Canelo to publish Chris Lloyd
DKW are thrilled to announce that Canelo Digital Publishing have acquired three books in the Elisenda Domènech Investigations Catalan-set crime series by Chris Lloyd. The first book in the series, City of Good Death, will be one of their launch titles, publishing July 2015. Michael Bhaskar acquired World English digital rights in the series via agent Ella Kahn.
An intense and brilliantly realised crime thriller set in the myth-soaked streets of Girona.
A killer is targeting hate figures in the Catalan city of Girona – a loan shark, a corrupt priest, four thugs who have blighted the streets of the old quarter – leaving clues about his next victim through mysterious effigies left hung on a statue. Each corpse is posed in a way whose meaning no one can fathom. Which is precisely the point the murderer is trying to make.
Elisenda Domènech, the solitary and haunted head of the city’s newly-formed Serious Crime Unit, is determined to do all she can to stop the attacks. She believes the attacker is drawing on the city’s legends to choose his targets, but her colleagues aren’t convinced and her investigation is blocked at every turn. Battling against the increasing sympathy towards the killer displayed by the press, the public and even some of the police, she finds herself forced to question her own values. But when the attacks start to include less deserving victims, the pressure is suddenly on Elisenda to stop him. The question is: how?
With City of Good Death Chris Lloyd launches a gripping new series sure to appeal to readers of Val McDermid and the Inspector Montalbano novels. Rich in atmosphere, local detail and featuring an unforgettable heroine, it also announces the arrival of a major new British crime writing talent.
Chris lived in Catalonia for over twenty years and has contributed to several travel books about Spain for Rough Guides. Now back in South Wales, he works as a Catalan and Spanish translator. This is his first novel.
Chris Lloyd says: ‘I’m absolutely delighted to be published by Canelo, a fabulous new publisher that combines everything that’s great about modern technology with good old-fashioned storytelling. I’m so grateful to the brilliant team there and to my wonderful agent, Ella Kahn, for my Elisenda Domènech books seeing the light of day.’
Michael Bhaskar says: ‘When we started Canelo we wanted to find the best possible books – stories that were brilliantly written, atmospheric, with unforgettable characters. Chris Lloyd’s wonderful books have that and much more: twists, myths, a Catalan atmosphere, a plot that doesn’t let you go. It’s exactly the writing we wanted to find and so much more. Elisenda Domènech fully deserves to be up there with the great detectives and we look forward to taking her there. It’s brilliant to be working with him and DKW Literary Agency on this fantastic series.’
Ella Kahn says: ‘What better home for an exciting new voice in crime fiction than an exciting new digital publisher? I’ve been incredibly impressed by Canelo’s dynamic approach and am delighted that Chris Lloyd’s rich, atmospheric novel City of Good Death will be one of their launch titles – it’s a perfect match.’