Mystery Scandinavian Author - Publishing Deal

From The Bookseller:

Patrick Janson-Smith at HarperCollins imprint Blue Door has bought UK and Commonwealth rights in a hotly tipped Swedish literary thriller, The Hypnotist, paying "a good six-figure sum".

The book is being sold at LBF by Bonnier, which itself acquired the novel just four weeks ago. It is being published under the author name Lars Kepler, although this is understood to be a pseudonym.

"There is speculation that it may be another established author but only one person at Bonnier knows," said Janson-Smith. The Hypnotist tells of a family being brutally murdered, with only the injured son escaping. A hypnotist is brought out of retirement to solve the case.

Janson-Smith added: "Our take on it is that this is the new Stieg Larsson. This book is the first in a projected eight-book sequence and Bonnier is fielding offers from all over the world. When the US deal is completed I expect to co-ordinate publication—it will be quite an event."