A HOME FOR UNUSUAL MONSTERS by Shaun David Hutchinson

Feb 112025
 

A girl who has spent her life in disguise tackles a mission that uncovers lies and surprises around every corner. Nothing is as it seems in the next cozily creepy monster mystery from acclaimed author Shaun David Hutchinson.

Sam Osborne may have helped her new friend Hector Griggs save St. Lawrence’s Catholic School for Boys from a terrifying monster, but she is still trying to prove herself as a member of Kairos, the secretive and shadowy government agency devoted to investigating the strange and unusual. And her unique ability to control how others see her makes her the perfect agent…if she can learn to play by Kairos’ rules.

Her next mission? Use her powers of disguise to infiltrate the family of a former agent to find top secret information about monsters hiding in plain sight. But even though Sam is well versed in deception, she may not be prepared for the web of secrets she uncovers. Especially since she may not be the only one pretending to be someone—or something—she’s not. And once the clues are unraveled and the truth is revealed, the monsters she’s searching for might just be closer to home…

Review: OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss

Feb 102025
 

Kirkus: A group of scuba-diving friends from the Florida Keys go on an adventure after high school graduation—but it may be their last. Phoebe “Phibs” Ray is a natural underwater. Her instincts have led her not only to befriend the Salt Squad, her crew of dive shop pals, but also to discover historic gold coins. The Salt Squad—Phibs, Lani, Isabel, Gabe, and Gabe’s twin, Will—have gone viral on social media thanks to Phibs’ find and her photos and videos of their dives. Over this last summer before they embark on different paths, the teens decide to go to Australia. Phibs, who knows nothing about her father and whose mother abandoned her, lives with her grandmother, and unlike her rich, college-bound friends, she isn’t excited about her future: staying home and caring for Gram. But she’s looking forward to this trip to a remote atoll off the coast of Western Australia, not least because she’ll get to spend time with dark-skinned Gabe, her crush (most other characters present white). Their destination is also the subject of gruesome, creepy stories about a mysterious, treasure-filled cave. Alternating timelines slowly and effectively reveal the Salt Squad’s shared secret and the truth about Phibs’ past. Phibs is a compellingly strong, nuanced lead, and her romantic scenes with Gabe are steamy. The book, which delves into environmental themes, ultimately reaches a conclusion that’s unusual and effective.  A deep-sea adventure that snappily blends mystery and romance with social themes.

January Translation Deals

Jan 312025
 

Chinese (complex) rights to Nebula Award winner Vajra Chandrasekera’s THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS, to Faces, by Gray Tan at Grayhawk Agency in association with Michael Curry.

Czech rights to Melissa K. Roehrich’s RAIN OF SHADOWS AND ENDINGS and STORM OF SECRETS AND SORROWS, to Albatros, in a two-book deal, by Sanja Stefanjesko at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

German rights to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD, HEIR TO THE SHADOWS, and QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS, the first three books in The Black Jewels series, to Heyne, by Sarah Knofius at the Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to Robert Jackson Bennett’s SHOREFALL, to Fumax, by Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Hungarian rights to Melissa K. Roehrich’s RAIN OF SHADOWS AND ENDINGS and STORM OF SECRETS AND SORROWS, books one and two of The Legacy series, to Maxim, in a two-book deal, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Italian rights to Robert Sheckley’s MINDSWAP, to Mondadori, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Italian rights to Melissa K. Roehrich’s RAIN OF SHADOWS AND ENDINGS and STORM OF SECRETS AND SORROW, Books 1 and 2 of The Legacy series, to Sperling & Kupfer, in a two-book deal, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Italian rights to Peter Watts’s BLINDSIGHT, to Mondadori, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta, by Katie Shea Boutillier.

Polish audio download rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s first eleven novels in the Dresden Files series plus PEACE TALKS and BATTLE GROUND (the sixteenth and seventeenth novels in the series), to Storytel, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Spanish rights to Ronald Malfi’s MR. CABLES, to Dimensiones Ocultas, by Amaiur Fernandez at International Editors & Yanez, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Ukranian rights to Brent Weeks’ The Lightbringer series, to Bohdan, in a five-book deal, by Nada Popovic and Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

LJ Andrews’s THE EVER QUEEN, to Zeleny Kocur (Slovak Republic),and to Albatros Media (Czech Republic), by Milena Kaplarević at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Starred Review: YOU DESERVE TO KNOW by Aggie Blum Thompson

Jan 232025
 

Publishers Weekly: In this captivating standalone from Thompson (Such a Lovely Family), tragedy and scandal rock a neighborhood in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Gwen Khoury, Aimee Stern, and Lisa Greco-King enjoy weekly get-togethers with their husbands and children, but at one such gathering, tensions rise after Lisa questions Aimee’s parenting and Gwen’s husband, Anton, has too much to drink. At the end of the evening, Anton gets uncomfortably close to Aimee and whispers “You deserve to know” in her ear before leaving. The next day, the police inform Gwen that Anton’s corpse was found near a local bar. Suspecting homicide, investigators question Gwen and Anton’s neighbors, discovering that Aimee’s husband, Scott, was one of the last people to see Anton alive. Soon, the women start to turn on one another, and flashbacks reveal cracks in their friendship that predate the skirmish in the book’s opening scene. Thompson drops her fully fleshed-out characters into a mile-a-minute plot peppered with blindsiding twists, making the novel easy to devour in a single sitting. This is domestic suspense at its finest. (Mar.)

Review: BOOK BOYFRIEND by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Jan 212025
 

Publishers Weekly: Married writing duo Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka (The Breakup Tour) beguile in this empathetic enemies-to-lovers romance. After book marketer Jennifer Worth ends her unsatisfying relationship, she decides to spend a week at an immersive fan experience based on her favorite romantic fantasy series, wanting an escape into a world where love is passionate and real. She’s shocked when she arrives to find her work nemesis, Scott Daniels, also in attendance and cosplaying as one of the men of her dreams. As they search for clues through the elaborate themed scavenger hunt, their constant sparring turns to white-hot attraction. Now Jennifer wonders if her own romantic fantasies, which she’s long dismissed as unrealistic, might be achievable after all—with the one person she least expected to fall for. The authors convincingly portray Jennifer’s romantic angst and Scott’s swoony attempts to woo her. A robust supporting cast rounds out the love story as Jennifer makes new friends who are all as obsessed with the series as she is and becomes embroiled in drama brewing among the experience’s actors. This is a treat. (Feb.)

December Subsidiary Rights Deals

Dec 312024
 

a pair of black ear budsAudio rights to William C. Tracy’s PHYSICAL MAGIC, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media, in a five-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier (world English).

Audio rights to J.S. Fields’s OCEANS OF FIREFLIES, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media, by Katie Shea Boutillier (world English).

Audio rights to Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winner Premee Mohamed’s THE BUTCHER OF THE FOREST,  to Aaron Piccirillo at Tantor, by Michael Curry.

December Translation Deals

Dec 312024
 

Chinese (complex) rights to Nebula Award winner Vajra Chandrasekera’s THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS, to Faces, by Gray Tan at Grayhawk Agency in association with Michael Curry.

German rights to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD, HEIR TO THE SHADOWS, and QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS, the first three books in The Black Jewels series, to Heyne, by Sarah Knofius at the Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to Robert Jackson Bennett’s SHOREFALL, to Fumax, by Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Hungarian rights to Melissa K. Roehrich’s RAIN OF SHADOWS AND ENDINGS and STORM OF SECRETS AND SORROWS, books one and two of The Legacy series, to Maxim, in a two-book deal, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Italian rights to Peter Watts’s BLINDSIGHT, to Mondadori, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta, by Katie Shea Boutillier for Donald Maass.

Spanish rights to Ronald Malfi’s MR. CABLES, to Dimensiones Ocultas, by Amaiur Fernandez at International Editors & Yanez, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

November Subsidiary Deals

Nov 302024
 

a pair of black ear budsAbridged/dramatic audio rights to New York Times bestseller Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb series including GIDEON THE NINTH, HARROW THE NINTH, NONA THE NINTH and ALECTO THE NINTH, to Anji Cornette at Graphic Audio by Jennifer Jackson.

Audio rights to USA Today bestseller, Alta Hensley’s HEATHENS HOLLOW SERIES and GODS AMONG MEN SERIES, to Kerri Buckley at Dreamscape Media, in a multi-deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier (NA).

Audio rights to Hugo-winning Elizabeth Bear’s ANGEL MAKER, a new sequel her acclaimed novel Karen Memory, to Brian Sweany at Recorded Books, by Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Audio rights to J.M. Kearl’s ALLIED KINGDOMS ACADEMY SERIES, to Emily Loughran at Tantor Media, in a four-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier (World English).

Audio rights to Jess K Hardy’s SUNASTARA AND THE VENUSIAN, plus two more books in the Space Cruise Romance series, to Kerri Buckley at Dreamscape Media, in a three-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier (NA).

November Translation Deals

Nov 302024
 

Arabic rights to World Fantasy Award winner Premee Mohamed’s THE BUTCHER OF THE FOREST, to Dawen Publishing House, by Gana Galal at Bears Factor Literary Agency, in association with Michael Curry.

French rights to Tashan Mehta’s MAD SISTERS OF ESI, to L’Atalante, by Sarah Dray at Anna Jarota Agency on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

French rights to Miranda Lyn’s THE UNMARKED TRILOGY, to City Editions in a three-book deal, by Sarah Dray at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Greek rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s GIDEON THE NINTH, the first book in the Locked Tomb trilogy, to Philip Psihalos and Co Publishing, by Sanja Stefanjesko at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Russian omnibus rights to Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, ROGUE PROTOCOL, and EXIT STRATEGY, the first four installments in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to Eksmo, by Igor Korzhenevski at Alexander Korzhenevski Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

 Older Entries