I have no idea where the idea for this book first came from. It was like all my other ideas: one day it was just there, begging to be turned into a story. It was August 2007 and I had eight days of holiday left. By January 2008 the first draft was finished. It was an emotional moment. I had never seen a book project through before. There are several reasons why it was different this time, and I want to thank my writer colleague Staffan Malmberg for one of them. His words ‘You just have to get past page 90 when you’re writing! Then you’ll be able to go on as long as you want!’ helped convince me that not all my stories had to end up in the desk drawer as fragments of novels.
The book is a detective novel, and entirely the product of my own imagination. At least as far as the plot is concerned. I have been employed in a police organization since the autumn of 2005. That doesn’t make me into a fully trained police officer, though I have learnt a lot in those years. So I must thank Sven-Åke and Patrik who made useful and amusing comments on my manuscript, drawing on their own extensive police experience, and also taught me what I needed to know about the sharp end of detection. Both of you, in your different ways, make a great contribution to the Swedish police force. Any mistakes (or conscious departures from standard police procedure) that remain are entirely my own.
The act of writing, contrary to what one might think, is actually a relatively small part of the job of producing a finished book. I write very quickly. But everything else happens at a much slower speed. Every author realizes sooner or later that Stephen King, genius that he is, was right when he wrote: ‘To write is human. To edit is divine.’ Editing is something with which one almost always needs help. Help is what I have had, and of the most superb calibre.
First of alclass="underline" A huge thank you to my publisher Piratförlaget and its amazing staff, who had faith in me and decided to publish my book. The very first time I came through the door into your offices, I knew I was going to be happy there. Particular thanks go to Sofia Brattselius Thunfors and Anna Hirvi Sigurdsson. Sofia introduced me to the world of publishing with great enthusiasm and patience and guided me through the process that leads up to the actual publication of a book, as well as making sound, constructive comments on my manuscript. Anna, with incredible feeling for the written word and a firm grip on her magic pen, was a real rock in the editing of the text.
Thanks also to my peerless sister-in-law Caroline Ohlsson, who not only asked me to be godmother to her firstborn daughter Thelma but also, in spite of being in the advanced stages of pregnancy, took the time to read and comment on my very first draft, which at that stage was in a fairly wretched state.
Many thanks to Helena Carrick, who read the book at a later stage and contributed vital views and comments. A terrific reader, a sharp-eyed critic and most of all a wonderful friend. It is a real gift to have such an inspiring, energizing person on hand.
And finally Sofia Ekholm, who has not only shown uncompromising and unbounded loyalty, but who also rose to every occasion and made me believe by her words and actions that this really is something I can do, and do well. You are part of this book in many respects, and there is so much that would be a lot less fun without you.
Thank you.
At my desk, Stockholm, spring 2009
Kristina Ohlsson
Kristina Ohlsson is a security policy analyst for the National Swedish Police Board. She has previously worked at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish National Defence, where she was a junior expert on the Middle East conflict and the foreign policy of the EU. Her debut novel, Unwanted was published in Sweden in 2009 to terrific critical acclaim and won a Gold Pocket Award. Kristina lives in Stockholm.
