Penguin Michael Joseph pre-empts Govett’s debut adult thriller

Penguin Michael Joseph (PMJ) has acquired Believe, the debut adult thriller from YA author Sarah Govett, writing as S Govett.

Publishing director Rowland White pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights from Jane Finigan at Lutyens & Rubinstein, with hardback publication slated for spring 2025. US rights were acquired by Crooked Lane Books via David Forrer at Inkwell Management, and PMJ says a German auction is currently under way.

Weaving together the story of a damaged former lawyer whose husband is the chief suspect in the murder of a young woman with that of the detective, haunted by the disappearance of her own sister, who is investigating the case, the publisher says Believe “moves seamlessly between past and present as it races towards its thrilling and unexpected conclusion".

Govett quit a job as a solicitor to write her YA Territory trilogy, published by Firefly Press. Her first screenplay, the science fiction thriller “T.I.M.”, written with her partner Spencer Brown, was released on Netflix in August 2023.  Believe is her first adult novel.

Govett said: “I’m so thrilled to be working with Rowland and the rest of the Penguin Michael Joseph team. They have such enthusiasm and passion for Believe and I knew immediately that this was the right home for it.”

White said: “From the very first page, Believe is a twisting, turning delight inhabited by a rich cast of brilliantly drawn characters that keeps you wrong-footed and guessing until the end.  It’s a rare treat to read a thriller on submission that arrives so fully-formed and polished.  I and my colleagues here at PMJ inhaled it and we know readers will too. Working with Sarah is such an exciting prospect.”