To anyone who has ever come to hang out and ended up musing at my murder board: Erin Nachtigall, Liset Herrera, and Elenna Garrett—you’re the real deal. Thanks, also, to Nikki Sharon-Schultz, who can always help me identify that special something.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Investigator Rob Rasmussen. His insistence on including a detective who wears snakeskin cowboy boots led me to writing one of my favorite scenes.

Thank you to my Barnes & Noble friends. I always tell aspiring writers to work at a bookstore; these booklovers have your back for life. Speaking of booklovers, thank you to all booksellers big and small, bookstagrammers, book lenders, and bibliophiles. Your love of literature keeps us all going.

I want to thank my family for their evergreen encouragement. Words are hard, sometimes, and they let me talk about fictional people like they’re part of the family. Thank you to my husband, Hanns, who answers my morbid questions while he’s getting ready for work, role-plays interviews with me—as long as the Packers aren’t playing—and inspires me every day with his relentless mission to do good in the world. And of course, the daily word count would be an awfully lonely endeavor without my chubby little 5 A.M. warriors, Griswold and Muffins. Banana loves you.

Finally, to my law enforcement family: Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I have the privilege of writing for Band of Blue, a nonprofit organization that helps families of fallen officers. This cause is near and dear to my heart, as on June 17, 2019, we lost one of our own, Officer John Hetland, who gave his life to stop an armed robbery. It is out of immense respect for John, his family, and all fallen officers that I wanted to write about the devastating impact a line of duty death has on the community and that officer’s loved ones. I hope my words have done justice. R.I.H.

Also by Hannah Morrissey

ALSO BY HANNAH MORRISSEY

Hello, Transcriber

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah Morrissey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin‒Madison. She grew up on a farm in a small northern town and now lives with her husband and two pugs. Her first novel, Hello, Transcriber, was inspired by her experience as a police transcriber. You can sign up for email updates here.

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