A multimillion-dollar deal (with no one saying how many) for four new books by bestselling thriller author Jeffery Deaver was put in place at Simon & Schuster by David Rosenthal and agent Deborah Schneider at Gelfman & Schneider. It will consist of three new novels, two of them starring his paraplegic hero, Lincoln Rhyme, and one stand-alone thriller, plus a collection of his short stories, many of them already nominated for, or winners of, mystery awards. It was a deal for U.S. and Canadian rights only.