Therese Keating, Senior Commissioning Editor at Raven Books , pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) in 10 Marchfield Square and one further novel by Nicola Whyte in a significant six figure deal with Jason Bartholomew at The bks Agency, for publication in Spring as Raven Books’ commercial super lead debut, representing the imprint’s move into new areas of the genre. 10 Marchfield Square follows shy cleaner Audrey and failing crime writer Lewis as they investigate the murder of one of their neighbours in London’s smallest residential square and discover that, while everyone in this close-knit community may know each other’s business, they don’t necessarily know their secrets
Therese Keating said ‘Witty, twisty and the perfect mix of light and dark, 10 Marchfield Square captivated me straight away. As well as a sharp and surprising mystery it is a love letter to community and unlikely bonds –the Square is a safe haven in an often unkind world and Nicola makes you feel deeply the importance of defending that. I'm delighted to welcome her to the list.’
Nicola Whyte said, ‘I’m absolutely over the moon that 10 Marchfield Square will be published by Raven Books. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better home for it and I’m so proud to be joining their outstanding list of authors. Therese’s enthusiasm for the book and its characters has been palpable from the moment she read it, and I’m thrilled to have the chance to work with her and the team at Bloomsbury to bring Marchfield into the world.’
Jason Bartholomewsaid, ‘Nicola writes with so much assuredness that she is destined to be a household name in the years to come. Luckily I found a publisher equally as enthusiastic as me, and I couldn't be happier to have the Bloomsbury team publishing 10 Marchfield Square.’
Nicola Whyte has beenlonglisted for the Cheshire Novel Prize and Mslexia Prize, and shortlisted for this year’s Comedy Women in Print. 10 Marchfield Square was named first runner-up in the 2023 Daily Mail First Novel Prize. A former bookseller turned web developer, she lives near Stonehenge.