Lemony Snicket is to create his first new series since his bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events ended three years ago.

The American author is writing four books, the first of which will be published in Britain in 2012. The series is yet to be named and the British publisher, Egmont, admits they have very little idea what the books will be about.

Given that the 13 Series of Unfortunate Events books sold five million copies in Britain, they argue that taking on the new works so early is “not exactly a punt”.

Snicket, whose real name is Daniel Handler, is known for the sinister world he created for Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, orphans who are imprisoned and cruelly mistreated by their relative, Count Olaf.

Old-fashioned adventure is combined with an ironic, tricksy style - replete with mannered sentences and exhortations to stop reading - which proved a spectacular hit with children.

The books have sold 60 million copies worldwide and the first three in the series were made into a film staring Jim Carrey, Billy Connolly and Meryl Streep in 2004.

The first book in the series, The Bad Beginning, was published in Britain in 2001 and the thirteenth brought the series to an end in 2006. Since then, there has been an “unauthorised autobiography” but no substantial new works.

The books have sold millions despite being available only in hardback, but Egmont said that the first paperback versions will be available in January.

Snicket said: “I can neither confirm nor deny that I have begun research into a new case and I can neither confirm nor deny that the results are as dreadful and unnerving as A Series Of Unfortunate Events. However, I can confirm that Egmont will be publishing these findings.”

Egmont publisher Leah Thaxton echoed the author’s tone: “Usually, I look forward to opening my post. It’s exciting to think that I might find a manuscript to bring comfort and joy to any reader.

“But that morning, when I saw the handwriting on the envelope - well, how would you feel if you knew you were about to unleash yet more untold misery on the unsuspecting children of this country? We at Egmont can’t escape Lemony Snicket’s grim story.”

Director of Egmont Press, Cally Poplak added: “As if the recession weren’t bad enough, now British readers have the threat of a new series from Mr Snicket hanging over them. As a responsible publisher, of course we shall put all our efforts into ensuring no child is exposed to yet more misery from Mr Snicket’s investigations.”

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