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

Jerry Falade's eagerly awaited debut crime novel, "Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body," has seen its high-profile publishing deal collapse due to concerns over artificial intelligence usage in its creation. Despite receiving an offer of over $2 million from Minotaur, a subsidiary of Macmillan US, the book was withdrawn from sale by the author's agent after questions arose about the manuscript's evolution from origin to completion.

Initial excitement turned to doubt when an editor raised concerns about potential AI involvement halfway through the submissions process. The agent, Europa Content's Marc Gerald, explained that while Falade's reassurance initially quelled fears, a subsequent meeting on July 29th led to the decision to terminate the partnership, citing a need for "total faith."

Falade vehemently denies using AI, suggesting the controversy stems from racial bias in the industry. He pointed out that other Black authors who have garnered significant attention have also faced cancellations or disruptions following similar suspicions. Falade emphasized that the novel underwent rigorous review by editors and acquisitions teams before its withdrawal, and he questioned the reliability of AI-detection tools, which he believes often produce false positives.