‘I really am,’ she said. ‘I’m going to kill him. And I’ll get away with it because I know how!’

He took her hand and led her towards the door, which slid back, and they emerged into the autumn sun. The street was busy, cars whizzing back and forward, and he held up his hand to hail a taxi.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Gaby’s got us a table at The Ivy. Let’s go and celebrate your new-found fame.’

Acknowledgements

There are so many lovely people who helped me turn a tangle of ideas into the book you have just read and I’d like to thank a few of them, below.

In the early days of planning Next in Line I badgered Ally Todd, Chris Roberts and Chris Smith with questions about guns. Guys, your knowledge was invaluable and, at times, worrying! The lovely Hilary Arsenault of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science took such trouble to answer my questions in terms that even I could understand – huge thanks for that, Hilary. My good friend Isabel’s medical knowledge made sure I didn’t accidentally kill one of my characters and Jonathan Whitelaw so kindly allowed me to pick his brains on media matters. And, as ever, Alan Rankin is on hand to stop me making a fool of Clare and her team. Thank you all for giving your time and knowledge so willingly. I hasten to add that any errors in these matters are entirely mine. Never let it be said that I allowed the truth to get in the way of what I hope is a good story.

As the first draft left my hands a whole team of wonderful humans descended on it and helped turn it into a book I’m now so proud of. To my incredible editors, Louise Cullen and Siân Heap for their skill, patience and ability to tease out all the plot glitches, to the quite brilliant Francesca Riccardi and everyone at Team Canelo, I’m so proud to work with you all and so grateful for the magic touch you bring to my novels. Thank you for all you do. To the trio of folk who polish this novel until it shines, I am eternally grateful: Deborah Blake for her superb copy-editing, Abbie Headon for her eagle-eyed proofreading and James Macey for his glorious cover.

My agent Hannah Weatherill is a constant source of support and I feel so lucky to be one of her clients – thank you, Hannah, for being the absolute best any writer could wish for.

Finally, to the many booksellers, bloggers, reviewers and readers who have helped me to the point where I am publishing my fifth book, a sincere and heartfelt thank-you. I would be nowhere without your unfailing support and I’m so grateful for it.

Marion

Detective Clare Mackay

See Them Run

In Plain Sight

Lies to Tell

What They Knew

Next in Line

Find out more