$2m crime novel deal collapses amid questions over AI use

A high-profile publishing deal for a debut crime novel has collapsed after doubts emerged over whether artificial intelligence played a role in writing it.The hotly anticipated manuscript Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body, by Jerry Falade, was withdrawn from sale by its agent despite reportedly receiving an offer for more than $2m (£1.5m) from Minotaur, owned by Macmillan US, as part of a 14-way auction. The plan was to publish it in 2028.An email sent to publishers by Falade’s agents and seen by the Guardian said: “Jerry Falade produced an incredible manuscript that dazzled us and the top publishing professionals around the world. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to authenticate how the manuscript fully evolved from origin to completion.”It continued: “During the submission process we vetted the manuscript with Jerry for AI and felt trusting in his reassurance that it was written without utilising AI as a resource in the writing or editorial process. We can no longer substantiate that, and we are withdrawing the book.”The US auction was run by the author’s agent Marc Gerald of Europa Content, according to the Bookseller. In the UK, Sandy Hodgman of Hodgman Literary is said to have secured several six-figure bids through a similarly competitive process. The Guardian has approached both agents for comment.Gerald told the Bookseller he first read the book in June, and that it was “stunningly good, everyone fell in love with it. It’s a book that appeals to absolutely everyone.”He said that halfway through the submissions process, an editor raised concerns that the book had signs of potential AI use. Gerald said Europa opted against using AI-detection software to check the manuscript, saying Falade was “clear and credible” in his explanation.However, after a meeting on 29 July, when “aspects of [Falade’s] story changed”, the agency decided to cut ties, citing the “need to have total faith”.“We feel terrible for putting this into the universe and the firestorm it has caused,” Gerald added. “The book itself is genius – however it came to be drafted, it’s amazing.”Falade’s case is the latest in a string of controversies to hit publishing this year, as authors, agents and publishers grapple with how to handle suspected AI use in manuscripts. Earlier this year, Hachette pulled the US release of Mia Ballard’s horror novel Shy Girl after rumours circulated online that the author had relied on AI, something she denies.In a statement to the Guardian, Falade rejected claims that he had used AI and said the response reflected racial bias in publishing.He said: “Three Black authors received major publishing deals this year, and all three later had deals cancelled or disrupted following suspicions about AI. There seems to be a troubling assumption that when a Black writer produces work that attracts significant attention, the work could not possibly be their own. Meanwhile, there are popular white writers who have publicly mentioned using AI for their writing processes and they’re still doing fine.”Falade did not name other authors, but two Black authors in the US – Ballard and HM Wolfe, author of the viral romance Daggermouth – faced allegations of AI use this year. Wolfe also denies she used AI.Falade said: “In my case, rumours began circulating and, within six hours, I had been dropped by my agency, deals were paused, and press releases were being issued.” He added that AI-detection tools “are widely known to produce false positives”. He said the novel had “passed through first readers, second readers, editors, and acquisitions teams at numerous publishing houses … If the manuscript had shown genuine signs of being generated by AI, it is difficult to believe that every one of those experienced professionals would have failed to notice.”