Hidden Killers

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Stephen Ross and Dan Ross at Ross Bennet Smith for their continuing support, advice and lasting friendship. At one time we enjoyed owning racehorses together but this last year has contained more hurdles than I could ever have anticipated, and Stephen and Dan have successfully guided me over them.

My thanks also to Robin Hilton and James Sully at Sheridans for their outstanding legal and professional advice during some very challenging negotiations.

I am very fortunate to have Simon & Schuster as my publishing company, with constant support and friendship from Suzanne Baboneau and Ian Chapman. I am extremely grateful not only for their friendship over many years, but also for their dedicated professionalism. I have had tremendous support from all the team at S &S, including Emma Capron, Mattie Whitehead, Celine Kelly, Tamsin Shelton, Ian Allen, and Jane Pizzey.

My thanks also to Louise Davies for her editorial advice and guidance. Sometimes it is hard to accept structural amendments to something you have created, but for me the changes have always proved to be worthwhile.

My thanks also to the UK sales, marketing and PR departments: Gill Richardson, Dominic Brendon, Rumana Haider, Laura Hough, Sally Wilks, Sara-Jade Virtue, Richard Hawton, Dawn Burnett, Rich Vlietstra, Jessica Jackson; and finally, Matthew Johnson who has designed the brilliant book jacket. Everyone at S &S Australia and Jonathan Ball in South Africa.

As well as the incredible support from Simon & Schuster, I have Nigel Stoneman working beside me. Nigel runs La Plante Global and is a consummate professional and a joy to work with. He not only handles all the exciting projects we have coming in the future, but manages the ongoing publicity events, TV appearances and other interviews. He makes sure I get from A to B without mishap – which is not always an easy task!

I would also like to thank Tory Macdonald, my Personal Assistant, who is still helping me to take the stress out of my life. Her organisational skills continue to be quite extraordinary.

My thanks go to the Metropolitan Women Police Association, particularly Beverley Edwards, Eileen Turnbull, Siobhan Elam, Gina Negus, Janice Gammon, Wendy Rowe, Monica Tett, Valierie Lowe and Kathi Broad.

Last, but by no means least, my sincere thanks to Callum (Cass) Sutherland. As Cass was stationed at Hackney Police Station during the 1970s, all of the police procedure I have used is very accurate. His ideas and his own memories of that period are a constant source of inspiration throughout the Tennison series. I would also like to thank his wife, Anne Sutherland, who was stationed alongside him and who has provided me with the details of what life was like for a very young female probationary officer attached to the Met.