Headline pre-empts Hay’s award-winning debut in six-figure deal

Headline has pre-empted Alex Hay’s "extraordinarily entertaining" debut novel The Housekeepers for a six-figure sum.

Senior commissioning editor Frankie Edwards won world rights to the Edwardian heist novel from Alice Lutyens at Curtis Brown. Headline Review will publish it as a lead launch title in spring 2024.

The novel, which won the Caledonia Novel Award 2022, follows the story of Mrs King, who on being unfairly dismissed from her position as a housekeeper in one of the grandest houses in London recruits an eclectic group of women from the fringes of society to launch an audacious robbery and enact her revenge. 

Edwards said: “Alex has written such a slick, clever and extraordinarily entertaining novel in The Housekeepers, one that revels in its opulent setting while deftly pushing at something altogether darker. 

“I adored the incredible women Mrs King draws from the underbelly of Edwardian London to pull off her outlandish endeavour – each with their own score to settle and very particular take on morality – and couldn’t help but urge them on in their pursuit of revenge, riches and the truth.” 

Alex Hay commented: “I couldn’t be happier that The Housekeepers has found such a perfect home with Frankie and the team at Headline. 

“Their energy and vision for the novel completely wowed me, and I know Mrs King and her gang are in the safest of hands. Huge thanks to my incredible agent Alice Lutyens and the whole team at Curtis Brown, who have created a whirlwind and dream-making week for me – I couldn’t be more grateful.’