Adventure can be a deadly business. It began in the manner of all the very best adventures: in a coffee house. When one Richard Hannay--intrepid, inquisitive, and on the hunt for intrigue--encounters an old acquaintance in Constantinople, he has an inkling that something thrilling is afoot. Charged with an item of great mystery and import--a washbag, no less!--he soon finds himself in a very dangerous pursuit: from the luxurious confines of the Orient Express to the decks of the Titanic herself, all with the very fate of Europe in his care. Can he slip the net of Count Schwabing, whose long arm stretches from Berlin to the Bosphorus? And what of Madame Zara, the cabaret enchantress--does she play at affection, deception, or something far more deadly? In over his head, often a step--or thirty-nine--behind, but absolutely, resolutely determined to save the day, Hannay is about to embark on an escapade that will test his wits, his courage, and his ability to keep hold of a blasted washbag. Lead title · THE BOOK: Perfect for fans of Golden Age crime, cosy crime and thrillers, A VERY DANGEROUS PURSUIT marks a satisfying evolution in the market, offering readers something new. From the bustling bazaars of Constantinople to the decks of the Titanic, gentleman spy Richard Hannay must outwit his adversaries to preserve a state secret. · THE AUTHOR: Ben Miller has sold 800,000 copies of his children's novels and many of them have been top ten Sunday Times bestsellers.
He is much beloved as a comedian, screenwriter and actor, having starred in Armstrong & Miller, Death in Paradise, Bridgerton and Austin, an Australian TV comedy. · THE CAMPAIGN: Acquired in a significant deal, A VERY DANGEROUS PURSUIT will be a major launch for HarperFiction in 2026, accompanied by an innovative, ambitious marketing and PR campaign, leveraging the author's reputation as both bestselling author, TV writer and actor, and making this the Father's Day purchase. · THE COMPS: MURDER ON LAKE GARDA by Tom Hindle, 13k HB, 116k PB; QUEEN OF POISON by Robert Thorogood, 10k HB, 29k PB; MOONFLOWER MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz, 19k HB, 86k PB Competition: Death in the Arctic; Murder on the Marlow Belle; Marble Hall Murder; Argylle. Tom Hindle; Robert Thorogood; John Buchan; John le Carre; Richard Osman; Anthony Horowitz; Janice Hallett; Bob Mortimer; Rob Rinder; Mick Herron; Terry Hayes; David McCloskey; Graham Green; Daniel Silva; Charles Cumming; Jeffery Deaver.