Lifetime to adapt two Cornwell books

LOS ANGELES, April 14 (UPI) -- Lifetime Television announced Monday it signed a deal with popular U.S. crime novelist Patricia Cornwell to bring two of her books to the small screen.

This marks the first time any of the author's novels will have been made into TV movies.

Lifetime is to adapt her books "At Risk" and its upcoming sequel "The Front."

Cornwell is best known for her Kay Scarpetta series of novels. The two books Lifetime is adapting, however, are separate from that series.

"As we continuously reinvent our popular Lifetime original movies, we're expanding the genres and including more works by America's leading women writers," Tanya Lopez, Lifetime senior vice president of original movies, said in a statement. "Patricia Cornwell is in a class by herself."

"I am excited and honored by this new creative partnership with such an outstanding network and believe that together we can bring to life stories and characters unique to the crime-writing genre," said Cornwell, who will executive produce the film versions of her two books.