Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint will release 35 titles from the late Ed McBain‘s police procedural 87^th Precinct series–republishing these books in print, digital and audio formats.

The 87^th Precinct reprints will begin this fall, and Thomas & Mercer will also reprint 12 titles from McBain’s Matthew Hope series next spring in a variety of formats. This is the first time books by McBain (pictured, via) have been available digitally for readers. Jane Gelfman of Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents negotiated this deal for the estate of McBain (the pen name of author Evan Hunter).

Who should the company reprint next? Amazon Publishing’s rights & licensing head Philip Patrick explained: “One of the things we think Amazon Publishing can do is offer signature authors a new life for great backlist titles. Our agreement with the McBain estate is a perfect example of this approach.” (Via Sarah Weinman)