Raven scoops 'heart-wrenching' thriller by debut author Cailean Steed

Bloomsbury imprint Raven Books has acquired Home, a "heart-wrenching" thriller debut by Cailean Steed.

Managing editor Sara Helen Binney acquired world rights in all languages from Robbie Guillory at the Underline Literary Agency on behalf of the Kate Nash Literary Agency, for publication in 2023.

"Home is a propulsive, fun, dark thriller about a woman coming into herself and fighting to right the wrongs of her past in a repressive cult," Binney said. "With a queer woman you can really root for at its heart, Zoe’s story of becoming and belonging is brilliantly wrought and just drags you through the narrative, and Cailean’s writing is by turns funny, heart-wrenching and so tense I still miss meals to finish it on fourth or fifth reading. I can’t wait for readers to meet Zoe and cheer her on."

Steed added: "I’ve always been fascinated by what ‘home’ and ‘belonging’ mean and I wanted to delve into how growing up in a cult would impact a person’s sense of identity and reality. Zoe’s journey back into the heart of the Children to rescue her sister proved the perfect opportunity for that.

"From the beginning, Sara Helen Binney at Raven has been such a champion for the book, and her guidance and expertise have been invaluable on the journey to publication. I am so delighted that Home has found its home with Raven, which is the ideal publishers to bring this book to the world."