As this book was being edited, Tom underwent a traumatic but necessary surgical procedure. He’s recovering well and wants to send his thanks – to which I wholeheartedly add my own – to everyone who has sent kind wishes, and embraced Monsarrat and Mrs M.
As always, my thanks and gratitude go to my family. Craig, Rory and Alex, thank you for putting up with the stress and deadlines, the half-drunk cups of coffee and demands for hugs and chocolate. I love you.
Tom and I both wish to thank my remarkable mother, Judy, who does so much for everyone and makes it look easy. She is one of the strongest women I have ever met and was integral to getting this book onto the page.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to my aunt, Jane Hall Keneally, to whom this book is dedicated. She was an incredible support to Tom, Judy and the rest of our family in the aftermath of Tom’s surgery, and we can’t thank her enough.
Editors are the unsung heroes of the publishing industry, and I’d like to thank two of the best, Catherine Hill and Kate Goldsworthy, who put so much work into this manuscript and left it a lot better than they found it.
And finally, I owe more than I can repay to my father, without whom Monsarrat and Mrs M would not exist. Tommy, thank you for taking me along for the ride.