Amazon Publishing Acquires Classic Series: Leslie Charteris & Gladys Mitchell

Amazon Publishing today announced that it has acquired the North American publication rights to the majority of two classic British series: The Saint by Leslie Charteris and Gladys Mitchell’s Mrs. Bradley. The books will be published in digital and, where rights permit, print formats by the Thomas & Mercer imprint beginning in late 2013. This is the first time many of the titles that will be made available digitally in North America.

Leslie Charteris’ books featuring criminal-turned-hero Simon Templar – known as The Saint – became cult classics when originally published between 1928 and 1983. The series has spawned fifteen feature films, including a 1997 version starring Val Kilmer as Templar; a popular 1960s British television series starring Roger Moore; a number of radio series; and a comic strip that was syndicated to newspapers around the world for over a decade. Under the agreement negotiated by Jane Gelfman of Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents, Amazon Publishing has acquired the exclusive rights to publish 49 titles in the Saint series, including Enter the Saint (1930), The Saint in New York (1935), Follow the Saint (1938), and Salvage for the Saint(1983).

A pilot for a new television series based on the Saint books, co-starring former Saints Moore and Ian Ogilvy as well as Eliza Dushku (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), is currently in production.

Additionally, Amazon Publishing has entered into an agreement to publish 71 titles by Gladys Mitchell, including 65 titles in her classic Mrs. Bradley series. Mitchell’s works span seven decades – and earned her a reputation as an esteemed contemporary of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.  Titles to be published by Amazon Publishing include the first book featuring Mrs. Bradley, Speedy Death (1929), as well as The Devil at Saxon Wall (1935); Printer’s Error (1939); Sunset Over Soho (1943); andThe Crozier Pharaohs (1984). Since their first publication, the books have sold over 10 million copies worldwide and have been the inspiration behind the BBC television series The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries.

Jane Gregory and Linden Sherriff at Gregory & Company negotiated the agreement, which gives Amazon Publishing license to North American rights for the titles and will result in the publication of the largest collection of Mitchell’s books for sale in North America.

The acquisitions of the Charteris and Mitchell backlists follows Amazon Publishing’s re-launch of titles from Ian Fleming’s James Bond series and Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct and Matthew Hope books, which combined have sold more than 500,000 copies since their publication by Thomas & Mercer beginning in 2012.

"The success of our Thomas & Mercer editions of the iconic series from Ian Fleming and Ed McBain has shown that there’s an eager audience for signature backlist titles,” said Philip Patrick, Director of  Business Development at Amazon Publishing. “As fans of both Leslie Charteris and Gladys Mitchell, we welcome  the opportunity to bring these classic books to a new generation of readers.”

Announced in May 2011, Thomas & Mercer—named for streets that flank the Amazon headquarters in Seattle—is the mystery and thriller imprint of Amazon Publishing. Thomas & Mercer books are available to English readers in Kindle, print and audio formats at www.amazon.com, as well as at national and independent booksellers. For more information on Thomas & Mercer and upcoming titles, visit www.amazon.com/thomasandmercer.  For more information about all imprints of Amazon Publishing, visit www.amazon.com/amazonpublishing. Thomas & Mercer is a brand used by Amazon Content Services, LLC.