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Penguin Michael Joseph acquires first adult novel from Holly Jackson
Penguin Michael Joseph has acquired the first adult novel from bestselling author or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder author Holly Jackson. Publisher Joel Richardson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in two books, the first called Not Quite Dead Yet, from Denise Cronin at Random House US. Jen Hershey, editor-in-chief at Ballantine, had previously acquired world English language rights from Sam Copeland at RCW.
The synopsis reads: "Not Quite Dead Yet is a high-concept thriller about Jet Mason, a young woman who’s attacked in her own home, leaving her with a brain injury that all but guarantees she will die within seven days. With only a week to live—and now with questions about all her closest friends and family—Jet sets out to solve her own murder."
The book will publish in hardback, e-book and audio on 17th July 2025. Translation rights already have sold in 30 further languages.
As well as A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder—which has sold millions of copies and been adapted by the BBC and Netflix—her two standalone novels, Five Survive and The Reappearance of Rachel Price have also both been international number one bestsellers.
Jackson said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be releasing my adult debut and, what’s more, that it has found its perfect home with Ballantine in the US and Penguin Michael Joseph in the UK. Even though this is something new for me, branching out into the adult market too, I think readers will feel right at home in my latest book, with the same thrills and unhinged twists you have come to expect from me. I wrote this book in a frenzied couple of months, but I still think about the main character—Jet—all the time. I hope she stays with readers too, lingering long after the final page. I know that Jet is in the best hands with Jen and Joel, and I’m so excited for this book’s release. Hurry up July!”
Richardson said: “Holly Jackson is well-established as one of the great mystery writers of the last decade, and her millions of fans know that she has an astonishing and rare gift for combining gripping mysteries and irresistible characters. I had very high expectations when I received the manuscript for Not Quite Dead Yet, and it exceeded every one of them—from its jaw-dropping elevator pitch to its ingenious plot, from its wonderfully flawed heroine to its pitch-perfect love story, I can truly say I’ve never read anything quite like it. I’m totally confident it will delight Holly’s huge existing readership, but it’s a particular honour to bring her to an adult audience for the first time.”
