Thank you to my incredible agent, Claire Wilson. You champion my writing with such enthusiasm, and I’m so grateful for your advice and support. You changed my life the day you offered me representation, and this book would not exist without you.

I am incredibly grateful to Steve Geck and Sourcebooks for bringing my novel to the United States. Seeing this story cross the Atlantic is a dream come true. Thank you to marketing manager Beth Oleniczak, production editor Cassie Gutman, art director Nicole Hower, and creative director Kelly Lawler.

Tig Wallace: Your passion for this story was clear from our first meeting and your eye for detail is superb. You coaxed a far better story out of me, and I will never forget that.

To my UK editor, Carmen McCullough, your fresh eyes and feedback were vital as we got this book over the line. Thank you for taking the reins from Tig with the same passion for Jess’s quest for justice.

Thank you to everyone at PRH Children’s UK who has played a part in this journey so far, especially Michael Bedo, Anne Bowman, Amelia Lean, Wendy Shakespeare, Jane Tait, and Harriet Venn.

A huge thank you to my wife, Rachel. You are the love of my life and my inspiration. You were the first person to read this book, and you approached each new draft with the same excitement as the last. I will be forever grateful for your unwavering support.

To our gorgeous son, Charlie: You weren’t around when I wrote this but I’m delighted that you saw its publication…although it will be a few years before you can read it.

Thank you to Miriam Tobin for all your work behind the scenes at RCW.

Thank you to Barry Philpott: one of my earliest readers and most enthusiastic champions. Your support and feedback were invaluable, and you always believed I would achieve my dream…even when I wasn’t so sure.

I am grateful to each and every person who reads this novel. I have imagined this moment for most of my life, and you are now part of that story.

To my grandmothers, Ivy and Patricia: Thank you for everything. I wish you were here to hold this book.

The biggest thank-you goes to my mother. This only exists because you always encouraged me to dream.

About the Author

Vincent Ralph has been writing in one form or another since his teens and always dreamed of being a novelist. He owes his love of books to his mother, who encouraged his imagination from an early age and made sure there were new stories to read. Vincent has lived in London, Cornwall, and Chester, but he now lives in his home county of Kent with his wife, son, and two cats.

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