Writing novels may seem to outsiders to be a solitary task, and much of it really is. But my books would never happen without the hard work of many great people I’m blessed to have around me, and those I turn to for research help, who are invariably immensely generous with their time and in sharing their knowledge, in my quest to make my novels, although fiction, feel as authentic as possible.
Thank you in particular for research help on this book to Tom Homewood; Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell, Divisional Commander of Brighton and Hove Police; Michelle Brooker and all the staff at Lewes Library; David Graham; Canon Simon Holland; Jan van Niekerk; The Reverends Ish and Irene Smale; and Bishop Dominic Walker, OGS.
A massive thank you to Susan Ansell, Graham Bartlett, Dani Brown, Martin and Jane Diplock, Chris Diplock, Anna-Lisa Hancock, James Hodge, Sarah Middle, Helen Shenston, Mark Tuckwell and Chris Webb. To my agent, Isobel Dixon, and all at Blake Friedmann and to everyone at my UK publishers, Pan Macmillan – including Sarah Arratoon, Jonathan Atkins, Anna Bond, Wayne Brookes, Stuart Dwyer, Claire Evans, Daniel Jenkins, Neil Lang, Sara Lloyd, Louise Patel, Alex Saunders, Jade Tolley, Jeremy Trevathan, Charlotte Williams, Natalie Young, my copy-editor Susan Opie and my wonderful publicists at Riot, Preena Gadher, Caitlin Allen and Emily Souders. And an extremely special mention to Geoff Duffield, who believed in me from the very beginning.
I need to single out a few people above all others – my good friend, David Gaylor, my tireless assistant, Linda Buckley, my wife Lara, who has brilliant insights into characters and is my total rock. And of course lastly (although I’m sure they know, really, they come first!) our dogs, Oscar, Spooky and Wally and all the other furry and feathered creatures in our ever-expanding menagerie.
As ever, thank you, my wonderful readers! I always love to hear from you – your letters, emails, blog posts, tweets, facebook, Instagram and YouTube comments give me such constant encouragement.
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