Hodder Studios pre-empts Bonner's 'brilliantly addictive' debut thriller

Hodder Studios has pre-empted two books from Sarah Bonner, including her debut novel Her Perfect Twin, described as an "original, compelling and propulsive" thriller. 

Editorial director for fiction Sara Adams made the deal for world rights in two books from Hannah Sheppard at the DHH Literary Agency. German rights were pre-empted by Goldmann with the Hodder & Stoughton rights team expecting offers in multiple territories. Alex Logan at Grand Central Publishing will publish in the US.

Her Perfect Twin will be published in January 2022. It will follow Megan, who discovers photographs of her estranged identical twin sister on her husband’s phone. When Megan confronts Leah about it, an argument turns to murder – and Megan’s only chance to get away with killing her twin is to become her. But when lockdown comes into force, how can she continue living two lives? And what happens if someone else knows her secret too?

Adams said: "I am obsessed with Sarah’s incredible thriller. I’ve not read anything this original, compelling and propulsive in years, and everyone at Hodder Studio has been completely gripped by Her Perfect Twin – we wanted to talk to each other about it immediately, about all those twists and that ending too! We cannot wait to publish Sarah’s fantastic book, and to share it with readers all around the world."

Bonner commented: "I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with the Hodder Studio team who have blown me away with their enthusiasm for Her Perfect Twin. Writing in lockdown was at times a rather solitary experience; I’m grateful to have found the incredible support of my agent Hannah and so excited to be working with Sara. I cannot wait to introduce Megan and her story to readers!"

Sheppard added: "I’m delighted to have found Sarah such an enthusiastic and passionate home with Sara at Hodder Studio. Sarah’s novel is compulsive reading… it came to me as part of our December virtual #PitchDHH and after our chat on a Friday morning I read the full manuscript in glorious gulps over the weekend and had signed Sarah up by Monday lunchtime. I’m sure readers everywhere will be similarly gripped."