Author on verge of book deal for ‘who didn’t do it’ novel

Russ Litten, 43, has agreed a deal with Birmingham-based Tindal Street Press following a meeting between his agent and the publisher at the London Book Fair yesterday.

His new 98,000-word novel has a working title of Swear Down and follows last year’s publication of Scream If You Want to Go Faster, published by William Heinemann. The new book is expected to go on sale next January and will be available throughout the Commonwealth.

Set around three sweltering days in inner-city London during England’s bid for the football World Cup, Swear Down is something of a departure from Litten’s debut, approaching the crime-fiction genre and having a more coherent narrative than the episodic Scream.

The tale begins when two unlikely companions – Jack, a garrulous ex-trawlerman from Hull, and former London gang member Carlton – set out on a road trip together.

They are arrested in Hull when they walk into a police station and both confess to the same murder.

It is the job of Metropolitan Police officer Peter Ndekwe, a newly promoted Detective Sergeant on his first murder case, to find out who is telling the truth.

Litten, who called it a “who didn’t do it” story, consulted a serving officer to accurately portray police procedure.

He said he was pleased to be working with Tindal Street Press, a not-for-profit arts organisation which aims to find writers living outside London and the South East, where most of the English publishing industry is based.

He said: “It’s more of a straight linear narrative than the last one, more of a single story.

“I think it’s better than the last one but not as good as the next one.

“I’m really proud to be part of Tindal Street; they are a really cool publishing company and they’ve got a real integrity about them.”

Litten, a former musician and advertising copywriter, has also written scripts for the film director Guy Ritchie and award-winning radio plays.

He is the older brother of Derren Litten, 41, creator of the hit ITV comedy-drama series Benidorm and co-writer of The Catherine Tate Show.