Zaffre has signed three new books by Lesley McEvoy, the author of the Murder in Yorkshire crime series (Zaffre). The first of the newly acquired books to publish will be the fourth in the series and is titled The Invisible Dead.

Publisher Ben Willis acquired world English language rights from Jon Wood at the RCW Literary Agency. The Invisible Dead will be published in paperback original, audio and e-book in 2024, with books five and six to follow in 2025 and 2026 respectively.

Willis said: “Working with Lesley on her standout crime series is a privilege, and I can’t wait to see where she takes the brilliant Dr Jo McCready in the future. Lesley’s thrillers are some of my most recommended, and we have big ambitions to grow her readership over the coming years.”

McEvoy has had a career as a behavioural analyst, profiler and psychotherapist, setting up her own consultancy business and therapy practice. She worked in corporations and prisons, which was where she met people whose experiences informed the themes in her books. She said: “I’m thrilled to have signed a new three-book deal with the brilliant team at Zaffre, who are taking forensic psychologist and profiler Dr Jo McCready into her fourth exciting outing.”