I am indebted to my agent Euan Thorneycroft for his wise guidance and the many wonderful things he does. Here is one of them. When Euan and I first discussed my idea for this novel, he said, ‘How about calling it I Spy?’ I don’t think novels necessarily find their true names, but this one did, thanks to Euan. My editors, Sarah Hodgson and Emily Griffin, saw from the start what I Spy could be, and helped me to realise that vision, never losing faith, guiding me when I was lost, and seeing much more clearly than I could exactly what needed to be done. Working with them is a great privilege and joy. Kathryn Cheshire’s editorial input was also immensely valuable. This is my third novel to benefit from Anne O’Brien’s elegant and meticulous copyediting. I am extremely grateful to the superb teams at HarperCollins UK and HarperCollins USA – they are the most talented and dedicated people any novelist could hope to work with. A. M. Heath Literary Agency is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year – Happy Birthday, A. M. Heath, and thank you for all that you do.

My husband Richard gives me painstaking support. His acute critical eye is a rare and precious thing, and I Spy gained immeasurably from his expert feedback. My parents, my sister Bella, and my brother Robert never waver in their belief and love. And now for my daughters. Imogen acted as my specialist medical reader, applying her considerable knowledge to ensure I got things right and making suggestions I would never have thought of. Her expertise and passionate encouragement made a huge difference to I Spy. So did the training event that we went to together at the Royal Society of Medicine, who do so much good. All mistakes and fictional liberties are my own. Lily makes me laugh harder than anyone, and lets me read my work-in-progress aloud to her. She has fantastic editorial judgement and a huge capacity to forgive me for the amount of time my writing takes. Violet spent many hours in my study, my sweet companion as I worked. When it all got too much, she would make me take a break and we would watch films and music videos and eat ice cream. As ever, my love and thanks go above all to my three magical girls, and to Richard, who is magical too.

The epigraph is from the first edition of Anne Brontë’s novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, originally published under the name Acton Bell. Printed by T. C. Newby, London, 1848, Volume I (of Three Volumes), Chapter V, ‘The Studio’, pages 85–86.

For Those Affected by the Issues in This Novel

Sands – Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity

Tommy’s

International Stillbirth Alliance

The Lily Mae Foundation

Petals

Bliss

Women’s Aid

National Domestic Violence Helpline

Refuge

National Centre for Domestic Violence

Respect

Victim Support

About the Author