Polygon has acquired World English Language and US/Canada audio rights for Lynsey May’s second novel, Prodigy, which will be published in Spring 2027. The deal was brokered by Sara Langham of David Higham Associates with Polygon’s senior editor Alison Rae.

This confident second novel cements May as an invigorating voice in Scottish literature. ‘I loved the mashup of horror story, dysfunctional families and Hollywood memoir. Add in #MeToo issues and you have an utterly compelling read,’ said Alison.

‘I’m so thrilled that my creepy and vulnerable novel about toxicity and redemption in the film industry will be published by Polygon. It’s a delight to work with editor Alison Rae again and to know that Prodigy is in safe hands.’

–Lynsey May

Meredith Baxter is a washed-up former child star, famous for being the unacknowledged daughter of actor Richard Thorne, her roles in two classic sitcoms and her final role – the teenage scream queen in cult horror film, Kin.

When clips of Kin start to resurface online, Meri receives an unexpected opportunity from two up and coming directors. Calum and Liam are filming a low-budget indie horror film, Prodigy, set in Scotland and inspired by Kin, and they’d like her to take the lead role.Why wouldn’t she? Her toxic mother Cici’s megachurch is trying to recruit her, the bills are racking up and no one stops her on the street any more. This could be the second chance she’s been dreaming of.

But as Meri starts filming in Scotland, online rumours begin to swirl about a producer who gave Meri and her former co-star Sav (currently the hottest pop star on the planet) their break. Back in LA, Cici has got wind of all that’s going on and, in the woods of Burntisland, something is definitely stirring. Will resurrecting her career unearth secrets from the past Meri would rather keep buried?

Lynsey May lives and works in Edinburgh. Her debut novel, Weak Teeth, published by Polygon in May 2023, was chosen as a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month. In June 2024, Lynsey was selected as one of 10 Rising Stars of UK Writing as part of ILX 10, an international exchange programme from the National Centre of Writing. She’s also won prizes and fellowships such as a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award, Emerging Scottish Writer at Cove Park and a Robert Louis Stevenson fellowship.