German and Dutch rights sold for WHEN THE KING DIES and sequel THE ISLE OF SHEEP!

Breaking news!

Today, we closed two-book deals for Elina Backman’s crime novels WHEN THE KING DIES and sequel THE ISLE OF SHEEP in Germany and in the Netherlands!

What a flying start for the new queen of Scandi Crime!

Piper Verlag won the auction in Germany, and De Bezige Bij/Cargo pre-empted the Dutch rights. We have offers in Sweden and Norway, and auctions are ongoing in both territories.

Last week we celebrated Varrak acquiring the Estonian rights to book 1, and they have now extended their offer into a 2-book-deal as welll

Regine Schmitt at Piper praises Elina Backman:

 A great new Finnish voice, a gripping story and unforgettable characters. WHEN THE KING DIES simply leaves you wanting more, waiting eagerly for the next book by this upcoming new queen of nordic crime.
Regine Schmitt, Editor, Piper Verlag

There is also an offer for Film & TV rights on table. The excitement around the world is at an all-time-high!

Click here to request the following materials:

  • English synopsis for both titles
  • Full Finnish pdf for WHEN THE KING DIES
  • Author introduction
  • Media package
  • Praise sheet
  • English sample available in July 2020
#1 WHEN THE KING DIES:
Kun kuningas kuolee,
Otava, May 2020, 495 pp.Jan, a Helsinki-based police officer investigates a ritualistic murder taking place at Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. Meanwhile in idyllic countryside an ex-journalist Saana starts to dig up information of a girl who died in the 80’s in Hartola – in the only kingdom in Finland. Jan and Saana’s paths will cross – for more than one reason.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA:
Varrak (Two-book deal)
GERMANY:
Piper Verlag (Two-book deal)
NETHERLANDS:
De Bezige Bij/Cargo
(Two-book deal)
NORWAY:
Auction ongoing
SWEDEN:
Auction ongoing
TV/FILM:
Offer on the table

About author


Elina Backman

Elina Backman is an author and a media & marketing professional living in Helsinki. Elina loves books (all sorts), traveling, cycling and is a host of a Book & Wine Club. She is a creative soul with a commercial mind, and her goal is to find readers globally.

Her debut novel All the King's Men was published in 2020 and immediately gained an enormous amount of attention from the Finnish media, including a praising review by the biggest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. The Havas series is now a best-selling series in Finland and an international TV series is in development. Elina's books have sold over 100 000 copies in Finland.

Together with Heidi Holmavuo, Elina has also narrated the true crime podcast Ratkaisematon (Unsolved), which turned into a full-length audio book as the two crime writers started investigating the murder of a young girl in 1955. They were able to uncover new evidence and their research led the police to reopen the investigation. This story is narrated in the book Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

How to Face Death

Elina Backman


2022, Crime & Suspense

Before the Polar Night Falls

Elina Backman


2022, Crime & Suspense

Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo

Elina Backman


2021, Crime & Suspense

Still Waters Run Deep

Elina Backman


2020, Crime & Suspense

All the King's Men

Elina Backman