The Hearing

The third book in the Abe Glitsky series, 1999

The legal world created in my books owes whatever verisimilitude it has to the rigorous oversight and unfailing intellect of my great friend and true collaborator Al Giannini, whose day job is to put on real murder trials in San Francisco. Without him, the legal stuff which is the foundation for this (and my other) novels would often be inexact, stupid, or just plain wrong. He the man – he really be the man.

Then there's Don Matheson, perennial 'best man', who regularly consents to endure my artistic and various other angsts from four hundred miles away. Despite an unfortunate predilection for overcooking his food, he remains one of the planet's unsung wonders. Closer to home, all the Dietrichs – Pete and Sandy, Margaret, Chris and Jason – help keep the spirit alive. Pete, aka Peter S. Dietrich, MD, MPH, also contributes mightily as medical guru and chief martini tester.

Others contributed in important ways: Fred Williams of the Davis Police Department saved one day; Mark Nicco told me all I needed to know about Special Masters; San Francisco Homicide Inspector Joe Toomey and Officer Charles Lyons were informative tour guides to the Evidence Room in the Hall of Justice. I'm indebted to Richard B. Seymour, MA, Managing Editor of Haight-Ashbury Publications, and Dr David E. Smith of the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinics for their insights into the terrible scourge of drug addiction.

I'm continually gratified by the generosity, expertise, and support of many friends and associates: Anne Williams; Bill Wood; Richard Herman, Jr; Max Byrd; Anita Boone; Nancy Berland; Frank Seidl; Gary F. Espinosa; Peter J. Diedrich; and Kathryn and Mark J. Detzer, PhD; Justine and Jack; and of course Taffy the wonder dog.