I would again like to acknowledge the contribution of Matthew V. Clemens.
Matt—who has collaborated with me on numerous published short stories—is an accomplished true crime writer, as well as a knowledgeable fan of C.S.I. He helped me develop the plot of this novel, and worked up a lengthy story treatment, which included all of his considerable forensic research, for me to expand my novel upon.
The real-life C.S.I. to whom Matt and I have dedicated this book—Criminalist Sergeant Chris Kaufmann CLPE, Bettendorf (Iowa) Police Department—provided comments, insights and information that were invaluable to this project. Books consulted include two works by Vernon J. Gerberth: Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide (1997) and Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures and Forensic Investigation (1996). Also helpful was Scene of the Crime: A Writer’s Guide to Crime Scene Investigations (1992), Anne Wingate, Ph. D. Any inaccuracies, however, are my own. Also drawn upon was Dead Water (1995), Pat Gipple and Matthew V. Clemens, a nonfiction account of a torso slaying and a pioneering genetic trial.
Again, Jessica McGivney at Pocket Books provided support, suggestions and guidance. The producers of C.S.I. were gracious in providing scripts, background material and episode tapes, without which this novel would have been impossible.
Finally, the inventive Anthony E. Zuiker must be singled out as creator of this concept and these characters. Thank you to him and other C.S.I. writers, whose imaginative and well-documented scripts inspired this novel and have done much toward making the series such a success both commercially and artistically.