Manilla Press, a boutique home for high-quality literary and reading group fiction at Bonnier Books UK, has acquired a “gloriously deranged” literary thriller by Rebecca Novack for six figures at auction during the London Book Fair, following a major US pre-empt by literary tastemaker Margo Shickmanter at Avid Reader via Claudia Ballard at WME Agency. Publisher Sophie Orme acquired UK & Commonwealth rights (excl. Canada) from Fiona Baird at WME Agency.
Murder Bimbo is a gloriously deranged, stylish, fast-paced literary thriller, told in three acts, following a 32-year-old sex worker caught up in a plot to assassinate a right-wing extremist presidential hopeful, known as Meat Neck.
Rebecca Novack said: ‘More than anything I wrote this book to be read voraciously, and to keep readers’ brains company. I am so elated that a press obsessed with telling transporting stories wants to publish Murder Bimbo. I am elated and grateful to the team at Manilla Press and looking forward to connecting with readers in the UK.’
Sophie Orme said: ‘The excitement, passion – and frankly obsession – of the whole team here at Manilla Press and Bonnier Books UK when Murder Bimbo landed was an absolute joy to witness. Gripping, subversive and utterly unmissable – we think everyone will be talking about Murder Bimbo next year.’
Rebecca Novack grew up in the Rocky Mountains and spent her first career as an Acquisitions Editor of academic and professional books in Education, Linguistics, and Machine Learning. She has a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity school and lives in Hudson, New York with her partner and two young children.
Murder Bimbo will be published in hardback, audio and eBook in Spring 2026.
Photo credit: Adam Deen
