ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are no fables without magic. My deepest thanks to Meg Ruley, Jane Berkey, Peggy Gordijn, Don Cleary, and all at the Jane Rotrosen Agency; thanks as always to my fabulous editor, Linda Marrow, as well as Dana Isaacson, Gina Centrello, Libby McGuire, Kim Hovey, Rachel Kind, Dan Mallory, and the great team at Ballantine Books; thanks again to Nikola Scott, Kate Elton, Cassie Chadderton, Louisa Gibbs, Emma Rose, and the brilliant group at Random House UK.

A cheer (yo) for the Philly crew: Mike Driscoll and the gang at Finnigan’s Wake (and Ashburner Inn), as well as Patrick Ghegan, Jan Klincewicz, Karen Mauch, Joe Drabyak, Joe Brennan, Halley Spencer (Mr. Wonderful), and Vita DeBellis.

For their expertise, thanks to the Honorable Seamus McCaffery, Detective Michele Kelly, Sgt. Gregory Masi, Sgt. Joanne Beres, Detective Edward Rocks, Detective Timothy Bass, and the men and women of the Philadelphia Police Department; thanks to J. Harry Isaacson, MD; thanks to Crystal Seitz, Linda Wrobel, and the gracious folks at the Reading & Berks County Visitors Bureau for the coffee and maps; thanks to DJC and DRM for the wine and patience.

Once again, I’d like to thank the city and people of Philadelphia for indulging my imagination.