Firefinch signs ‘dramatic retelling’ of notorious Victorian murder

By Lucy Nathan — Bookbrunch, February 2, 2026

Firefinch Publishing has signed The Art of Poison, the debut crime novel by actor and dramatist Katherine Tozer. World rights were acquired from Kevin Conroy Scott at Tibor Jones, with publication planned for February 2027.

The novel revisits the sensational Victorian murder case of Madeleine Hamilton Smith, offering a richly layered and psychologically incisive re-examination of a crime that shocked 19th-century Britain.

Kate Parkin, Publisher at Firefinch, said: “Katherine Tozer’s ability to inhabit these real historical figures with such emotional precision makes this a profoundly compelling novel. We are delighted to be publishing her debut.”