For me, the biggest surprise in writing has come from the encouragement and support of people; many of them strangers. Their generosity has been a humbling experience. The debt of gratitude is so large it is difficult to know where to begin, but perhaps a mention to all the book clubs and their members is a good place to start. Also, the reviewers and bloggers who tirelessly work to help a novel reach the maximum audience deserve to be recognised. If they weren’t there, I would be whistling in the dark. Naming them individually is a recipe for missing someone out and offending them, so I won’t go there. It isn’t necessary; they already know who they are. Thanks, everybody.
In bringing the story to the page, I again credit DS Alasdair McMorrin of Police Scotland CID for keeping me within the bounds of reality and the wonderful team at Boldwood, especially my editor Sarah Ritherdon.
Putting a book together is like making sausages; a process it is better no one witnesses. In that regard, my partner, inspiration and guiding light is, as always, my wife, Christine. How fortunate to be married to such a creative thinker. It means I am never stuck for long because she sees possibilities I am blind to. Her vision is unsurpassed and, without her input this book would not exist.
Owen Mullen
Crete 2017