I am also in awe of the wonderful, dynamic, energetic team at HQ, who are going from strength to strength, and I am really excited to be one of your authors. Thank you so much for believing in The Last Goodbye from the get-go – your enthusiasm blew me away. It really is an author’s dream come true to have so many people so invested in a project, and I want to thank everyone who has worked on, or will work on, this book, even in the smallest way. Special thanks have to go to everyone in the PR and Marketing teams, especially Jo Rose, Joe Thomas and Katrina Smedley, and most of all to the ever-innovative captain of our ship, Lisa Milton.

Massive, massive thanks to my wonderful agent, Amanda Preston, to whom this book is dedicated. It took a year and five started manuscripts for us to come up with the right story idea, but you cheered me on and kept me buoyant throughout. And not only did you know straight away which of my final round of possible book ideas had legs, but you also came up with the last puzzle piece to the story concept that truly unlocked its potential. This book would not even have existed if you hadn’t said, ‘But what if it isn’t him…?’ I can never thank you enough for all your hard work and support over the last few years (although I may attempt to repay you in chocolate and/or desserts, if that’s okay?).

Also, huge thanks to my lovely friend Rachael Carter for talking to me about her family and Brazilian culture and customs. You are such a joy to know, and I’m so thankful for your generosity.

As always, I have to thank my family for all their love and support. Andy, Rose and Sian – you know you are my favourite people in the world, and I love you all to bits. Thanks to my sister, Kirsteen, for her unfailing support and understanding the woes and triumphs of being a writer.

And, as any writer knows, there is family family, and then there is writing family. I couldn’t do this job without you all. Thank you for the laughs, the commiserations, the ranting on my behalf, and the wine (because there always seems to be wine…). Big love especially to Susan Wilson, Heidi Rice, Daisy Cummins, Iona Grey, Donna Alward, Sheila Crichton, and to the wonderful members of the RNA – too many to name, but what a wonderful community to belong to!

And a few random last-minute mentions: to the staff of my local Caffè Nero, who have no idea that that table just inside the door is my unofficial office, and to my new-found family of nerdy, authentic, talented and outrageously funny writers and readers on #Booktok. I finally find my online tribe!

I know it’s not always very fashionable to believe in God anymore, but I do, and I cannot begin to quantify the impact this has had on my life, my career and my creativity. Thank you to the One who gives me strength, love and inspiration.