Datura Books seizes McIlroy's 'riveting' psychological thriller

Datura Books has seized a "riveting psychological thriller" from debut Alice McIlroy. 

Gemma Creffield, managing editor, acquired world English-language rights and audio to The Glass Woman from Sam Copeland at Rogers, Coleridge & White Literary Agency. It will publish on 9th January 2024.

In the novel, McIlroy explores "the tensions that rise when you can no longer trust those you love". Longlisted for the Stylist Prize for Feminist Fiction in 2021, The Glass Woman combines crime and speculative fiction "in a heart-pounding exploration of relationships, loss, trust, AI, and science". 

McIlroy completed Faber Academy’s novel-writing programme, and her writing has also been longlisted for the Grindstone International Novel Prize. On her debut novel, she said: “Inspired by new research into memory and AI, the novel explores Iris’ battle against an AI implant which has become a monster inside her head – the enemy within. It asks what happens when you realise surveillance technology reaches too far, that you have given up too much of your privacy and autonomy – can you regain it?”

Creffield added: “When Sam presented me with The Glass Woman, I was immediately excited. It was completely up my street and exactly what I was looking for to add to the Datura list – a fantastic psychological thriller featuring a strong female main character who no longer knows who to trust. Before I Go to Sleep meets Black Mirror. *chef’s kiss*”

Copeland commented: “I am delighted that Alice has found a passionate home for her debut novel. I can’t wait for readers to discover the paranoid, dark brilliance of The Glass Woman.”