Thanks to my brilliant editor Annette Rogers, and the faculty of Vermont College of the Fine Arts, where I finally learned how to write: Chris Noel, Domenic Stransberry, Diane Lefer and the inimitable Douglas Glover. Cheers also to my astute and merciless writing-group beta-readers, Neil Brosnan, George Murphy and Kathy Butterworth. My argument with Neil about Henry’s final disposition of the case made it into the book almost verbatim. I’m grateful for the advice and guidance of the real Nantucket Police Chief William Pittman. He would want you to know that Henry’s poetry and procedural mistakes are all my own. Finally, thanks to Suellen Ward for jump-starting this project over soft-shell crabs ten years ago. And to my Mom and Dad, Ed Breeding and Mimi Beman, true blue supporters who will have to miss the launch party.