Mantle lands Levin's 'astonishing' second novel

Mantle has landed If I Let You Go, the “astonishing” new novel from Charlotte Levin.

Associate publisher Wayne Brookes acquired world rights from Jo Williamson at the Antony Harwood Agency. If I Let You Go will be a lead title published for Mantle in hardcover on 2nd March 2023 with the mass market paperback following on 14th September.

The synopsis explains: “Every morning Janet Brown goes to work cleaning offices. It calms her, cleanliness, neatness. All the things she’s unable to do with her soul can be achieved with a damp cloth and a splash of bleach. However, the guilt she still carries after a devastating loss that happened 11 years ago, cannot be erased. Then, Janet finds herself involved in a train crash and, recognising the chance to do what she couldn’t all those years ago, she makes a decision. As news spreads of Janet’s actions, her story inspires everyone around her, and for the first time her life has purpose and the future is filled with hope. But Janet’s story isn’t quite what it seems, and as events spiral out of control, she soon discovers that coming clean isn’t an option. Because if Janet washes away the lies, what long-buried truths will she finally have to face?”

Levin has been shortlisted for the Andrea Badenoch Award, part of the Northern Writers’ Awards, and for the Mslexia Short Story Competition. She lives in Manchester and If I Let You Go is her second novel.

Brookes said: “Charlotte Levin is like no author I have ever published. Her ability to make a reader fall in love with her perfectly-crafted and yet damaged characters is genius. Her debut novel, If I Can’t Have You (Mantle), was not only a bestseller but highly acclaimed and it continues to sell on. I cannot wait for everyone to go on the same roller-coaster of emotions I did when they read about Janet Brown. Charlotte’s voice is simply unique.”

Levin added: “I’m so delighted to be once again working with Wayne and the rest of the brilliant team at Pan Macmillan to bring If I Let You Go into the world. Janet Brown was such a wonderfully complex character to write and I cannot wait for readers to meet her.”

Williamson commented: “Charlotte has an astonishing ability to get into the heads of her characters and tell their story — warts and all; she has created someone truly unforgettable in Janet Brown.”