We are so excited to announce that Bantam, an imprint of Transworld, has signed three novels by Helen Fields. Thorne Ryan, publishing director, acquired world English language rights from Caroline Hardman.

Helen’s first book with Transworld, The Dials, will be published in Spring 2027.

The synopsis for The Dials reads: “Every Friday, Kitty goes to Seven Dials market. But tonight, something feels… different. Perhaps it would be safer to go straight home? This tiny decision will change not just her own life, but countless others.”

In this “ingenious” sliding doors-style serial killer thriller, Helen explores two “very different yet equally nail-biting” paths of both of Kitty’s possible futures.

Described as “perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister’s Wrong Place, Wrong Time”, The Dials will have readers “shivering at the thought of where their next seemingly innocuous decision could take them”.

Helen’s second Transworld hardback will follow in 2028. It centres on Liv, a brilliant young criminal barrister who secures the acquittal of an alleged serial killer. Just one month later, he is accused of brutally murdering another woman – and so begins a terrifying game of cat and mouse between lawyer and client. Who is hunting whom?

This second book will be an “unbearably tense, brilliantly dark” thriller with a Hannibal/Clarice-style relationship at its heart, tapping into Helen’s past as a criminal barrister.

In addition to the two thrillers, Transworld will also be publishing No One Left Alive, the eighth instalment in Fields’ DI Callanach series, in paperback original in October.

Thorne said: “I have been an admirer of Helen Fields’ writing for many years, and it is such an honour to now be publishing her as a lead author on the Bantam list. As soon as I mentioned her name to the Transworld team, they were champing at the bit to work with her and Caroline to take her already impressive career to new and lofty heights. The three novels with which we are beginning our partnership are some of the strongest I’ve read in the genre for many years – The Dials in particular is like nothing I’ve ever read before. I cannot wait for readers to experience it for themselves.”

Helen said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Transworld team. They publish some of the best authors in the world, and from the second I met the team, I knew there was nowhere else I’d rather be. It’s an amazing opportunity. The Penguin brand is so iconic, and I’m proud that my books will be published under their banner. Thorne Ryan is a one-in-a-million editor, and I can’t wait for everyone to read the books that are coming.”

Caroline added: “Since publishing her first novel in 2017, Helen has established herself as a huge name in the crime-fiction world, with passionate fans all around the globe. When the opportunity arose to work with Thorne and the mighty Transworld team, it was too good to miss, and I’m excited to grow her brand and reach an even wider audience.”