This book was finished whilst homeschooling in lockdown and I am wildly grateful to my husband, Barney, who was not only my first reader but who kept us all (relatively) sane during these turbulent times, and to my children who allowed themselves to be shouted at and stuck in front of the TV for hours on end whilst we attempted to work with everyone under one trembling roof.
Huge respect and gratitude to my inimitable editor, Ann Bissell, for her excellent guidance and patience; to Julia Silk, super-agent and occasional therapist; and to the brilliant team at Borough – Felicity Denham, Katy Blott, Izzy Coburn, Alice Gomer, Andrew Davies, et al. I’m so thankful for your support and talents.
Special thanks to my dear friend Hannah Foster for introducing me to the island of Alonnisos over the course of various summer holidays, first as teenagers, then as adults. It continues to occupy my thoughts. To my excellent police advisor, Richard H, for steering me away from glaring factual errors (any remaining are fully my own responsibility). To Vilma Nikolaidou – thank you, a million times, thank you. To my mum, who is a beacon of all things good, but not too good, because that would be boring. And finally to Xander, to whom this book is dedicated: good things come in threes!