I would like to thank the big cornerstone four: Ron, my wonderful husband, my best friend Karen McKenzie, and my parents, Douglas and Charmaine Goodman.
Huge thanks, always, to Jill Grinberg, my fabulous agent, and her exceptional team: Cheryl, Katelyn, Denise and Kirsten. The best in the business!
I am privileged to work with a fantastic team at Walker Books UK. My thanks to my lovely publisher Gill Evans, my delightful and patient editor Emily McDonnell, and Maria Soler Cantón who has created such stunning covers for the Lady Helen series. Thanks also to the rather brilliant Walker Books publicity and marketing team headed by Ed Ripley.
I am a big believer in the value of writing groups and the support they provide. Big thanks to my two gangs: The Y. & J. Writers, and Clan Destine.
A number of people have helped with my research along the way. Thank you to Duncan Nash, John Garden-Gardiner, Alan Baxter, and the staff at the Royal Pavilion and the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.
My sincere thanks also to the two back specialists who are keeping me upright while I write Lady Helen’s adventures: my chiropractor Dr Warren Sipser, and my physiotherapist Natalie Szmerling.
Finally, I must acknowledge the sweet hound from Hell, Xander, my dear old-man dog whose main contributions are loud snoring, louder barking and an insistent paw that taps my leg at four o’clock every afternoon to remind me that a daily walk is most beneficial for the constitution.