Author’s Acknowledgments

Half the series has been written. It feels strange. I look at the previous two books and the manuscript of this one, and it feels as if someone else has written them. As usual, it’s all lies. Certain people do exist, but what I’ve written about them is fiction.

Many people have helped me, and I would like to thank some of them here: Lennart Edström, consultant, who helped me with the progress of Rebecka’s illness, among other things; senior doctors Peter Löwenhielm and Jan Lindberg, who helped me with regard to physical injuries and my dead bodies; lecturer Marie Allen, with whom I have had the pleasure of discussing traces of blood and strands of hair; prosecutor Cecilia Bergman; dog handler Peter Holmström; and the artists Anita Ponga, Maria Montner and Camilla Jüllig, who have all freely shared their expertise. And I must stress that Ester’s family is not Anita Ponga’s.

As always, any errors are my own.

Thanks also to: my editor Rachel Åkerstedt, merciless and wonderful. All the brilliant people at my publishers; just walking in there makes me happy. The fantastic Bonnier Group Agency, who manage to sell my books to the world. Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin and John Eyre for their original cover design.

Thanks to my mother, Eva Jensen, Lena Andersson and Thomas Karlsen Andersson for reading the manuscript and turning somersaults with joy and giving me praise. I needed that so much. You put up with me. Thanks to my father and Mona, who read and checked on the facts relating to Kiruna.

And finally: thanks, Per. The book is finally finished. And now I’m coming to get you.