This book was entirely influenced by my time as a student at the Faber Academy. I’m grateful to my tutor Richard Skinner for directing the start of my journey. I’m equally indebted to my classmates from the 2015 cohort who read early drafts of the novel and provided astute feedback. In particular, the magnificent quintet who still meet in Bloomsbury each week to exchange work: Michael Dias, Helen Allen, Ilana Lindsey, Chloe Esposito, and Kate Vick. The Bloomsbury Five have truly lit up my path; I’m fortunate to have their regular support.
Several beta readers have generously helped me with later drafts of the work. Lydia Rose Ruffles, Sally Garner, Arabel Charlaff, and Nicolle Freni deserve star mention for their perceptive and ingenious input on the full manuscript. Many thanks, too, to Margaret Watts, Paola Lopez, Sarah Edghill, Allison Stenberg, Andrew Wille, Richard Tanburn, Erin Kelly, Richard Beard, Nacho Mbaeliachi, Tony Bicat, Selina Ukwuoma, Christian Brinsden, Amanda Saint, and My Ly for their numerous thoughtful suggestions.
I owe a large debt to Geoffrey Monaghan of the Metropolitan Police Service for his excellent advice on police procedures. Huge thanks as well to Stuart Hamilton of the East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, Wan Yi Min of Jurong Health, and Leslie King of the Forensic Science Service for sharing their expertise in pathology, psychology, and drug detection.
I’m grateful to my copyeditors and proofreaders for their careful scrutiny of the prose and meticulous attention to detail. Thanks, in particular, to Barbara Clark, Jane Selley, and Sarah Day. I would also like to thank Kate Cooper, Luke Speed, Rich Green, Jake Smith-Bosanquet, Eva Papastratis, Catherine Cho, Hillary Jacobson, and all at Curtis Brown and ICM Partners.
Many cheers and massive thanks to the fabulous publicity and marketing teams at Headline and Little, Brown: Georgina Moore, Millie Seaward, Joe Yule, Sabrina Callahan, and Pamela Brown. They have my immense gratitude and admiration. A big thank you, too, to Kate Stephenson and Ella Gordon at Wildfire, as well as Ben Allen and Nicky Guerreiro at Mulholland.
Finally, I would like to thank two of my most ardent supporters: Lee Han Shih, for believing in me, and my wonderful fiancé, Alexander Plekhanov, who backed every step of my journey (and who provided all the necessary diversions). Han and Alex, this book is for you.