“I thought I might,” Fleet answered, covering both bases, at which point he fully expected his mother to get up and leave.
But she didn’t. Neither of them did. They just sat side by side on Jeannie’s bench, waiting for the sun to break through.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am incredibly fortunate to have three people in my writing corner whose instincts I trust more than my own. The first is my wife, Sarah, who is also the first reader of anything and everything I write. I never fail to be humbled by her extraordinary patience and insight, not just into the craft of writing, but also into the human condition. It is for Sarah I write at all (though I imagine she sometimes wishes I wouldn’t), and I could not write without her.
Next up is Caroline Wood, my agent now for over a decade. In all that time, Caroline’s support has been unfailing, and her insights and instincts flawless. More than just a wonderful agent, she is also a wonderful person.
And then there is my editor at Viking, Katy Loftus. Everyone who knows her would agree: Katy has a gift for what she does. She knows instinctively when something works and when it doesn’t—to the extent that I often feel two or three steps behind her in my thinking. It is a delight and a privilege to work with her, and to consider her a friend.
Without Sarah, Caroline and Katy, this book would have been considerably poorer, and indeed would probably not have been written at all. So a heartfelt thank-you to them all, as well as to the entire team at both Felicity Bryan Associates and Viking. A huge thanks as well to Amanda Bergeron and everyone at Berkley, as well as to Gemma Wain.
Finally, thank you to my friends and family, in particular to my three children, for their love, forbearance and support. You make it worth it.
Photo © Justine Stoddart
SIMON LELIC is the award-winning author of numerous crime novels, including A Thousand Cuts, The New Neighbors, and The Liar’s Room, as well a highly acclaimed series of books for young adults. His writing is inspired by a lifelong love of both Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King. Simon lives with his wife and three children.
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