Ebury wins Final Girls debut after seven-way auction

A debut psychological suspense novel by Riley Sager has been snapped up by Ebury Fiction after a “heated” seven-way auction.

UK and Commonwealth rights to Final Girls were bought by Ebury editor Emily Yau from Anna Carmichael at Abner Stein (sold on behalf of Chelsey Heller and Michelle Brower at Kuhn Projects).

The debut, a “strong psychological suspense novel”, pays homage to slasher movies and film noir, according to Ebury, playing on the trope of the last girl standing and has a twist “that is impossible to see coming,” the publisher said.

It will be Ebury Fiction’s “superlead” title for 2017, supported by a “huge marketing campaign”, beginning with proofs handed out at this weekend’s Harrogate International Crime Festival.

“From the moment Final Girls landed in my inbox I knew it was special,” Yau said. “It’s the kind of book you read in one breathless go. Riley’s taut and impressive writing expertly leads (or misleads) you through each twist and turn right up to the grand finale. Every time I read it I’m blown away anew and I’m positive that fans of Ruth Ware and Clare Mackintosh will love this.”

Sager added: “I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Ebury family. I poured my heart and soul (and wicked dark side) into Final Girls, and I knew immediately that Ebury was the perfect home for it…it was clear from the start that they're as excited about the book as I am.”

Final Girls will be published in hardback in June 2017.