Adam Kay to publish debut novel in September 2025
- Adam Kay's debut novel will be published on 11th September 2025
- "Deftly told and deathly funny", A Particularly Nasty Case focuses on a doctor investigating a murder
- Kay says: "I should probably point out that it's not cosy crime - in fact, it's probably the opposite of cosy. Itchy crime?"
This Is Going To Hurt writer Adam Kay will publish his debut novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, in September 2025.
Described by publishers Trapeze as "deftly told and deathly funny", the book will focus on a doctor investigating a murder.
The blurb explains: "When a noxious hospital consultant dies of a heart attack, fellow doctor Eitan Rose smells foul play. But nobody else does, including some quite crucial players like the police and the coroner. Eitan's colleagues are already treating him with suspicion following his recent breakdown, and are sceptical of his increasingly wild theories. When another doctor dies in similar circumstances, Eitan becomes convinced there is more to these deaths than meets the eye. Is there really a killer marauding the wards or is Eitan losing the plot?"
Publisher Anna Valentine, who has secured the rights to two novels from Kay, says: "Having sold over 5 million copies of his books across all formats, Adam Kay has proven that he is one of our nation's greatest storytellers, and I'm incredibly excited that he is turning his hand to fiction, a natural next step for him as a BAFTA award-winning writer.
"A Particularly Nasty Case has all the hallmarks of what makes Adam's writing unique and beloved by so many readers: scalpel-sharp wit, tense plotting and unforgettable characters, and I know that his fans are going to devour this as they have everything else Adam has written."
Adam Kay jokes: "Because the ridiculously woke society we live in means that I can't go around murdering people who annoy me, I've had to do the second-best thing and start writing crime fiction. I should probably point out that it's not cosy crime - in fact, it's probably the opposite of cosy. Itchy crime? I really hope people enjoy reading this book as much as I've enjoyed writing it (which was a lot, for the avoidance of doubt)."
A Particularly Nasty Case will be published in hardback, audiobook and eBook formats on 11th September 2025. It is available to pre-order now.
Adam Kay - A Particularly Nasty Case
When a noxious hospital consultant dies of a heart attack, fellow doctor Eitan Rose smells foul play. But nobody else does, including some quite crucial players like the police and the coroner. Eitan's colleagues are already treating him with suspicion following his recent breakdown, and are sceptical of his increasingly wild theories. When another doctor dies in similar circumstances, Eitan becomes convinced there is more to these deaths than meets the eye. Is there really a killer marauding the wards or is Eitan losing the plot?
Deftly told and deathly funny, A Particularly Nasty Case is the unputdownable debut novel from Adam Kay, BAFTA-winning writer and author of multi-million global bestseller This Is Going To Hurt.
First published: Thursday 11th September 2025
- Publisher: Trapeze
- Pages: 304
- Catalogue: 9781398704404
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
- Publisher: Trapeze
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
- Publisher: Trapeze
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.