As usual I owe many thanks to people who helped me create this book and/or just plain supported me with a new endeavour. Conan Tobias gave me a boost by asking for a short story for his magazine, Taddle Creek. This was where Charlotte Frayne, Private Investigator, first came to life. Ryan Hamilton and Andre DePasqua found me wonderful material from the library. Lynette Dubois shared some of her own experiences as a former private investigator. Sarah Gaby Trotz gave me good advice on likely menus of the Depression era. But I especially want to acknowledge Marc Côté, my publisher and editor. I am delighted and grateful to be under his wing.