I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone on the Thomas & Mercer team for making the publication of this book such a joy. That’s especially true of my wonderful editor, Megha Parekh, who got incredibly excited when I first told her about my idea for this book; she has been a tireless champion for it ever since. Thank you to my developmental editor, Charlotte Herscher, who always asks smart questions that help me find deeper possibilities in the story. I’m grateful to editorial director Gracie Doyle for her incredible support, and to author relations manager Sarah Shaw for brightening my day whenever we interact. Thank you to my copyeditor, Susan Stokes, for fixing my (many) mistakes, and to my proofreader, Bill Siever, for his amazing attention to detail. Thanks, too, to the exceptional marketing team, especially Gabrielle Guarnero, Kyla Pigoni, Erin Mooney, and Lindsey Bragg, for their dedication and help, and to publicity manager Dennelle Catlett and publicist Brittany Russell for all their work to promote this book. There are so many amazing people who worked behind the scenes to get this novel into your hands, including production manager Laura Barrett, cover designer Lindy Martin, and art director Oisin O’Malley. I know I’m missing a few names here, and I apologize for that. The truth is that working with everyone on the Amazon Publishing team has been a privilege and a pleasure.

I also want to thank my agent, Mitch Hoffman, who has read this book more times than any other human and is the world’s best sounding board for ideas. I’m grateful for his wisdom, enthusiasm, and friendship. I also appreciate the support of the entire team at the Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency.

My entire extended crime-fiction family deserves thanks, but a few people deserve special shout-outs (in alphabetical order): Megan Abbott, Ed Aymar, Nancie Clare, Angel Luis Colón, Libby Cudmore, Matthew Farrell, Kim Fay, Lee Goldberg, Rachel Howzell Hall, Jennifer Hillier, Chris Holm and Kat Niidas Holm, Susan Elia MacNeal, Brad Parks, Gavin Reese, Joe Reid, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Alex Segura, Sarah Weinman, and Holly West. I couldn’t imagine a greater group of shady characters, and I’m lucky to know each one of you.

There are so many friends I want to thank, especially Stephanie Craig, Helen Lovekin, Ilana Rubel, Trish Snyder, Kathleen Dore, Deena Waisberg, Ghen Laraya Long, and Beth Russell Connelly. You guys know where the bodies are buried.

Rest in peace, Mark DeWayne Combs; you will be very much missed.