Headline pre-empts two thrillers from debut author Tate in six-figure deal

Headline has pre-empted two thrillers, Commit This Body to the Ground and an unnamed second book, from debut author A B Tate in a six-figure deal. 

In her first acquisition since joining Headline from Bookouture, deputy publishing director Lucy Dauman obtained UK and Commonwealth rights from Hayley Steed at The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. Canadian rights were pre-empted overnight by Bhavna Chauhan at Doubleday Canada and it has been sold to Anna Michels at Sourcebooks in the US. The first title will be published in hardback, e-book and audio in January 2024. 

"Commit This Body to the Ground is the perfect thriller – a stunning blend of tight plotting, intoxicating characters and sumptuous prose, all packed together with a chilling twist – and I could not be more delighted by the global response to A B Tate’s debut," said Steed. 

The novel is set in a small town in West Wilmer reeling from the death of its beloved golden girl, Phoebe Dean. As the memorial approaches, the question that has haunted the town bubbles to the surface: why did it take Phoebe’s brother and driver of the car, Grant, 27 minutes to call for help? Tate weaves the story through the eyes of four characters whose lives have been forever altered by Phoebe’s death and slowly uncovers the truth of what happened that fateful night. 

Dauman commented: “I couldn’t be more excited to be making my first acquisition for Headline with this breathtaking debut, a brilliantly written, powerful story of a community rocked by loss and characters dealing with a trauma from which they have never recovered. I can safely say sleep went out the window the moment I started reading, as I raced towards the unforgettable ending and a twist that knocked me sideways. It is the very definition of an unputdownable thriller, which had me as captivated by the characters as I was by the rich atmosphere and nail-biting tension, and I can’t wait to share it with readers everywhere.”

Tate added: “It has been a dream come true to get to work with my agent Hayley Steed and I’ve been absolutely floored by the response of this brilliant team of editors. The grief of these four flawed characters is at the very heart of this novel and it’s my hope that their story of loss will resonate with readers. I cannot wait to to bring this novel that means so much to me  out into the world."