Hodder pre-empts Malicka's ‘gripping’ courtroom debut and one other novel 

Hodder & Stoughton has pre-empted In Her Defence, a courtroom drama novel about a trial centred on false memory, and one other novel from debut author Philippa Malicka.

Commissioning editor Lily Cooper pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights to the two books, excluding Canada, from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment.

In Her Defence will be published as a lead hardback on the Hodder list in June 2024, with Malicka’s second novel  publishing in 2025. North American rights were pre-empted by Marysue Rucci at Marysue Rucci Books (part of Simon and Schuster) via Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency on behalf of Mushens.

The publisher said: “Drawing on our contemporary fascination with celebrity trials, In Her Defence opens as TV personality Anna Finbow stands in the witness box, accusing her daughter Mary’s therapist, Jean Guest, of planting fake memories inside Mary’s head in order to turn her against her parents and access her significant trust fund. But Jean contends that Mary’s childhood was abusive, and only therapy has allowed her to accept the truth.

“Watching the trial closely is Gus, a troubled young woman who is determined to get close to the Finbows. But as she gains Anna’s confidence, it becomes clear she knows there is more to the case than either party is admitting to. And if she tells her side of the story, she might just have the power to bring it crashing down.”

Malicka currently works as head of content acquisition for the British Newspaper Archive and Findmypast. In 2018, she completed a creative writing masters at UEA, where she was tutored by authors including Ian Rankin and Giles Foden. An earlier draft of the novel was longlisted for the 2018 Bridport First Novel Award.

Cooper said: “In Her Defence is the kind of book I’d been dreaming would land in my inbox. With shades of Anatomy of a Scandal (S&S UK) and The Talented Mr Ripley (Vintage) by way of Zoe Heller, it is a sharp and brilliant examination of privilege, the sometimes murky nature of therapy, and the uncomfortable boundary between what is legal and what is right. Philippa is an electrifying writer.”

Malicka said: “I have been overwhelmed by the reaction to In Her Defence and I am so excited to launch my writing career with Hodder, and Simon and Schuster in the States. In Lily Cooper and Marysue Rucci I am thrilled to have found such passionate editors to guide my book into the world, just as I was deeply fortunate to have Juliet’s visionary support in its crafting. It’s been a dizzying few weeks, the kind of response a debut author dreams of, and I look forward to what the rest of my publication journey will bring.”

Mushens said: “In Her Defence combines two of my favourite things—rich people behaving badly and an outsider with the ability to destroy it all. Philippa is a gorgeous writer and I’m confident this is the start of a long and exciting writing career. Lily blew us away with her enthusiasm and I’m excited to see her launched by Hodder.”