Cassell, part of the Octopus Publishing Group, has acquired investigative journalist Ross Kemp’s book about the Mafia and Britain.
Trevor Davies acquired the worldwide rights to Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain by Charlotte Robertson of the Robertson Murray Literary Agency on behalf of Honey Bee, GroupM Motion Entertainment and Freshwater Films. The book will be published in hardback in September 2024. The programme ‘Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain’ will premiere on Sky HISTORY on 10 September.
“Based on his forthcoming groundbreaking Sky HISTORY series, renowned journalist and fearless investigator Ross Kemp delves deep into the depths of the Mafia’s influence in Britain,” the synopsis reads. “Travelling from London to New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Colombia, Spain and Italy before returning to the UK, Ross embarks on an epic odyssey to trace the history of the Mafia over the last 100 years, uncovering a globalised web of connections that has allowed the Mafia to quietly but effectively penetrate the heart of the British underworld and shape our society from within.”
Davies said of the acquisition: “Ross has carved out a niche for himself as Britain’s best-loved practical and hard-hitting documentary maker, shedding light on worlds that people find both fascinating and disturbing. Cassell is proud to release his latest project, which reveals how disturbingly close the Mafia is to you and me. In typical style, Ross speaks to those who have worked for and with the Mafia, including hitmen, drug dealers and crime bosses. It reads like a real-life thriller that will keep readers gripped from start to finish.”
Kemp added: “It was great to be able to do this book with Cassell and build on one of the most extraordinary series I’ve ever done – especially because we were able to fit in so much material that just wasn’t possible in the programs.”
