Thanks to my daughter, Robin Paull, for finding the book, Eating Your Way to Health, by Dr. J. Douglas Thompson, who called himself a “diet specialist” when his book was published in 1925. Dr. Thompson advised drinking grapefruit juice and eating apples for curing everything from backache to deafness. Having suffered both conditions for several years, I can vouch for the fact that his suggestions don’t work. But it’s a fun book, and the exercises are pretty much like the ones physical therapists have been forcing me to do for a long time.
Also, many thanks to Judy Lawrence Smith for suggesting Frank Pagano’s jailbreak and adding gangsters to the problems besetting Daisy, Sam and their pals in this adventure.
Here’s a huge thank-you to my beta readers: David Bedini, Gina Gilmore, Sue Krekeler and Lynne Welch. I didn’t think I’d ever get this book written, and they helped me more than they’ll ever know.
I’ll never be able to thank Peter Brandvold enough for giving me Lou Prophet, even if he did wait until Lou was old, broken-down and one-legged. Lou still comes in mighty handy, considering he’s an old crock. Thanks, Mean Pete!
Oh, and Salvatore Luciano didn’t get the nickname “Lucky” until 1929, so I fudged a bit there. He has no living relations to sue me, so who cares?