It’s hard to believe I’m on my fourth book! The idea for this one goes back a long way, but it’s taken many conversations and collaborations with some brilliant people to turn it into the book you’ve just read.
As ever, a huge thank you to my agent, Hellie Ogden, for being my cheerleader and sounding board – very proud to have reached book four with you! Thanks to the fantastic team at WME, and especially to Ma’suma Amiri for all your hard work and support.
It’s been exciting and rewarding to have worked with three talented editors on this book. Thank you to Bethany Wickington and Cara Chimirri at Hodder, and Tarini Sipahimalani at Putnam, for your inspired ideas, insightful editing, and encouragement every step of the way. I’ve really enjoyed the journey!
Thank you, also, to all the people behind the scenes at Hodder and Putnam who do so much for me and my books. This time, in particular, to Helena Newton for the brilliant copyediting, Charlea Charlton for marketing, and Alainna Hadjigeorgiou for publicity.
I particularly struggled to get the beginning of this book right, so I really want to thank Leicester Writers’ Club for so much great feedback on the first few chapters. I was also pretty clueless about how prisons work when I started writing this story, so am hugely grateful to Holly Webster and Jay Eales for answering my questions (any errors are mine!). And as ever, thank you to all my bookish friends and fellow writers for your friendship and support – especially Leicester Writers, Leicester Speculators, and Anna Sun for all the chats.
It’s no exaggeration to say I’d be lost without the long-term support of my amazing family – Mum, Dad, Grams, Christine, Yass – plus all my wonderful friends (you know who you are!) who’ve been there through thick and thin. And more recently, the lovely people who, by the time this book is out, will officially be my in-laws.
I’ve dedicated this book to my nephews, Idris and Aryn, even though it is a bit of a grim tale at times! In contrast, you are always a joy and an inspiration.
Finally, to the person who, by publication day, will not only be my best friend and beta reader, but also my husband. Phil, you helped me turn this book from an interesting idea into a much more exciting and emotive story. And, as always, you kept me sane through the writing of it. For many, many reasons, I’m ever thankful to have you by my side.