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$2m crime novel deal collapses amid questions over AI use
A proposed $2m (£1.5m) publishing deal for Jerry Falade’s debut crime novel has collapsed after his agents said they could no longer verify how the manuscript was developed. The withdrawal of Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body highlights growing uncertainty in publishing over suspected use of artificial intelligence and how agencies should investigate it.
The novel had attracted a reported 14-way US auction, with Minotaur expected to publish it in 2028, while several six-figure UK bids were also reportedly secured. Falade denies using AI and argues that the reaction reflects racial bias, noting that other Black authors have recently faced similar allegations; his agency ended its representation after saying parts of his account changed during discussions.
In short
- Major crime-novel deal withdrawn over unverified AI-use concerns
- Falade denies using AI and alleges racial bias
- Publishing industry faces growing scrutiny over AI-authored work
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Publishers face legitimate concerns about AI-generated or AI-assisted content, given questions around authorship, originality, and consumer transparency. Investigating manuscript provenance before committing substantial funds is responsible due diligence, particularly when an author's account of the creative process changes during discussions—a reasonable trigger for caution.
The case against
Black authors in publishing face documented patterns of heightened scrutiny and suspicion, and AI-use allegations may reflect these systemic biases rather than substantive concerns. Without concrete evidence of AI involvement, withdrawing based on inconsistencies that could result from investigation pressure risks perpetuating discriminatory barriers for authors from marginalised communities.
Explained simply
Publishing agents help authors sell books to publishers and may also advise on contracts and publicity. A manuscript’s development can involve many stages, from an author’s own drafts to editing and other tools, so questions about how a book was written can affect whether a deal goes ahead.
Generative artificial intelligence can produce or alter text, and publishers are still working out how to assess its use in submitted manuscripts. Jerry Falade denies using AI on his novel and has raised concerns about racial bias in scrutiny of Black authors, while his former agency said it could no longer verify how the manuscript was developed. The dispute matters because it touches on trust between authors, agents and publishers, as well as how allegations are investigated.