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HarperCollins has snapped up two thrillers by debut author Abby Davies.
Editor Kathryn Cheshire acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding, Canada, from Euan Thorneycroft at A M Heath. The first book in the deal, Mother Loves Me, will publish in Autumn 2020. The as-yet untitled second book will follow an unstable nanny who finds out that her employer is hiding a terrible secret.
Dubbed a "wonderfully creep thriller", Mother Loves Me follows 13-year-old Mirabelle, who is her mother’s "little doll".
"Her mother dresses her, paints her face, plaits her hair. But as Mirabelle grows, and her body changes, the dresses no longer fit quite as well, the face paint no longer looks quite so pretty. And Mother isn’t happy," reads the synopsis. "On Mirabelle’s 13th birthday, Mother arrives home with a present – a new sister, 5-year-old Clarabelle whom Mother has saved from “Utopia”. As it dawns on Mirabelle that there is a new “little doll” in her house, she also realises that her life isn’t what she thought it was. And that dolls often end up on the scrap heap."
Cheshire said: "I am absolutely over the moon to be publishing Abby Davies on the HarperCollins Crime & Thriller list. Abby’s writing is stand-out, and Mother Loves Me gave me chills – it’s so creepy and compelling I struggled to put it down! I’m delighted to be working with Abby on this book and one other, and am already looking forward to seeing readers’ reactions!"
Davies, who is a part-time English teacher, added: "I am thrilled to be working with Kathryn and the HarperCollins team on Mother Loves Me. I can't wait to see the result of everyone's hard work, passion and creativity. Kathryn's enthusiasm for my work has blown me away and I'm incredibly excited to see readers' reactions."