Penguin Michael Joseph snares two titles from Girl, Goddess, Queen author Fitzgerald

Penguin Michael Joseph has snared two adult titles from Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen (Puffin).

Editorial director Hannah Smith acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Hannah Schofield at LBA in a pre-empt. Her first title with Penguin Michael Joseph, Then Things Went Dark, will publish in August 2024. North American rights were also sold to M J Johnston at Sourcebooks.

The synopsis says: "When six people land on a desert island ready to make their reality show debut they don’t expect the show to end in murder. The stakes are high and with millions of viewers watching, losing is not an option. But three weeks and 18 episodes later, five of the six contestants sit in a Portuguese police station, and none of them are winners.

"Because 12 million people were watching when Rhys Sutton died on camera, and someone must pay for the crime. The best friend, the rival, the girlfriend, the lover, and the sworn enemy are left standing. And of course, no one is talking. But how do you keep secrets when the world has been watching?"

Of the deal, Fitzgerald said: "The enthusiasm the whole team has shown for Then Things Went Dark has been staggering. More than anything they get the book and all its messy and dramatic darkness and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather work with to bring this chaos to readers. The Penguin Michael Joseph list is filled with so many brilliant authors and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of their number."

Smith added: "From the very first page Bea had me enthralled with her unique and distinct writing style, cast of wild characters and the burning question – who saw the murder? Once I started reading, I simply couldn’t stop, before I knew it I had blitzed through the submission and reached a whirlwind ending. I knew that we had to publish this book at PMJ!"

Schofield commented: "I am so excited about matching these two absolute powerhouses – I know Bea’s juicy summer thriller is destined for the most dazzling launch as her adult debut by Hannah and the team at Penguin Michael Joseph."