The Drowning Child

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my agent, Marianne Gunn O’Connor, and to Vicki Satlow, and Pat Lynch.

Thank you to my skilled and patient editor, Sarah Hodgson.

Thank you to Charlie Redmayne for being brilliant.

Thank you to Kate Elton and all the hardworking team at HarperCollins.

Thank you to HarperCollins Creative Director, Claire Ward, for the perfect cover.

Thank you to the HarperCollins Ireland team: Tony Purdue, Mary Byrne, and Ann-Marie Dolan.

To Anne O’Brien, thank you for your exceptional copy-editing skills, and Alex-Barclay channeling.

To gifted playwright, screenwriter, and comedy genius, Kefi Chadwick, thank you for all the Anam Cara good times. And a specific thank you, in this case, for coming up with my title.

Thank you to all the experts who gave so generously of their time. Any mistakes are mine.

To SA Phil Niedringhaus, thank you once again for answering my FBI and CARD team questions. Apologies for some of Ren’s poorer choices...

Thank you to Aquatic Death Investigator, Andrea Zaferes, for her fascinating insight into homicidal drowning, and for the resulting plot inspiration.

Thank you to Chantelle Newman for further research material on drowning deaths, and great conversations.

Thank you, Anne Driscoll and David Langwallner of the Irish Innocence Project at Griffith College for your enlightenment on the heartbreaking reality of wrongful conviction.

To Michael Dobersen, MD, Forensic Pathologist, thank you for your invaluable notes on the autopsy scenes.

Thank you, Professor Marie Cassidy, for your help on skeletal remains.

Thank you, Lee S. Webster, for your friendship, and for your generosity in making connections.

Thank you to Danielle Corazza for your guidance in military matters.

Thank you to Edward Kroll for answering my questions on Oregon law.

Thank you, Sue Booth-Forbes, the heart and soul of Anam Cara – the best writers’ and artists’ retreat in the world.

Thanks also to you and your sister Diane for granting me the privilege of opening my book with your father’s stunning poem.

To my beautiful sister, Lanes. You are, among other things, kind, caring, generous, and cheerleading. If I had a banana sandwich for every time you were there for me...

To all my family: you are amazing and supportive and funny and beloved.

Thank you, Dick Tobin, for your excellent feedback and kind words.

To Noleen, thank you for your hard work and thoughtfulness.

Endless love to my gorgeous friends and their epic undertaking. You know who you are. But stiiiill: Aideen, Bernice, Brian, David, Derek, Elena, Emmy, Eoin, Ger, Gerry, Julie, Majella, Mary, Sue, and Vanessa. Medals all round.