Corvus signs two more from ‘dream of an author’ Hailey

1st October 2024

Sarah Hodgson, Publishing Director of Atlantic Books’ Corvus imprint, has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights in two new novels by Carole Hailey from Marina de Pass at The Soho Agency. The first novel in the contract, Scenes from a Tragedy, will publish in hardback, export trade paperback and ebook in March 2025.

Hailey’s debut novel, The Silence Project, published by Corvus in 2023, was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize as well as being a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick, Waterstones’ Welsh Book of the Month, and a Kindle No. 1 bestseller.

Scenes From a Tragedy is a literary thriller with a heart of darkness about the ripple effect of one person’s inability to form meaningful human connections.

Framed as an investigation by journalist Carly Atherton into a plane crash in the Lake District, it explores the devastating influence a non-violent female psychopath has on her brother, his wife and their lives.

As Carly delves into the dynamics of a seemingly ordinary family, she uncovers a far darker story than she could possibly have imagined. A story she risks becoming part of even as she tries to piece together the truth.

Because the bonds that shape us can also tear us apart. And sometimes there are monsters living among us, hiding in plain sight…

Carole Hailey says:

‘It is thrilling to know I will be having two more novels published by Corvus. I could not have wished for a better experience with my debut and I’m really excited and enormously grateful to have the opportunity to work with Sarah and the whole Corvus team on another two books.’

Sarah Hodgson says:

‘Carole was an absolute dream of an author to work with on The Silence Project, so I couldn’t wait to see what she would write next. Scenes From a Tragedy exceeded all my expectations, with its chilling premise, clever structure, nuanced characterization, all underpinned by Carole’s subtle and incredibly skilled writing. I’m so happy to be publishing two more novels on the Corvus list by such a talent.’