Publishers will be going head to head this week to secure the rights to Amanda Knox’s story, it has been reported.

The acquitted murder suspect, who spent four years in an Italian prison following the death of Briton Meredith Kercher, made a presentation to publishers at a private auction for a deal said to be worth seven figures.

According to the New York Times, only large-scale publishers like Random House or HarperCollins will have budgets big enough to buy Knox’s story, which has captivated audiences across the globe as they debate her innocence.

Owner of US bookstore RJ Julia, Roxanne J Coady, suggested the title’s success would depend very much on Knox’s tone as readers will want to understand what happened, rather than feel they are being convinced to believe in her innocence.

She told the news provider: “I think if it has an authenticity and reflective quality, it could be huge.

“If it is a variation of a PR campaign to clean up her reputation, I think it will flop badly.”

Knox is currently appealing a slander conviction brought about by falsely implicated bar owner Patrick Lumumba.

Follow Us

Follow The London Book Fair on twitter, facebook and linkedin for the latest show and publishing news.