‘The Certainty of Dust’ pits one woman against Death for a chance at redemption
Publishing Autumn 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Matthew James Publishing is pleased to announce the acquisition of a new novel from acclaimed author Peter Sutton. ‘The Certainty of Dust’ is a haunting literary thriller about grief, redemption, and music. The book is set for release in Autumn 2026, with more information to be released soon.
Worldwide rights to ‘The Certainty of Dust’ were acquired directly from the author by James Shaw, Publishing Manager at Matthew James, following a round of open submissions.
‘The Certainty of Dust’ follows Jackie, a woman who loses everything when a fatal accident claims the life of her twin sister. Completely lost, Jackie stumbles through her daily routine. Even music — the one thing that gave Jackie her purpose — has become an unbearable reminder.
Soon, Jackie begins to have impossible, otherworldly visions, including a pale violinist who claims to carry messages from Death. The offer he brings is simple: If Jackie can make a cold and heartless undertaker cry, using nothing but her music, her sister’s soul will be freed. Driven by a guilt she cannot escape, Jackie agrees to the wager.
Can Jackie beat Death, or is the price of penance more than she can bear?
A psychological thriller with supernatural ties, ‘The Certainty of Dust’ is an exploration of grief, guilt, morality, and redemption.
Peter Sutton says: “We all wonder what we would do if we could bargain for a second chance at the things we’ve lost. With ‘The Certainty of Dust’, I wanted to push that impossible question to its psychological limit. It’s a story wrapped in music, guilt, and with a touch of the supernatural, and it is probably the most haunting piece of fiction I have written to date. Working with the team at Matthew James Publishing has been fantastic, and we are ready to find out if readers think Jackie can actually outsmart Death.”
‘The Certainty of Dust’ is publishing in Autumn 2026 via Matthew James Publishing, an imprint of Arthur H. Stockwell Ltd.
