The Swedish Girl (29 page)

Thanks are due to the many people who helped bring this novel to fruition. As always I begin with those who gave of their time to help with research. Thank you Chief Inspector Martin Cloherty and DCI David Halliday of A Division in Strathclyde Police for letting me ask all sorts of questions and take video clips on my visit to HQ. The governor of Barlinnie Prison, Derek McGill, and several of his staff and some of the inmates were also very generous with their time, allowing me to see places and find out things about that institution that I would not otherwise have known. Thank you, all. To DI Bob Frew and DC Mhairi Milne, again many thanks for letting me ask random questions as I composed the novel. Dr Marjorie Turner is always there to keep me on the right track with Rosie, just in case my scalpel slips! Thanks, Marjorie, my turn for lunch.

Huge thanks to everyone at Little Brown, especially my lovely editor, Jade Chandler, who approved the first draft and whose editing thoughts thankfully chimed in with my own; to Maddy, and Moira for keeping my head straight and not letting me double-book myself, and dear David Shelley who is always there for me.

Bless you, Jenny, for being so supportive and always knowing the right word to cheer me up when things aren’t going right. You are an agent in a million.

Finally, thanks to Donnie who reads the first draft, points out typos and tries to give me gentle advice (too many murders!!). Life would just not be the same without you to keep me going.