“We Had a Hunch” by Tom Ryan to Be Adapted Into Exciting New TV Series by Peter Johnson and A+E Studios

Tom Ryan, author of such teen-detective mysteries as “I Hope You’re Listening” and “Keep This to Yourself,” published his most recent book, “We Had a Hunch,” on October 14. No sooner has this new novel hit the market than a television adaptation has been announced, courtesy of A+E Global Media. In this case, Ryan’s penchant for tales of adolescent sleuthers has a twist: the story will follow the adults whom those teenage detectives grew up to become.

“Nancy Drew Meets ‘Yellowjackets'”

“We Had a Hunch,” which is pitched on Tom Ryan’s website as “Nancy Drew meets ‘Yellowjackets,'” follows not a lone hero of a kid, but a Nancy Drew tag team: the VanDyne twins, Alice and Samantha, who in the year 2000 became famous for helping their police-detective father nail down a local drug-trafficking ring in their Massachusetts town of Edgar Mills.

It turns out that two amateur detectives are sometimes both less effective and less noble than one: the twins developed a mutual competitive streak and made a sleuthing error that led to the deaths of several people at the hands of a serial killer nicknamed “the Janitor.” The young hero in this case was a shy, eccentric computer whiz named Joey O’Day, whose assistance landed the Janitor behind bars.

A quarter-century later, the twins have drifted apart, both still haunted by the memory of their titular incorrect hunch. It’s at this time that a new murder occurs in Edgar Mills – one strikingly similar to those that the Janitor committed. The Janitor is still securely incarcerated, but he’s willing to offer his input, Hannibal Lecter style, to aid in the capture of his copycat. And, like Hannibal Lecter, he has a significant condition that must be met: he’ll only share his intel with the VanDyne twins.

An Enthusiastic Studio, Producer, and Author

“We Had a Hunch” has been optioned by A+E Studios to be adapted as a television series. This show’s producer will be the very experienced Peter Johnson, who has been working in the TV industry in this capacity (whether as producer or more commonly as executive producer) for nearly two decades, and whose credits include the shows “Human Target,” “Supernatural,” and “Nikita.” He has also held the position of Executive Vice President of Television at Skydance, as well as President of Television Development at MRC.

Everyone involved in this project seems to have nothing but excitement for it. As quoted by Deadline, Tana Jamieson, the Co-Head of A+E Studios and EVP of Creative Affairs, described “We Had a Hunch” as “a deeply atmospheric and emotionally charged mystery that perfectly fits A+E Studios’ commitment to character-driven storytelling,” and said, “We’re thrilled to bring this compelling story to the screen alongside Tom and Peter.”

“We Had a Hunch” represents a subversion of what may be called the “Nancy Drew” subgenre of detective thrillers, in that it focuses on three adults who were once teen investigators and whose lives and perspectives are underlain by the harsh truths of adulthood. According to Deadline, Ryan said that he’s “always been fascinated by the idea of childhood sleuths growing up and facing adult realities. Partnering with Peter and A+E Studios to adapt We Had a Hunch is an incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to see these characters brought to life for a new audience.”