New Star Press celebrated the 20th anniversary of China’s Midnight Library mystery and detective publishing brand.
It was held on the 10th March at the China International Communications Group (CICG) stand of the London Book Fair under the inspiring theme of “Story without Limits”.
The event served as a vibrant testament to deepening mutual learning between civilisations, taking practical steps to promote the global outreach of Chinese publishing and sharing Chinese culture with the world.
Distinguished representatives from the global publishing and media sectors attended the event, including Ms.Lucy Vanderbilt, Rights Director at Harper Collins; Ms. Wang Huan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of New Star Press; Ms. Akane Ando, Manager of the International Cooperation Department at Kodansha; Ms. Caroline Lamche, Overseas Licensing Consultant at Ubisoft; Ms. Marie Prudhomme, Foreign Rights Manager at Presses de la Cité; Ms. Bettina Nibbe, Founder of Nibbe Literary Agency; and Ms. Dong Zheng, Chairman of Zipa International Media. Together, they witnessed the remarkable evolution of Chinese mystery literature from introducing global classics to taking original works to the world stage.
Two Decades of Dedication: From Introducing Classics to Fostering Cultural Exchange
Since its establishment in 2005, ‘Midnight Library’ (午夜文库) has traversed a magnificent twenty-year journey. In his opening remarks, Wang Huan shared an impressive milestone: over the past two decades, Midnight Library has translated and published more than 830 outstanding works by over 100 world-class mystery writers, serving as a crucial window for Chinese readers to engage with global mystery literature and culture.
Reflecting on the history of Sino-British publishing exchanges, Wang Huan particularly highlighted the enduring friendship with HarperCollins. Since signing a landmark licensing agreement for Agatha Christie’s works in 2013, New Star Press has successfully published 84 volumes of The Complete Works of Agatha Christie in China.
Lucy Vanderbilt noted that the collaboration has long transcended pure rights trading, evolving into a professional partnership dedicated to safeguarding the cultural legacy of a great author. This profound Sino-British publishing exchange demonstrates how pragmatic, professional international cooperation can effectively deepen mutual understanding and elevate the international credibility and influence of China’s publishing industry.
Going Global: Chinese Original Mysteries Enter the World Stage
A major highlight of the event was the showcase of Chinese original mystery novels’ strong performance in the international market. As Midnight Library shifts from a one-way introduction of foreign titles to a two-way cultural exchange, a new generation of exceptional Chinese authors is emerging globally.
This includes Sun Qinwen’s The Winter Coffin, which claimed the runner-up spot on the overseas chart of Hara Shobo’s “Honkaku Mystery Best 10”; meanwhile, Lu Qiucha’s Year One Spring Sacrifice became the first Chinese work to be included in Hayakawa Publishing’s classic series.
During the event, it was officially announced that the works of highly influential Chinese mystery authors Zhi Wen and Huyan Yun will be published in English by the UK-based Legend Times Group. This marks a pivotal beginning for Chinese original mystery works entering the mainstream English reading market on a large scale.
By tailoring recommendations to the reading habits of different nations, Chinese stories are successfully breaking cultural boundaries. The systematic entry of Chinese original mysteries into the mainstream English reading market is a solid achievement in implementing the “going global” strategy and telling China’s stories within genre literature. To recognise and express profound gratitude for the unwavering support of overseas institutions, the event also featured an “Outstanding Partner Award” ceremony, honouring partners who have made significant contributions to the cross-cultural exchange of mystery literature over the years.
Strategic Upgrade: Building a Comprehensive Mystery Culture Ecosystem
To mark its 20th anniversary, New Star Press announced its annual brand upgrade strategy, “Before reading, there is no truth“. This initiative aims to empower nationwide reading across three dimensions: academic foundations, immersive scenarios, and life cycle reader services.
New Star Press has established a “University Mystery Research Scholarship” to encourage academic exploration of genre literature. This fulfills the publisher’s social responsibility to enhance public logical thinking and literary appreciation.
To integrate mystery culture into everyday life, Midnight Library is launching a series of “Cultural Tentacles” projects. These include “Crime Scene” pop-up spaces in independent bookshops and a crossover “Detective’s Fuel” product line in collaboration with lifestyle brands, turning serious literature into a tangible urban lifestyle.
Leveraging 20 years of core user data, Midnight Library officially launched a “20th Anniversary Reading Subscription Plan”. Featuring innovative services like blind-box book subscriptions and interactive “Midnight Letters,” the brand is building a comprehensive cultural community for highly engaged readers.
A member of CICG, New Star Press is the publisher of ‘Midnight Library’—the most influential mystery and detective literature brand in China. It is dedicated to compiling and publishing the greatest masterpieces in the history of global detective fiction, while actively discovering and nurturing outstanding original Chinese mystery writers.
A spokesperson for CICG remarked that this event is not merely a milestone for the ‘Midnight Library’ brand, but a vivid practice of China’s publishing industry actively participating in international communication. New Star Press will continue to use mystery and detective fiction—a beloved “universal language”—to deliver cultural products that embody Chinese wisdom and the spirit of the times, contributing to the mutual exchange between Chinese and global civilisations.
If you like this article, why not read: London Book Fair in Pictures, Translating China to the World
