Deputy Managing Director Claire Bord has acquired World English Language rights for The Lost Death of Lucy Bliss, a compelling debut novel plus one further novel by Lara Finch (a pseudonym for Jane Robins) from Jon Wood at Rogers, Coleridge & White.
A propulsive read that unravels a decades-old family mystery, the novel follows Evie Segura, a young woman whose life is transformed when she discovers a shocking secret after her mother’s sudden death. The book explores the devastating consequences of long-buried family secrets and the quest for truth.
When Evie finds a newspaper clipping about a murdered woman named Lucy Bliss hidden in her mother’s wardrobe, she embarks on a journey that will uncover the dark truth about her own origins. Born in the same year as the missing daughter of Lucy Bliss, Evie must confront a complex web of love, betrayal, and survival that spans generations.
Jane Robins was a foreign correspondent for The Economist, editor of The Week in Westminster on Radio 4, an adviser in the BBC’s Policy Unit, and media editor of the Independent on Sunday. She has authored three acclaimed works of narrative non-fiction centred on historical criminal trials: Rebel Queen: The Trial of Queen Caroline (Simon and Schuster), The Magnificent Spilsbury and the Case of the Brides in the Bath (John Murray), and The Curious Habits of Dr Adams (John Murray). Her debut novel White Bodies (Harper Collins), a psychological thriller, was long-listed for the Dublin International Literary Prize.
Robins said:
“I am thrilled to have signed with Storm – one of the most exciting and fast-growing publishers in the UK. And I’m particularly delighted to be working with Claire Bord, who has such an impressive track record in publishing multi-million copy bestselling authors.”
Bord commented:
“Jane has crafted an exceptional debut that will captivate readers with its intricate plot and emotional depth. This is a novel that defies simple categorisation – part psychological thriller, part family drama – that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.”
The Lost Death of Lucy Bliss will be published in ebook, audio and paperback on 9th July 2025 followed by a second novel due for release in January 2026.
Storm Managing Director
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