Secrets of Eden

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Once again I am indebted to a great many early readers, none of whom is a literal angel but all of whom were profoundly helpful. Among them? There is the Reverend David Wood, one of my closest friends and the pastor of the church where I have worshipped most of my adult life. There is Lauren Bowerman, an assistant attorney general with the State of Vermont. This is the third time that Lauren has graciously told me what is authentic in one of my manuscripts and what is completely ridiculous.

In addition, Dr. Steven Shapiro, the chief medical examiner for the State of Vermont, helped me understand what would have happened to the fictional George and Alice Hayward after they died. Siri Rooney, the victim advocate for the Lamoille County state’s attorney’s office, shared with me the horrors that a battered woman such as Alice was likely to endure, as well as the resources that were available to her. Meanwhile Bridget Butler taught me about birds. Among the books that were especially valuable was Dr. Louis Cataldie’s memoir of his years as the chief coroner of Baton Rouge, Coroner’s Journal: Forensics and the Art of Stalking Death.

Other readers included a variety of friends and agents, many of whom are both, including Stephen Kiernan, Jane Gelfman, and Dean Schramm; my editor of fifteen years and one of my very closest friends, Shaye Areheart; my lovely bride of a quarter century now, Victoria Blewer; and, for the first time, my deeply thoughtful teenage daughter, Grace Experience.

I am grateful as well to Cathy Gleason at Gelfman Schneider; to Arlynn Greenbaum at Authors Unlimited; and to the whole enthusiastic team at the Crown Publishing Group: Andy Augusto, Patty Berg, Cindy Berman, Sarah Breivogel, Whitney Cookman, Jill Flaxman, Jenny Frost, Kate Kennedy, Christine Kopprasch, Jacqui Lebow, Matthew Martin, Donna Passannante, Philip Patrick, Annsley Rosner, Jay Sones, Katie Wainwright, Kira Walton, and Campbell Wharton. It really does take a village-or a skyscraper floor.

I thank you all for your wisdom, your counsel, and your honesty.