The streaming boom has opened the floodgates for book-to-screen adaptations, and Australian author Dervla McTiernan is the latest thriller writer to cash in. After seeing her novels The Murder Rule and What Happened to Nina? optioned by FX and Lingo Pictures, respectively, McTiernan has now landed a TV deal for her upcoming 2026 novel, Three Reasons for Revenge.
Easy Tiger Productions—the banner behind the beloved romantic comedy Colin From Accounts—has won a heated bidding war for the rights. While no streamer or network is attached yet, the project already has a heavyweight writer on board: Shaun Grant, known for penning the Jacob Elordi-led miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North and the 2021 psychological drama Nitram. Grant was immediately captivated by the source material, saying, "From the moment I first read Three Reasons for Revenge, I immediately envisaged it as a television series. It is a supremely crafted thriller full of surprises, and I thank Dervla for entrusting Easy Tiger and myself with her creation."
So what's the story? Three Reasons for Revenge centers on three seemingly unconnected people living in different houses across Melbourne. Each receives a mysterious, carefully tailored gift—but these aren't friendly presents. They're meticulously designed to unravel the recipients' lives from the inside. The only thread linking them is Detective Sergeant Judith Lee, who must figure out who has such intimate knowledge of these strangers' vulnerabilities to craft such monstrous deliveries. The case grows even stranger when it connects to the sudden disappearance of a woman who reported an assault just a day before vanishing.
McTiernan's rise has been steady, and this latest adaptation news only cements her status as a go-to source for gripping, character-driven thrillers. For fans of the genre, this is a promising development—especially with Grant's track record for bringing dark, complex stories to the screen. If you're looking for something to tide you over until the series arrives, you might want to check out some weekend thriller reads or revisit some of the best Netflix original thrillers.
As for Three Reasons for Revenge, it's still early days. The project will need to find a distributor, but with Easy Tiger's pedigree and Grant's involvement, it's likely to attract serious interest. McTiernan's previous adaptations are also in various stages of development, so her fans have plenty to look forward to. This is a developing story, and we'll keep you updated as more details emerge.
