Since the characters in this novel have a pre-history on radio, I have a large cast of people to thank for helping me form them, not least my producer Karen Rose, who managed to persuade the commissioners at Radio 4 to give me not only four series of Inspector Steine, but also a final Christmas special. Our wonderful cast of regulars comprised Michael Fenton Stevens, John Ramm, Matt Green and Samantha Spiro (replacing Jan Ravens after the first series). Writing scripts for such talented comic actors was throughout a real privilege.
But that was radio, and it was not the same. When it came to adapting and expanding (while at the same time firmly reining in) the scripted material in order to create A Shot in the Dark, I have fewer people to thank, but I thank them wholeheartedly: Alexandra Pringle and Alison Hennessey at Bloomsbury, and Anthony Goff at David Higham Associates. First Alexandra backed me to write a bona fide crime novel, and then Alison patiently showed me how. Meanwhile my wonderful agent Anthony loyally cheered the book along, which meant a lot to me.
I’ve never written acknowledgements for a novel before, but now that I’ve got the hang of it I am going to carry on, and thank my gorgeous doggy companions, Hoagy and Django, for all their support while I was writing (cleverly disguised as either begging noisily for treats or pawing at doors to be let out). Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to say that, obviously, if anyone should shoulder the blame for all this, it’s not me, it’s Graham Greene.