Writing a book set in the past, even the relatively recent past, presented a host of challenges and opportunities. I loved doing the research for this book and I am incredibly grateful to the Vermont Digital Newspaper Project, the Vermont State Archives & Records Administration, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and the Vermont Historical Society for making archives of Vermont newspapers available to researchers.
Librarians at my local library, the Hartland Public Library, were so helpful in finding necessary texts for me.
I am indebted to the many people who shared with me stories of this period in Vermont and New England history. My father, Dave Taylor, my uncle Steve Taylor (whose scholarship on the coming of the interstates and farming in the Upper Valley was inspirational in numerous ways), and my aunt Helen Taylor Davidson were all so helpful and I send them huge thanks and lots of love. My amazing husband, Matt Dunne, shared many stories and answered many questions and I am grateful to him for that—and for all the other ways he aided in the writing of this novel.
Abe Dunne provided me with a lot of research help. Thank you, Abe!
I’m grateful to Phil Hobbie, Martin Philip, Chuck Wooster, and Emily Howe and John O’Brien for help with some sheep details!
Thanks also to my neighbor David Singer for answering my questions.
A big thank-you to Vermont Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison and to Lieutenant Colonel James Whitcomb for helping me find people to talk to within the Vermont State Police. Captain JP Sinclair (Ret.) kindly answered many questions for me. I am especially grateful to former auxiliary trooper and Vermont State Police historian Brian Lindner, who provided me with so much information about the early days of the Vermont State Police and the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. I so appreciate his scholarship and passion for history. All historical inaccuracies or alterations to proper procedure for the purposes of plot are mine and mine alone!
Big, huge thanks go to my agent, Esmond Harmsworth, and the whole team at Aevitas Creative Management and to everyone at Minotaur Books—you all take such good care of my books! Thank you to my editor, Kelley Ragland, and to Madeline Houpt, Sarah Melnyk, Allison Ziegler, and David Rotstein. You are the best.
I feel so lucky in my author friends. Thank you for cheering, commiserating, and writing amazing books!
As always, I am overwhelmed by the love and support of my family and friends during deadline crunches, launch days, writing retreats, brainstorming sessions, and anxious waiting. Thank you to Sue, David, Tom, Otis, and Edie Taylor, Vicki Kuskowski, and, of course, to Matt, Judson, Abe, and Cora Dunne. I love you so much.