Harvill snags Kate Bailey’s ‘thrilling’ dystopian debut
Harvill has acquired The Hunters by Kate Bailey, described as a "thrilling" dystopian novel for fans of I Who Have Never Known Men and The Village.
Associate publishing director Liz Foley bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Rachel Neely at Mushens Entertainment, with publication scheduled for September 2027.
The blurb reads: "Siblings Amanda and Benji have always followed the righteous path and rejected the ways of strangeness. They have been good and faithful, safe in the knowledge that the village leaders, the Hunters, will protect them and provide for them.
"But everything changes for Amanda when her mother and Benji are found dead, killed by one of the monsters that roam the post-apocalyptic world beyond the village walls. The Hunters know who to blame for this incursion, but Amanda starts to have her doubts. Doubts that will prove very dangerous to her and those close to her."
On the acquisition, Foley said: "I immediately fell for the clever way Kate tells her nail-biting and shocking story. Hearing from both Benji and Amanda’s perspectives creates a pulse-racing tension but also shines a fascinating light on the glamour of dominance-driven masculinity and how it’s experienced so differently by both characters. We can’t wait to publish The Hunters ahead of Halloween next year."
The Hunters was shortlisted for the Little, Brown UEA Crime Fiction Award, and Bailey was a London Independent Story Prize short-story finalist in 2022. She said: “I am beyond delighted to be working with Liz and the team at Harvill, whose depth of experience in the industry and passion for my book have already made this an incredibly rewarding collaboration.
"Their insight and dedication are something that every author hopes for. I can’t wait for readers to discover the dangerous world of The Hunters and am so excited to be published in 2027. Much gratitude also goes to my wonderful agent, Rachel Neely."
