Sphere has won a multiple-publisher auction to publish Twelve Secrets, the first in a page-rippingly suspenseful new crime series by Rob Gold. 

Publisher Ed Wood and Editor Rosanna Forte, who are teaming up to publish Twelve Secrets as Sphere’s lead crime debut for spring 2022, bought UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment in a two-book, six-figure deal. 

Twelve Secrets follows journalist Ben Harper as he sets out to discover the truth about the shocking crime that ruptured his family and his London suburban community twenty years earlier. And when another murder brings new evidence to light, Ben finds himself tangled in a web of secrets – twelve, to be precise – that throws his whole life into chaos.

Rosanna Forte said: “Twelve Secrets is a breathless read. Deftly plotted, superbly paced and unpredictable at every turn, it rivals the finest examples of the genre and I am delighted to be bringing it and Rob to Sphere.”

Ed Wood said: “No twist goes unexplored in what must be the paciest, most brilliantly plotted novel in years. Twelve Secrets is incredibly smart.” 

Juliet Mushens said: ‘I raced through Twelve Secrets – a cast of characters who all have something to hide, a grisly historic murder with modern day ramifications, and a very likeable hero makes for an irresistibly readable combination!’

Rob Gold is the pseudonym of Rob Waddington, PRH Group Sales director and former nationwide book buyer for Asda. He has previously co-authored three of the James Patterson Bookshot series.  He said of the deal:

“I couldn’t be more delighted than to be working with Ed, Rosanna and all of the team at Little, Brown.  I was bowled over by their enthusiasm and vision for Twelve Secrets and am already eagerly looking forward to publication.”