Thank you to Joanne Dale, who gave me great insights into the world of a teenager, and to Annabel Skok, who gave me great wisdom from the younger perspective.
Thanks also to Peter Wingate Saul, Adrian Briggs and Phil Homan; Peter Faulding of Specialist Group International; Juliet Smith, Chief Magistrate of Brighton and Hove; Paul Grzegorzek; Abigail Bradley and Matt Greenhalgh, Director of Forensics at Orchid Cellmark Forensics; Tim Moore, Ray Marshall and all crew of the Arco Dee dredger, especially Sam Janes, the supercook! Mel Johnson, Head of the Child Trafficking Unit at CEOP; STOP (Trafficking) UK (www.stop-uk.org); Samantha Godec of City Lights; and Sally Albeury. Very special thanks to Nicky Mitchell, and to Jessica Butcher of Tessera Group PLC. And to Graham Lewis, my lock-up garage specialist!
I owe a big debt to my team in Romania – my agent Simona Kessler; my wonderful publishers there, Valentin and Angelique Nicolau; Michael and Jane Nicholson of Fara Homes; Rupert Wolfe Murray; and thanks also for the passionate and invaluable enthusiasm of Ian Tilling MBE. And in Germany to Hans-Jürgen Stockerl and to Anette Lippert.
As ever, thank you Chris Webb of MacService for keeping my computer alive despite all the abuse I give it! Very big and special thanks to Anna-Lisa Lindeblad, who has again been my tireless and wonderful ‘unofficial’ editor and commentator throughout the Roy Grace series, and to Sue Ansell, whose sharp eye for detail has saved me many an embarrassment.
Professionally, once again, I have a total dream team: the wonderful Carole Blake representing me, together with Oli Munson; my awesome publicists, Tony Mulliken, Amelia Knight and Claire Barnett of Midas PR; and there is simply not enough space to say a proper thank you to everyone at Macmillan, but I must mention my brilliant new editor, Maria Rejt, and say a big thank you to her for her wisdom and experience. Stef Bierwerth was a hard act to follow.
As ever, Helen has been my rock, keeping me nourished with saintly patience and constant wisdom.
My canine friends continue to keep me sane. A big welcome to our new addition, the ever-cheerful Coco, who has now joined Oscar and Phoebe under my desk, waiting to pounce on any discarded pages of manuscript that should fall to the floor and dutifully shred them…
Lastly, thank you, my readers, for all the incredible support you give me. Keep those blog posts and emails coming!
Peter James
Sussex, England
scary@pavilion.co.uk
www.peterjames.com
Peter James
