Deadline has reported that A+E Studios has purchased the rights for the YA mystery novel We Had A Hunch, the last work from best-selling author Tom Ryan (Keep This To Yourself, I Hope You’re Listening). Producer Peter Johnson (Supernatural, Human Target) will help introduce Ryan to the world of television as they are set to produce together.

According to Deadline, the series is set in Massachusetts and follows a group of former teen detectives who reunite 25 years after a case that left two of their posse dead. They must revisit their past when a new series of killings is tinged with shades of their past. All the while, they must decide whether to take advice from the man whom they imprisoned 25 years ago, The Janitor Killer. The series has been described as Nancy Drew meets Yellowjackets, but there appears to be a bit of Silence Of The Lambs.

Via Deadline, Tana Jameson (The Lincoln Lawyer, Parish), EVP of creative affairs and co-head of A+E Studios, beamed about Ryan’s novel. “Tom Ryan has crafted a deeply atmospheric and emotionally charged mystery that perfectly fits A+E Studios’ commitment to character-driven storytelling.” 

Via Deadline, she expressed additional optimism for the future series. “We Had a Hunch reimagines the classic teen sleuth genre with a modern, psychological twist, exploring how the past haunts and reshapes us. We’re thrilled to bring this compelling story to the screen alongside Tom and Peter.” 

Deadline has reported that Ryan’s previous work includes the Edgar Award-nominated and USA Today Best Seller, The Treasure Hunters Club. Additionally, he has written novels titled Keep This To Yourself and I Hope You’re Listening. Ryan shared his thoughts on the upcoming series.

Via Deadline, “I’ve 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.”

According to Deadline, Johnson has worked in several different capacities in the world of film and television, including serving as EVP of Television at Skydance and president of Development at MRC. During his career, he has worked on shows such as Love, Colony, Supernatural, Nikita, and Chuck. 

Via Deadline, “What I love about We Had a Hunch is that it explores characters with the youthful optimism of having their whole lives in front of them and, 25 years later, the reality of who they’ve become through the lens of solving the crime that changed them all,” he said about the novel. “It’s about growing up, looking back, and confronting what we left behind — all wrapped in a gripping mystery that spans generations.”