A year on, book will fund Madeleine McCann hunt

April 28, 2008 by David Brown

After a year of intense media scrutiny, the parents of Madeleine McCann announced yesterday that they were in negotiations to write a book about the disappearance of their daughter.

Kate and Gerry McCann, who have been unable to speak openly about the case since they were made official suspects on September 7, said that the proceeds of the book will be used to help fund the search for their daughter.

The couple are braced for a week of intense media interest leading up to the first anniversary on Saturday of Madeleine’s disappearance from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

Portuguese police are under pressure to make a decision on whether to charge the McCanns, either over the disappearance of their daughter or for neglect in leaving her alone.

Publishing experts have estimated that the McCanns’ book could receive an advance of up to £1 million, but have said that the couple may struggle to say anything new.

Clarence Mitchell, their spokesman, said: “It will be the family’s story, the only official book. Kate and Gerry are both keen to put the truth of everything that has happened to them on record. It will be a detailed account of their experience, from the pain of the night Madeleine was kidnapped to being named as official suspects in the investigation.”

Scott Pack, a former head of buying for Waterstone’s, said that the McCanns’ book would fall into the category of “misery memoir” or “inspirational biography”. He said: “I am sure there will be huge interest among publishers because it has the potential to be a huge success and they will not want it to go to someone else. It is bound to go for a decent amount and I think you are talking of at least £500,000. It could go for a million.”

Proceeds of any deal would go to the Find Madeleine Fund, which has received more than £1.5 million in public donations and a libel payout.

The couple are staying at their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, having ruled out a return to Portugal while they remain official suspects. They told a television documentary to be broadcast this week that they were filled with renewed confidence that their daughter could be found alive after visiting a specialist centre for missing children in the US.

A number of books about the case have already appeared. The Portuguese detective in charge of the investigation is reported to have almost finished writing an account of his five months on the case. Gonçalo Amaral, 48, was removed after criticising British police. He said that he will retire this week so that he can “recover his freedom of speech”.