Baskerville bags Charlotte Philby’s ‘dazzling’ standalone literary thriller
Jade Chandler, publishing director at Baskerville, the crime and thriller imprint of John Murray Group, has acquired world all-language rights to Hot Young Things, a “dazzling” literary thriller by Charlotte Philby, from agent Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates.
Philby is the author of seven novels, including those in the Farrow & Chang detective series (Dirty Money, 2025; Lost Girls to come in spring 2026). Hot Young Things is her first standalone thriller since her novel The End of Summer (The Borough Press, 2024).
Hot Young Things, scheduled for publication in summer 2027, tells the story of journalist Helena Van Noten who, on the brink of forced redundancy, is offered an exclusive story that could save her hard-won career.
The blurb goes on: “To get the scoop, Helena must travel from London to sun-drenched Menorca to cover the opening of an exhibition by the mysterious Sophia Bamford. Sophia hasn’t been seen in public since her New York socialite parents died in a helicopter crash years earlier. Now, the eyes of the world are on her.
“As Helena finds herself drawn into the spotlight, what began as a lifeline quickly becomes dangerous. The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers a web of lies, imaginary fortunes and false identities constructed as carefully as the art she has made a living writing about. Long-buried secrets are stirring and someone will go to any length to keep them hidden.”
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The publisher describes the book as a “dazzling literary thriller that sweeps readers into the glittering world of international art” and “a story of deception, ambition and a secret worth dying for”
Chandler said: “Charlotte is an endlessly creative and talented writer, so when she came up with an idea for a fabulous new standalone thriller, I snapped it up. Hot Young Things has delivered on that initial idea and more. It’s a completely immersive, entertaining and compelling read, full of deeply relatable female characters. I loved following their story through Charlotte’s masterfully constructed twists and turns and I can’t wait for everyone to read it.”
Philby commented: “The initial idea for a literary thriller set in the glittering but sinister international art world came to me during a conversation with curator friends about the notorious art-scammer Inigo Philbrick. Like all good new ideas, it arrived while I was shoulders-deep in three other projects that needed my attention.
“In the two long and very fun years it’s taken to bring the characters in Hot Young Things to life, this story has become something else, too, featuring a cast of audacious, brilliant women whom I already miss. Thanks so much to my editor Jade Chandler for her patience and guidance. I hope readers enjoy this book as much as I have done writing it.”
