I’m absolutely indebted to my incredible agent Nelle Andrew whose dedication and passion is second to none and whose gentle parental advice has helped see me through some of the tougher moments of being an author and a new mum.

Huge thanks to my two editors at Little, Brown, Lucy Malagoni and Lucy Dauman (“The Lucys”), for guiding me through with such skill, grace and calm, good humor.

I’d also like to thank Kate Hibbert, Andy Hine, Helena Doree and Sarah Birdsey, the fantastic foreign rights team at Little, Brown.

My thanks also to desk editor Thalia Proctor, copy editors Zoe Gullen and Mari Roberts, and to proofreader Jon Appleton. Thank you for rescuing my appalling grammar.

My thanks also to Steve Panton for the fantastic cover design that made me feel so excited I almost went into early labor.

Deep gratitude to Dr. Tim Hall and Dr. Deepa Shah for their professional wisdom and for taking the time and care to respond so thoroughly to my very dull questions. Thank you.

Personal thanks for the love and support to “The Berlin Five”—Marlies Lenstra, Rebekka Benzie, Charity Garnett, and Becky Murrell. I love you all.

I am indebted to my friend Tor Garnett for her wisdom: “Manage your energy and not your time.” Thanks also to my friend and fellow author Lulah Ellender for the sage advice and professional first read.

My gratitude to the Ladykillers for sharing all the highs and lows. It is excellent to be part of the coven.

To my darling godkids—Maalu, Dash, Sephy and India—I love you all but please put this down, I’m sure you’re not old enough to read it yet!

Thank you to my son, Otis, for being with me—literally while I wrote this book and for arriving when it was mostly finished. You have changed the world for the better just by being you. I love you.

Thank you to my husband, James, for always saying “I love you” even when I’ve done nothing but snarl and talk about how tired I am. I love the life we’ve made together. Finally, to the readers of this and all books—thank you!

This book is dedicated to my wonderful parents, Edward and Sandy Elgar. Thank you feels so inadequate for all the love you share, but it’s all I have—so thank you.

About the Author

Originally from the Cotswolds, EMILY ELGAR studied at Edinburgh University and went on to complete the novel writing course at the Faber Academy in 2014. Her debut If You Knew Her was an international bestseller and received rave reviews. Grace Is Gone is her second novel.

Emily lives in East Sussex with her family.

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Also by Emily Elgar

If You Knew Her

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.