In a story sure to give hope to anyone still trying to write that book, a novel by an author who had all but given up on his career is now set up at Universal with Edgar Wright attached to direct and Jane Goldman writing the adaptation. Which is good news and Adrian McKinty and The Chain.
The book follows Rachel, who learns that her 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. The only way to get her back is to kidnap another child. Her daughter will be released only when that next victim’s parents kidnap another child. If Rachel doesn’t kidnap another child, or if that child’s parents don’t kidnap a child, her daughter will be murdered. She is now part of The Chain, a terrifying and meticulous chain letter-like kidnapping scheme that turns parents from victims into criminals.
McKinty had been on the verge of packing in the writing gig with a series of solid books that suffered lacklustre sales. A letter to The Cartel's Don Winslow spurred not just encouragement, but a connection with Shane Salerno, a veteran writer himself who has set up The Story Factory to help fellow creative types. In this case, they developed what would become The Chain, which has gone on to be a bestseller. And is now on Wright's list of potential movies, which also includes Set My Heart to Five, and a still-bubbling sequel to Baby Driver.
His latest, Last Night In Soho, meanwhile, is still in post-production, and recently saw its release date moved back to 2021.