Acknowledgements

Thanks to John and Lucy whose old house I have twisted into the Netherby house and who were the owners of the real Kali pug whose swimming antics gave me the original idea for the plot, and to Joanne Nicolson, owner of the real Jackson whippet.

Thank you to Swanndri, the clothing company, for allowing me to use their company name and their iconic brand of jackets to clothe my Southern Men.

All the characters in this book are fictitious. No relationship is intended to anyone living or dead. The Waihola buildings and campground are real but the people I have put in them are entirely fictitious.

The Netherby house does not, in actuality, border the lake – the house I based it on is several kilometres away up a back-country road. I have taken substantial liberties with its condition and layout.