Inmate 1577

For Mark Safarik

Nearly 20 years ago, a chance phone call led me to a blood spatter pattern analysis course that was being attended by FBI Special Agent Mark Safarik. Mark and I started talking one day, and a strong and deep friendship was born.

Over the years, on book tours and in interviews, I’ve discussed the research I’ve done with Mark in his position as a senior profiler at the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. But as fascinating as that education has been, and as impactful as it’s been on my career, my friendship with Mark has been that much more rewarding. In many ways, Mark is like a brother to me.

Early on, Mark coined a phrase that he began using as a footer in the emails he wrote to me: Knee Deep In the Blood and Guts. It was a reminder that, while writing my novels, I should “keep it real” to respect the victims of these heinous crimes and the work the profilers do.

When I look back on that phone call nearly two decades ago, I had no way of knowing that it would have such a long-lasting professional-and personal-impact on my life.

Mark, this one’s for you.