Commissioning Editor at Hodder & Stoughton, Lily Cooper, has pre-empted In Her Defence, a courtroom drama novel about a trial centred on false memory, and one other novel from Philippa Malicka.

In Her Defence will be published as a lead hardback on the Hodder list in June 2024, with Philippa’s second novel  publishing in 2025. North American rights were pre-empted by Marysue Rucci at Marysue Rucci Books via Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency.

In The Bookseller announcement, Lily Cooper was quoted: “In Her Defence is the kind of book I’d been dreaming would land in my inbox. With shades of Anatomy of a Scandal (S&S UK) and The Talented Mr Ripley (Vintage) by way of Zoe Heller, it is a sharp and brilliant examination of privilege, the sometimes murky nature of therapy, and the uncomfortable boundary between what is legal and what is right. Philippa is an electrifying writer.”

Philippa said: “I have been overwhelmed by the reaction to In Her Defence and I am so excited to launch my writing career with Hodder, and Simon and Schuster in the States. In Lily Cooper and Marysue Rucci I am thrilled to have found such passionate editors to guide my book into the world, just as I was deeply fortunate to have Juliet’s visionary support in its crafting. It’s been a dizzying few weeks, the kind of response a debut author dreams of, and I look forward to what the rest of my publication journey will bring.”

Juliet was also quoted in the article: “In Her Defence combines two of my favourite things—rich people behaving badly and an outsider with the ability to destroy it all. Philippa is a gorgeous writer and I’m confident this is the start of a long and exciting writing career. Lily blew us away with her enthusiasm and I’m excited to see her launched by Hodder.”