ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Unending gratitude to:
Kristin Sevick, my brilliant, hilarious, and gracious editor. Thank you. The remarkable team at Forge Books: the incomparable Linda Quinton, indefatigable Alexis Saarela, and Seth Lerner for the cover of all covers (and I know I’ll never beat you in Scrabble). Copy editor Eliani Torres, who had me laughing all the way through the copyediting with her yellow highlights. (Sometimes, I repeat words. Thank goodness she noticed.) Talia Sherer, who shares my passion for libraries. Brian Heller, my champion. The inspirational Tom Doherty, who makes it all happen. What a terrifically smart and unfailingly supportive team. I am so thrilled to be part of it.
Lisa Gallagher, a wow of an agent, a true goddess, who changed my life.
Francesca Coltrera, the astonishingly skilled independent editor, who lets me believe all the good ideas are mine. Editor Chris Roerden, whose infinite care and skill and commitment made such a difference. You both are incredibly talented. I am lucky to know you both—and even luckier to be able to work with you.
The artistry and savvy of Madeira James, Charlie Anctil, Patrick O’Malley, and Nancy Berland. The expertise, guidance, and friendship of Dr. D. P. Lyle and Lee Lofland and Cathy Pickens. And the wizardry of Carol Fitzgerald.
The inspiration of David Morrell, Mary Jane Clark, Jim Huang, Marianne Mancusi, Suzanne Brockmann, Kaye Barley, Carla Neggers, and Robert B. Parker.
Sue Grafton. And Lisa Scottoline. And Lee Child. Words fail me. (I know, a first.)
My dear posse at Sisters in Crime. Thank you. And at Mystery Writers of America, the dolphin gang: Reed Farrel Coleman, Jessie Lourey, Larry Light, and Margery Flax.
My amazing blog sisters. At Jungle Red Writers: Julia Spencer-Fleming, Hallie Ephron, Rosemary Harris, Roberta Isleib/Lucy Burdette, Jan Brogan, Deborah Crombie, and Rhys Bowen. At Femmes Fatales: Charlaine Harris, Dana Cameron, Kris Neri, Mary Saums, Toni Kelner, Elaine Viets, and Donna Andrews. At Lipstick Chronicles: Nancy Martin and Harley Jane Kozak, who brought us all together.
Ken Schanzer and Jim Flug and Tom Sussman and Terry Straub, my political mentors from way back.
My dear friends Amy Isaac, Mary Schwager, and Katherine Hall Page; and my darling sister, Nancy Landman.
Dad—who loves every moment of this. (Mom—Missing you, and using cucumbers.)
And Jonathan, of course, who never complained about all the pizza.
(I’ve tweaked Boston geography a bit to protect the innocent. And I love readers who read the acknowledgments. Thanks to you all.)