Acknowledgments

To my publisher, Sara Hunt, for her expertise and thoughtfulness. My heartfelt thanks.

For patient and skilful editing, Russel D. McLean and Angie Harms.

For specialist input, Professor Dame Sue Black and Dr Craig McKenzie of Dundee University’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, Professor James Grieve, Emeritus Professor of Forensic Pathology at the University of Aberdeen, Ronald Manning of Aberdeen Public Mortuary, Sergeant Teresa Clark of Police Scotland and former Detective Sergeant Bill Ogilvie.

My appreciation goes to the reviewers, bloggers, booksellers and librarians who have brought Maggie and Wilma to a wider audience, and to the many readers who have taken this unlikely crime duo to their hearts.

To my family and friends; what can I say? There would be no Harcus & Laird without your unwavering support.

And to the good folk of Aberdeen, with whose city and Doric tongue I have taken liberties – my apologies. The events in this novel are entirely fictional and inaccuracies wholly mine.