ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Elizabeth and Sammy, my mum, dad, Vicky, and Alan.

Thanks to my friends Steph B, Martin and Mary, and Liz and Sara for reading and critiquing, in the nicest possible way, and to my friend Matt Seldon for all his creative endeavors. Thanks also to Trev, Paul, Sheapy, Mitch, and Mac for their naval knowledge, and to John Smith of the Royal Armouries for an excellent tour.

Thanks to Esther Newberg at ICM Partner; to Michael Signorelli, Kanyin Ajayi, Stephen Rubin, and Chris O’Connell at Henry Holt; and to Jonny Geller and Catherine Cho at Curtis Brown.

All your help and support is very much appreciated.

And finally …

To all my brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces who are deployed around the globe, away from their loved ones—be safe, look out for each other, and remember: never let the truth get in the way of a good story!