Hard Case Crime has cut a new deal with the U.K.-based Titan Publishing;  the hardboiled crime and thriller imprint will relaunch in 2011.

Titan specializes in glossy TV companion books and cinema reference titles. They have published guides to Lost, 24, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Smallville, and many other television shows.  They also published reference books like The Alfred Hitchcock Story and The Winston Effect: The Art & History of the Stan Winston Studio. Read more about Hard Case founder Charles Ardai at this link.

Shots eZine has the scoop: “Hard Case Crime will relaunch in September/October 2011 with four new books, including CHOKE HOLD by Christa Faust (sequel to her Edgar Award-nominated MONEY SHOT), QUARRY’S EX by Max Allan Collins (the latest in the popular series of hit man novels by the author of “Road to Perdition”), and two never-before-published novels by MWA Grand Masters (names to be announced shortly). Additionally, Titan Publishing plans to acquire all existing stock of Hard Case Crime’s backlist from Dorchester Publishing and to resume shipping these titles to booksellers immediately.” (Via Sarah Weinman)

Hard Case will leave Dorchester Publishing (a company that recently adopted an eBook first model), just as reports of more troubles have surfaced at the company.