Michael Joseph wins debut thriller by Amy McCulloch

Michael Joseph has acquired unique and chilling debut thriller Breathless from mountaineer and former editor Amy McCulloch, in a two book deal, following a six-way auction. Set on one of the highest and most dangerous mountains in the world, which Amy herself has summited and where she wrote a few lines of the book, it’s richly researched thriller about a young woman who must battle not just the elements, but also a killer who has made this deadly territory their own.

Publisher Joel Richardson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment in a six figure deal after a six-way auction. North American rights were sold at auction in a significant six-figure deal to Ed Kastenmeier, Editorial Director at Anchor Books, and Lara Hinchberger at PRH Canada, by Jenny Bent on behalf of Mushens. German rights sold in a six-figure deal at auction, and Dutch rights were pre-empted, with further sales already in Swedish and Russian.

Breathless is the story of Cecily Wong, a journalist who finds herself on an expedition to climb one of the world’s tallest – and most dangerous – mountains. But Cecily soon realises that there could be a killer hiding in plain sight within her team – and when you’re this high up, there’s no place to hide. 

Amy McCulloch is the Chinese-White author of eight novels for children and young adults, including the #1 bestselling YA novel The Magpie Society: One for Sorrow with Zoe Sugg. Breathless is her adult fiction debut.  

Before becoming a full-time writer, she was editorial director for Puffin and was a Bookseller Rising Star. In September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt Manaslu in Nepal -- the world’s eighth highest mountain. She also summited the highest mountain in the Americas, Aconcagua, in -45C and 90mph winds, and has visited all seven continents. 

The book will be a lead thriller launch for Michael Joseph, publishing in hardback, e-book and audio in early 2022, with a paperback to follow.

Richardson said: “This is a really special thriller. It’s full of wonderfully claustrophobic suspense with a killer hiding amongst a small group of people, but that classic formula is made totally fresh by its extraordinary setting, which no-one but Amy could have written. Meeting her on Zoom and hearing her stories from the mountain was genuinely fascinating, and I can’t wait to bring her brilliant books to the widest possible audience.”

McCulloch said: “I’m delighted to have found the perfect home with Michael Joseph – their enthusiasm for my debut adult novel blew me away. I actually wrote a few lines of Breathless in the death zone (at 8,053m to be precise) on Manaslu – because when inspiration strikes, you can't ignore it! I can’t wait to offer the world a glimpse into the thrilling world of high altitude mountaineering."

Mushens said: “Amy’s mountaineering adventures are always fascinating to hear about – so to marry the dangers of the setting (low oxygen levels, weather conditions, avalanche risks) with the discover that there is a murderer on the mountain, makes for an incredibly gripping read.”