September 2024 — Doubleday Canada is thrilled to announce that it is the new Canadian publishing home of Heather Marshall, bestselling author of Looking for Jane and The Secret History of Audrey James. LIBERTY STREET, a dual-timeline novel set in Ontario in the ’60s and ’90s and inspired by real-life events, will be published by Doubleday Canada in Spring 2026, alongside Ballantine Books in the US. A second novel will follow in 2028. The deal was arranged by Hayley Steed at Janklow & Nesbit in an exclusive submission.

Doubleday Canada editorial director of commercial publishing Bhavna Chauhan says: 

“I’ve been an admirer of Heather Marshall’s writing since her debut novel, dazzled by her vivid, sweeping storytelling and unforgettable characters. I was delighted—but truly unsurprised—to have that same experience when I read LIBERTY STREET, a story rooted in a lesser-known part of Canadian history, but one that impacted the lives of so many women for so many generations. Heather’s novel will finally give this story the space and attention it deserves. I am so proud and excited to welcome Heather to Doubleday Canada and to bring her next two books to even more Canadian readers.”

Heather Marshall says:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that my third and fourth novels have found a home at Doubleday Canada. The response to LIBERTY STREET from the editorial team has been fantastic, and I can’t wait for them to guide this story into readers’ hands in 2026.”

Heather Marshall’s debut novel, Looking for Jane, was an instant #1 bestseller and dominated the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail bestseller lists for over six months, including four weeks at #1. Selected as one of Indigo’s Top 10 Best Books of 2022, the Globe and Mail’s Top 100 Books of 2022, and CBC’s Best Canadian Fiction of 2022, Looking for Jane was also chosen as STYLE Canada’s Book of the Month, Cityline’s Book Club pick, and an Indie Next pick. It has been published in fifteen languages in twenty territories around the world and was optioned for development into a television series. Heather’s second novel, The Secret History of Audrey James, was also an instant bestseller in Canada and has spent two months on the charts.

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall

Toronto, 1961: A law exists that allows young women to be imprisoned without a trial simply for being “incorrigible”—adventurous, independent, or defying the social norms of the day.

Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by a group of the best women journalists in the country whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women’s publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter lands on Emily’s desk from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women’s Prison, Emily sees a scoop that could launch her career as a real, hard-boiled journalist like the colleagues she admires. After convincing her boss to let her cover the story, Emily goes undercover to learn whether the shocking claims in the inmate’s letter are true. But what she doesn’t know is that getting into the prison will be the easy part—it’s getting back out that will be the problem. As the days and weeks drag into years, Emily’s world comes crashing down around her as she uncovers the secrets and scandals that lurk in every shady corner of the infamous prison known as the “House of Horrors.”

About the Author:

Heather Marshall is the instant #1 bestselling author of Looking for Jane. She worked in politics and communications before turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Heather lives with her family near Toronto. Visit her website at HeatherMarshallAuthor.com or connect with her on Instagram @HeatherMarshallAuthor.

About Doubleday Canada:

One of Canada’s most prominent publishers for over eighty years, Doubleday Canada is known for the critical and commercial successes of its program, publishing many bestselling writers of both fiction and non-fiction. The imprint is proud to have nurtured some of the country’s most exciting talents and is also home to many celebrated international writers.

For more information, please contact:

Kaitlin Smith at kasmith@penguinrandomhouse.com