Polygon’s senior editor Alison Rae has acquired WEL rights for Philip Miller’s The Hollow Tree and The Diary of Lies, in a deal brokered by Robbie Guillory at Underline Literary Agency. The Hollow Tree will be published in the spring of 2024.

Robbie commented, saying ‘I am thrilled that we’re going to see more of Shona Sandison in coming years. Philip is taking crime fiction in an exciting direction, and with Polygon we have the perfect team to support and champion that.’

‘Delighted to have Philip on Polygon’s list,’ said Alison. ‘His books excite, disturb and move in equal measure. May Shona Sandison run and run.’

Philip Miller said, ‘I am more than delighted that The Hollow Tree and its successor will have such a supportive and encouraging publisher behind them. Alison Rae showed great faith in my writing in backing The Goldenacre, and I am thrilled The Hollow Tree, a mystery of buried secrets, ancient wrongs and occult shadows, will be brought to the world by Polygon. Shona Sandison and a cast of malefactors will also return in The Diary of Lies. I am looking forward to working again with the talented team at Polygon on both of these novels.’

When her best friend’s wedding in the mountains of Argyll ends in tragedy, investigative reporter Shona Sandison is drawn into a mystery decades in the making. As she unravels the deadly secret that binds a group of friends, Shona discovers a hidden crime in a rural town that links a missing teen, a ruthless politician and an occult plot. Digging deep into a town’s painful memories, Shona must make the agonising choice between betraying a friend or missing the story of a lifetime.

A haunting, enigmatic thriller, The Hollow Tree takes readers on a dark journey into a modern conspiracy with roots in a tragic past. North American rights have already been snapped up by option publisher, Soho Press. Editor Taz Urnov said: ‘Soho really loves Phil, and we were all so excited to see this sequel to The Goldenacre. I am elated at the chance to work with Phil on this book and really looking forward to seeing readers’ reaction to this next instalment of Shona’s story.’

Check out Phil’s first book below: