EXCLUSIVE: Fremantle’s Red Planet Pictures has beaten out competition to land the option for ‘It’s Not What You Think’, the upcoming novel from bestselling author Clare Mackintosh. Kam Odedra, whose writing credits include Hijack, Lupin, and most recently the penultimate episode of All Her Fault, will adapt the novel for TV.
We hear there was a lot of competition for this one with Mackintosh’s books hot property after her seven previous Sunday Times bestsellers. The much-anticipated new book is published by HarperFiction in March.
Cop-turned-novelist Mackintosh has gathered a fan base including Lee Child. Her new book follows Nadeeka Prasanna and Detective Chief Inspector Lauren Caldwell. They are forced together after Nadeeka finds her partner, Jamie, murdered and her home a crime scene. The blurb for the book, which is one of the most anticipated releases of 2026, reads: “Embarking on parallel investigations, the two women are taken down dark, sinister and diverging paths in a race against time. Everyone has a secret, but only one person knows the truth…and none of what emerges is what you think.”
“’It’s Not What You Think’ is my most ambitious thriller yet” said Mackintosh. “Red Planet Pictures’ vision and drive makes them the perfect partner, and I couldn’t be more honored to have Kam Odedra on board.”
Red Planet scored the rights in a competitive auction that saw multiple offers made by would-be buyers. The deal rights were handled by Alex Jones for Red Planet, a long-established UK-based drama prodco with shows including Death In Paradise and Sanditon under its belt.
“Clare is a best-selling author for a reason – taking readers on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns and pulling the rug from you when you least expect it; and ‘It’s Not What You Think’ is no exception,” said Belinda Campbell, Co-CEO of Red Planet. “A hugely accomplished and characterful thriller writer, Kam is perfectly placed to bring this prescient story to life on screen.”
The Red Planet option comes at a busy moment for the prodco. It is about to get to work on adapting Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall’s debut novel, ‘Death at the White Hart’, which will start production this year. It will be a co-production with the Doctor Who writer’s label Imaginary Friends. That project is for ITV and Deadline understands another drama for the commercial broadcaster is slated for production in 2026, but details of that thriller are being closely guarded.
Mackintosh is repped by Camilla Young and Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown.