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Hodder & Stoughton pre-empts Adams’ novel about an author and reader in a fight to the death
Hodder & Stoughton has pre-empted The Last Word by Taylor Adams, a novel which “pits author against reader in a fight to the death".
Senior commissioning editor Beth Wickington acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Kate Falkoff at HarperCollins US. The Last Word will be published in hardback in May 2023.
The synopsis reads: “Emma leaves a one-star review for a poorly written book without anticipating she’ll be facing deadly consequences. Disturbing incidents start to occur at the isolated house she’s staying in: scratches in the night, a figure crawling around in the shadows. The author is furious at Emma’s negative review and needs to prove to her just how realistic the inspiration for his horror novels really is. He’s written 16 other books and she just might be the star of the next one…"
Wickington said: “The Last Word is one of the most heart-pounding books I have ever read. No Exit (Newbury House Publishing) has been my favourite BookTok discovery and Taylor takes his ability to terrify readers to new heights with The Last Word, which is ambitious, clever and full of whiplash-inducing twists. I cannot stop recommending this incredible novel, but always with the warning – read with the lights on.”
Adams said: “I’m extremely excited to have The Last Word published by Hodder & Stoughton this year. I had so much fun twisting the author-reader relationship into something surprising, and I can’t wait to share this novel with readers in the UK.”
