Canadian debut author, A.B. Tate, will publish her addictive thriller, Commit This Body To The Ground, as a lead title in Spring 2024 after impressive pre-empts by UK publisher Headline and PRH Canada. US rights have also been secured by Sourcebooks, in addition to translations acquired by Znanje in Croatia and Libri in Hungary.
Set in the community of West Wilmer, a small town still reeling from the death of their beloved golden girl, Phoebe Dean, ten years ago. As the memorial approaches, the question that has haunted the small town ever since rises to the surface: why did it take Phoebe’s brother and driver of the car, Grant, 27 minutes to call for help on the fateful night of the accident? Told through the eyes of four people whose lives changed forever that night, their grief will become unbearable, dark secrets will be unearthed, and what really happened tat rain-drenched night will finally become clear.
Deputy Publishing Director at Headline, Lucy Dauman, said: ‘I couldn’t be more excited to be making my first acquisition for Headline with this breathtaking debut, a brilliantly written, powerful story of a community rocked by loss and characters dealing with a trauma from which they have never recovered. The moment I started reading, I can safely say sleep went out the window as I raced towards the dramatic, unforgettable ending, with a twist that completely floored me. It is the very definition of an immersive, unputdownable thriller, which had me as captivated by the characters as I was by the rich atmosphere and nail-biting tension, and I can’t wait to share this story with readers everywhere.’
Hayley Steed said: ‘Commit This Body to the Ground is the perfect thriller – a stunning blend of tight plotting, intoxicating characters and sumptuous prose, all packed together with a chilling twist – and I could not be more delighted by the global response to A.B. Tate’s debut. Lucy, Bhavna and Anna’s passion, vision, and ambition for the novel was unparalleled and I so look forward to readers discussing the mystery of those key 27 minutes in January 2024.’
A huge congratulations, Ashley!
