“The Day of the Jackal” producer Carnival Films have snapped up the rights to develop Sarah Pinborough’s upcoming novel “They Say a Girl Died Here” for television.
The murder mystery, which is set to be published at the end of this month, follows university drop-out Anna Maybourne as she accompanies her mother, sister and grandmother to the farming town of Harper’s Creek – a place where two girls were killed exactly three years apart. While her grandmother descends deeper into dementia, Anna becomes increasingly obsessed with the murders.
“The case was closed, but as the next three-year anniversary looms and the town suffers a drought, people pray, people worry, and people wait,” reads the synopsis. “Anna believes the killer is watching, and that Grandma somehow knows more than she should. They say both are, in their own ways, mad. Because when Grandma speaks, only Anna understands that instead of being over, the mystery seems like it’s starting again.”
Bestselling author and screenwriter Pinborough wrote Netflix hit “Behind Her Eyes” and adapted her own novel “Insomnia” for Paramount+. She has written almost 30 novels, which have been published in over 30 territories globally. “They Say a Girl Died Here” is set to be released in the U.S. on Aug. 25 via Flatiron Books with Orion publishing the novel in the U.K. on Aug. 27.
“I’m so delighted to be working with Carnival Films bringing this new novel to the screen,” said Pinborough. “They have such flair, style and brilliance as their many successes can attest and are so in tune with my storytelling. I know together we can elevate this book into absolute must-watch television!”
The thriller is the latest high-profile project for Carnival, whose Peacock series “All Her Fault” is in the running for seven Emmys this year, including outstanding limited series, while hit Sky/Peacock series “The Day of the Jackal” is returning for a second season, which is currently in production.
Carnival, who are part of Universal Global Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, are also adapting Katherine Faulkner’s “The Break-In” for Peacock and developing Andrea Mara’s “Such a Nice Girl.”
Carnival Films’ co-executive chair Nigel Marchant said: “Sarah has a rare ability to take readers somewhere completely unexpected, blending psychological depth with page-turning suspense. ‘They Say a Girl Died Here’ is a brilliantly original thriller – atmospheric, unsettling and impossible to put down. We were captivated from the very first page and are thrilled to be working with Sarah to bring this extraordinary story to the screen.”
Sean Gascoigne of United Agents negotiated the deal on behalf of Pinborough.
