Acquisition Announcement: The Dying Squad, Adam Simcox

Gollancz acquires gritty supernatural crime series debut

Rachel Winterbottom, Senior Commissioning Editor at Gollancz, has acquired World English Language rights for Adam Simcox’s debut THE DYING SQUAD, plus two sequels, from Harry Illingworth at DHH Literary Agency. The hardback, ebook and audio editions will be publishing 10 June 2021. Rights enquires to Jessica Perdue at Orion. LINE OF DUTY meets RIVERS OF LONDON, this is a fresh, gritty UK-set supernatural crime series in which the dead investigate murders the police can’t solve.

When Detective Inspector Joe Lazarus storms a Lincolnshire farmhouse, he expects to bring down the drug gang within it; instead, he discovers his own body and a spirit guide called Daisy-May. She’s there to enlist him to the Dying Squad, a spectral police force who solve crimes their flesh and blood colleagues cannot. Lazarus reluctantly accepts and returns to the Lincolnshire Badlands, where, in his quest to discover the identity of his killer, he faces dangers from both the living – and the dead.

Winterbottom said: ‘A gritty, brilliantly inventive brand-new supernatural crime series has been on my wishlist since I started at Gollancz and THE DYING SQUAD was well worth the wait. Adam’s background is in film, and it shows. The dialogue is fresh and witty, and the action zips along, grounding the supernatural with authentic police investigations that will thrill Brit-crime fans and RIVERS OF LONDON readers alike.’

Simcox said: ‘When I was putting together my fantasy publisher list, Gollancz were right at the top. Rachel got the concept straight away, and I was massively flattered by her passion for the book, and what I want to do with the series. If I ever have to put together a sweary supernatural police force, Rachel and Harry are going to be my first recruits.’

Illingworth said: ‘I couldn’t be happier that THE DYING SQUAD has landed with Rachel and Gollancz. This is the start of a bold new series that I think is really going to capture the imagination of readers; it’s fresh, creative and full of smart and hilarious dialogue. You’re going to get along great with Joe and Daisy-May.’

Adam is a London-based filmmaker who’s shot commercials for brands such as McLaren, Primark and PayPal, and music videos for Britpop veterans. He began his film career by writing and directing three features: the first sold to Netflix; the second and third won awards and critical acclaim at festivals worldwide. A graduate of the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course, THE DYING SQUAD is Adam’s debut novel.

THE DYING SQUAD | ADAM SIMCOX | 10 JUNE 2021

Hardback £18.99 | eBook £18.99 | Audio £19.99