The Water Rat of Wanchai by Ian Hamilton to be Adapted for Film

Karen Walton (Flashpoint) will adapt the first Ava Lee mystery by Ian Hamilton, The Water Rat of Wanchai, to be produced by Strada Films and possibly developed into a franchise.

Ava Lee is a forensic accountant, who specializes in recovering massive debts that aren't likely to be recovered through traditional methods. In her debut — there are currently three mysteries in the series — Ava is persuaded by an old friend of the elderly Hong Kong-based "Uncle" for whom she works to help his nephew, who is owed $5 million from a seafood company. The nephew's business financed purchase orders for a company that was producing cooked shrimp for a major U.S. retailer. The deal went sideways. The money disappeared.

On a journey that takes her from Toronto to Seattle to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Guyana, and the British Virgin Islands, Ava encounters everything from the Thai katoey culture to corrupt but helpful law enforcers. But it's in Guyana where she meets her match: Captain Robbins, a huge hulk of a man and godfather-like figure who controls the police, politicians, and criminals alike. In exchange for his help, he decides he wants of piece of Ava's $5 million action and will do whatever it takes to get his fair share …

Of the three books in the series (to date), which were all originally published in Canada, only the most recent — The Wild Beasts of Wuhan — will be directly available to purchase later this month in the US; it is available to pre-order.

(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)