Television adaptation of Tom Ryan’s novel in the works of Peter Johnson and A+E Studios
EXCLUSIVE: A+E Studios opted for We had an intuition, the latest novel from Edgar Award-nominated and USA Today bestselling author Tom Ryan, which will be developed into a television series with industry veteran Peter Johnson (Supernatural, Nikita) producing.
The book, presented as Nancy Drew meets Yellow vestswas published by Grove Atlantic in the United States and by Simon & Schuster in Canada and is on sale today. Ryan will serve as the project’s EP.
Set in Edgar Mills, Massachusetts, the book and television series follow a group of once-famous teenage detectives whose fame turned tragic after a brutal case in 2000 left two dead and the so-called “Janitor Killer” behind bars. Twenty-five years later, the friends – now scattered, scarred and separated – reunite when a new murder echoes their past, and their imprisoned enemy offers to help them with the case under a chilling condition.
“Tom Ryan has created a deeply atmospheric and emotionally charged mystery that perfectly aligns with A+E Studios’ commitment to character-driven storytelling,” said Tana Jamieson, executive vice president of creative affairs and co-head of A+E Studios.
“‘We Had a Hunch’ reimagines the classic teen detective genre with a modern, psychological twist, exploring how the past haunts and reshapes us. We’re thrilled to bring this gripping story to the screen alongside Tom and Peter.”
Ryan’s previous novel, “The Treasure Hunters Club,” was a USA Today and Globe & Mail bestseller and nominated for the 2025 Edgar Awards. He is also the author of “Keep This to Yourself” and “I Hope You’re Listening,” both multiple award-winning novels. He is repped by Echo Lake Entertainment, Transatlantic Literary Agency and Nelson Davis LLP.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of childhood detectives growing up and confronting adult realities,” Ryan said. “Partnering with Peter and A+E Studios to adapt We had an intuition is an incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to see these characters come to life for a new audience.
Johnson is an industry veteran who most recently served as SVP of Television at Skydance and, before that, President of Television Development at MRC. Throughout his career, he has overseen shows like Colony For the United States, Love for Netflix, Lost in space for Netflix, and Tower imminent for Hulu during his time at Legendary, and Supernatural, Nikita, Chuck, human target, And The CO while he was an executive at McG’s Wonderland Sound & Vision. He is currently a producer for Not This Crude Matter, his production banner.
“What I love about ‘We Had a Hunch’ is that it explores characters with the youthful optimism of having their whole lives ahead of them and, 25 years later, the reality of who they have become through the lens of solving the crime that changed them all,” Johnson explained. “It’s about growing up, looking back, and confronting what we’ve left behind – all wrapped up in a gripping mystery that spans generations.”
