exciting time to join the company as it expands and brings its impressive list to a wider international audience. I feel privileged to be in a prime position to see Joffe Books go from strength to strength and play a part in its incredible development.”

Trevis added: “Over the last year I’ve enjoyed working with the Joffe editors as a freelancer and getting a glimpse at upcoming titles. Now I’m even more excited to have the opportunity to join the team full-time and get more hands-on with producing books for digital and print.”

Editorial director Emma Grundy Haigh described Kicul as “a huge asset to our team right from the start, demonstrating ambition, innovation and diligence at every turn".

She continued: “She bears that lovely combination of being both exceptionally perceptive and highly organised. This is a very natural move for her. I am also delighted to welcome Jasmine and Lahli to our ever-growing team. They bring great enthusiasm and precision to their respective roles. These three changes collectively mark an exciting turning point of the whole of Joffe Books.” 

We are delighted to announce that Joffe Books have signed the latest Hillary Greene novel by bestselling author Faith Martin.

Author Faith Martin says: 'I'm so happy and thrilled that Joffe Books are delighted with my latest Hillary Greene novel, and have agreed to publish it this spring. Although I have written a number of series now, readers continually ask me if there are any more Hillary Greene investigations in the offing, so I hope they'll all be glad to know that Hillary is indeed still going strong and solving cold cases! Joffe Books have done so much to bring Hillary to the reading public's attention, and I can't thank them enough for their continuing championing of her by bringing her stories to my readers in both ebook and paperback form. I hope this latest novel will be of particular interest to everyone, as this one really is all about Hillary! No spoilers though!'

Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant says: “We are thrilled to have signed up the intriguing new Hillary Greene mystery from bestselling author Faith Martin. In this, the 20th entry in this much-loved series, dark secrets are unearthed in a pretty Oxfordshire village when retired Detective Hillary Greene and her cold case team investigate the murder of a country vicar thirty years before. With its idyllic rural setting, cast of credible suspects and a thoroughly likeable detective heroine at its core, Cold Case Murder kept me gripped and guessing right to the end.”

Joffe Books Publisher CEO Jasper Joffe says: A new Faith Martin is something to celebrate. I'm so proud to publish a new book by one of Britain's favourite crime writers.

The latest in the DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin will be released spring 2023.

Read THE BOOKSELLER article here

We are thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour 2022!

The second Joffe Books Prize received a flood of fantastic entrants. Completely anonymised for judging, the pool of scripts covered the gamut of gritty police procedurals to wrenching domestic suspense, evocative historical mysteries to page-turning cosies.

Out of the longlist of twenty, five really stood out, forming our official shortlist:

FQ Yeoh, The Labelled Bones
Kingsley Pearson, Everyone Is Going To Know
Mai Le Dinh, The Smiling Mandarin
Rose Lorimer, Red Obsession
Sam Genever, Savage Territory

The winner will be announced in January 2023, so watch this space!

PURCHASE YOUR COPY OF THESE BESTSELLERS NOW!

Graves on the Fens by Joy Ellis: CLICK HERE
Little Sister by Patricia Macdonald: CLICK HERE

We are overjoyed to launch our brand-new Ostara Classics list with four critically acclaimed crime mysteries by V.C. Clinton-Baddeley.

In the words of Joffe Books publisher, Jasper Joffe:

‘I'm delighted to introduce a new series of classic crime mysteries, which heralds the launch of our brand-new Ostara Classics list. V.C. Clinton-Baddeley’s charming series featuring mild-mannered, opera-loving Cambridge academic Dr Davie will appeal to anyone who loves a traditional, character-led mystery with a beautiful setting.

Originally published in the 1960s, these critically-acclaimed cozy mysteries are little gems — and great value for money. We are excited to be introducing a whole new generation of readers to the books, or if you have read them before, we are happy to reintroduce old friends. Enjoy!’

CLICK HERE TO GET THE CAMBRIDGE CLASSIC MURDER MYSTERIES BY V.C. CLINTON-BADDELEY

PRAISE FOR V.C. CLINTON-BADDELEY'S CAMBRIDGE CLASSIC MURDER MYSTERIES:

‘The most likeable of elderly don-detectives.’ Observer

‘The pleasure lies in the literacy and intelligence of the narrative and of the dialogue.’ Tablet

‘Mr Clinton-Baddeley’s first thriller is as likeable as his old-fashioned amateur detective.’ Times Literary Supplement

‘For intelligence, humour, observation and unforced charm, Mr Clinton-Baddeley is splendid value.’ Sunday Times

‘Those whose tastes rise above beatings-up and nudes, please note. Oh! yes: and it's a very good detective story too.’ Guardian

Joy Ellis is the author of three bestselling detective series set on the Lincolnshire Fens: the DI Jackman & DS Marie Evans series, the Detective Matt Ballard series, and the DI Nikki Galena series.

How on earth does Joy manage it all? Read on to find out!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE GRAVES ON THE FENS BY JOY ELLIS

JOY ELLIS ON HER WRITING JOURNEY FOR GRAVES ON THE FENS

Did anything surprise you during the writing process?

This whole book was something of a surprise, and the mere fact that it ever got finished was a miracle. It was one of those times, when life butted in with multiple problems, and I was forced to grab writing moments only when I could. 

I was terrified this would reflect in the continuity of the storyline. So, the most surprising thing was when my friend, who always reads the manuscript and gives an honest opinion, said, ‘Great continuity, flows a treat!’ Phew! 

What’s the biggest distraction of your writing day?

Seven dogs!!!! Need I say more? (Three rescue girls, one rehomed girl, and our original three boy Springers): Woody, Jasper, Rory, Scampi, Ju-Ju, Ellie and Darcey.

Oh, and a morning break to play Wordle. Social media has a lot to answer for too. So many messages from all over the world, and every one is important to me, so I certainly get distracted there.

What really inspires you?

The readers, without a doubt! Some of the messages that I’ve received over the last few years have been both heart-warming and heart-breaking, and have given me a totally different view on the power of books. If I ever flag, or feel that maybe the time has come to back off from writing, the readers bring me back and inspire me all over again.

Tell us about the setting?

All my books, all twenty-nine of them, are set in the Lincolnshire Fens where I live. It is a strange county, loved by some, and hated by others.

Noël Coward commented that Norfolk was very flat, but I suggest he had never been to the southern part of Lincolnshire!

Even so, it is a wonderful place for the location of a murder mystery or a thriller. Mists, marshes, acres of fields and tiny, rural hamlets scattered beneath the biggest and most breath-taking of skies. I love it, and so does DI Nikki Galena.

How do you want the readers to feel when they’ve finished your book?

That they can’t wait for the next one! I want them to feel that the characters are their friends, and that my books provide a catch-up on what is going on in their lives. I love to hear when readers say that they didn’t want a book to end. It’s all about enjoying a damned good read.

I just hope they’ve had a thrilling ride, a few laughs, maybe the odd tear sometimes, and found some escapism with me, here in the Fens . . .

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE GRAVES ON THE FENS BY JOY ELLIS

Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant signs a brilliant new Lennox & Wilde mystery from #1 bestselling author Helen H. Durrant.

Helen says: "I'm delighted to be working once again with the fab team at Joffe Books on the latest adventure for Lennox & Wilde. The story sees the pair crack a complex case with twists aplenty and will hopefully keep the reader guessing."

Kate says: THE WRONG MAN is a wonderfully gripping crime thriller full of unexpected twists and turns: I genuinely had no idea where the constantly twisting plot was going to take me next! DS Jess Wilde and DI Harry Lennox make for an intriguing detective partnership, with the junior partner Jess often having to be surrogatte mother to her superior officer, Harry, with his chaotic, unsettled lifestyle - brilliant detective though he may be. I can't wait to see where their adventures take them next.

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We're delighted to announce that Joffe Books' Associate Commissioning Editor Steph Carey has signed a gripping psychological thriller from Caleb Stephens.

Caleb Stephens: “I’m incredibly excited to publish with Joffe. There isn’t another independent publisher as driven as they are to deliver high-quality fiction to their readers. I know they will put just as much work getting my book out into the world as I did in writing it.”

Associate Commissioning Editor Steph Carey: “Caleb has written a truly unputdownable thriller with all the elements of a bestseller — a camping trip in the beautiful wilderness of Colorado that goes really wrong, tense family dynamics that will be put to the ultimate test, and a stranger with a shocking past who is not what she seems . . . I can't wait to get to work!”

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Joffe Books has acquired the gripping new psychological suspense by Max Manning, The Killer in Me, plus one more. The Killer in Me will publish in eBook and paperback in winter 2022.

Max Manning is a former national newspaper journalist. He started his career as a crime reporter on local newspapers in Essex, England, covering police investigations and murder trials. He later went on to work for several national newspapers in London. He is the bestselling author of psychological thrillers Now You See and Don't Look Now.

In The Killer in Me, Liv Miller is still grieving the death of her sister, killed in a hit-and-run. The driver confessed and was convicted, but he’s going to be released from prison any day now. Soon he’ll walk free while her sister is dead. Liv is struggling with that knowledge when suddenly her world turns upside down. She volunteers to take part in a study of the brains of violent criminals, as a ‘control’ sample of a ‘normal’ brain. That’s when she learns she has all the classic abnormalities of a high-level psychopath. Suddenly Liv’s head is crowded with possibilities. Dark thoughts. Twisted opportunities. Maybe it’s time to embrace her secret self. Maybe finding out she’s a psychopath is the push she needs to exact revenge . . .

“I know readers won’t be able to put it down till the stunning conclusion”

— Emma Grundy Haigh

Max Manning says: “I am thrilled to be working with Emma and the rest of the talented team at Joffe Books. I am already a big fan of many of their highly successful authors and delighted to have found the perfect home for The Killer in Me.”

Emma Grundy Haigh says: “I'm thrilled to be publishing Max Manning’s chilling new thriller. The Killer in Me is an unputdownable foray into a world of loss, grief and simmering fury that explores the simple question: what would you do if it turned out you had the mind of a psychopath? I needed to find out and I know readers won’t be able to put it down till the stunning conclusion either.”

Hannah Todd says: “I am so delighted to unite Max and Emma for the publishing of these amazing new thrillers. Emma’s enthusiasm for these books, her publishing acumen and marketing insight, paired with Max’s fantastic pacey writing and plots means it’s truly a dream team!”

PRE-ORDER THE KILLER IN ME HERE

Kate Lyall Grant is delighted to have signed a 24-book deal with previously self-published author Emmy Ellis. The deal comprises four different series, the DI Carol Wren, DI Bethany Thomas, DI Tracy Collier and DI Morgan Yeoman police procedural series.

Kate Lyall Grant says:

"In my 30-year publishing career, this is easily the biggest deal I've ever done. The fact that we are signing up a mammoth 24 books demonstrates the level of our belief in Emmy Ellis, and our commitment to her long-term career. With her utterly gripping police procedurals, with their flawed, all-too-human yet thoroughly likeable detective protagonists, twisty-turny plots, series of gruesome murders and well-realised settings, we are confident that Emmy has a glittering career ahead of her, and we're looking forward to propelling her to the top of the bestseller lists."

Emmy Ellis writes:

"I’m delighted and excited to be working with the wonderful team at Joffe who have welcomed me with open arms and have the same vision as I do for my books. It’s rare to find somewhere you feel right at home from the beginning, but I do believe I’ve found it, and I look forward to the future, knowing my stories are in the best hands."

The first of twenty-four gripping titles by Emmy Ellis will be released early spring 2023.

We're delighted to announce that Joffe Books' Associate Commissioning Editor Steph Carey has signed SIX thrilling books from C.J. Grayson.

C.J. Grayson says:

“I’m not only excited but overwhelmed to be publishing with Joffe Books. Joining their passionate, knowledgeable team who are continually publishing high-quality fiction, along with their fantastic collection of successful authors, I can’t wait to see what the future holds! It’s safe to say I’m in very capable hands.”

Steph Carey says:

“C.J. Grayson has not one but two incredible series — both fantastically dark and gritty — and I know our readers will love the gripping, twisty plots and richly drawn characters in his crime thrillers. I'm so pleased to have him on board!”

The first of six crime thrillers by C.J. Grayson will be released early 2023.

FOLLOW C.J. ON:
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM

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We're delighted to announce that Joffe Books' Associate Commissioning Editor Steph Carey has signed SIX gripping Welsh crime mysteries from P.F. Ford.

Peter always dreamed of becoming a writer, but a dream is easily stifled without support from those around you. 

He says it was only when his old, unhappy life fell apart and he met his new partner Mary, who believed dreamers should be encouraged, that he finally got the chance to live that dream.

Fast forward a few years and you find a man transformed. Now, blissfully happy, settled in a quiet corner of Wales with wife Mary and their rescue dogs, P.F. Ford is living proof that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

P.F. Ford says:

“As soon as I spoke to the guys at Joffe Books I understood why they win so many awards, and I’m super confident that working with them is going to take my writing career to another level. I can’t wait to get started!”

Joffe Books Associate Commissioning Editor Steph Carey says:

“I am absolutely delighted to sign Pete to Joffe Books — his compelling crime mysteries set on the Welsh coast have it all: a fantastic cast of richly drawn characters, a beautiful setting, and twists and turns aplenty.” 

Watch this space to get your hands on the first utterly gripping Welsh murder mystery by P.F. Ford in November! 

FOLLOW P.F. ON:
AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK