For the longest time, the name MIRA conjured up, well, its parent company, the romance-drenched Harlequin/Mills & Boon (depending on which country you're talking about.) But over the last few years they've waded deep into thriller and psychological suspense territory by picking up Alex Kava, Laura Van Wormer, MJ Rose and the upcoming THRILLER anthology put together by the International Thriller Writers Association.

But starting this year, that's changed. This summer, Chris Jordan's debut thriller, TAKEN, will appear in bookstores, and another deal announced today adds a second male author to MIRA's list. Jason Pinter, a young editor with Crown concentrating primarily on pop culture and non-fiction, has signed a three-book deal beginning with THE MARK, which Pinter's agent, Joe Veltre, reports is "about a young reporter who becomes a fugitive after being accused of killing a cop, and who must team with a headstrong female law student to uncover a story that could shatter a city."

The acquiring editor is Linda McFall, making her first deal with Mira since leaving her post as publicity manager for St. Martin's all-mystery Minotaur imprint last fall.