The Hunters

Acknowledgements

As always, I’d like to start things off by thanking my family. They have given me so much over the years, both as a writer and as a person. Thanks for putting up with me for so long. I know I can be a giant pain-in-the-butt. Then again, so can you! (It must be genetic.)

Next, I want to thank my friend and agent, Scott Miller. Before we teamed up, I was a self-published author, selling books out of the trunk of my car. Now my books are available around the world. I owe a lot of my success to him. I also want to thank Claire Roberts — my foreign agent, who landed my British deal and many more across the globe. It’s quite comforting to have Scott, Claire, and the rest of Trident Media in my corner.

Not only is The Hunters the first novel in a new series, but this is my first book with the Headline Publishing Group. They have gone out of their way to make me feel at home. In particular, I’d like to single out my editor, Vicki Mellor, for her suggestions and unwavering support. She helped this story come alive. I also want to thank Jane Morpeth, Martin Fletcher, Frankie Gray, Anna Bowen, Anna Hogarty, and everyone else at Headline/Hachette.

Next up is my longtime friend Ian Harper. I want to thank him for reading, rereading, and then re-rereading everything, and for answering my late-night phone calls and emails. His advice and expertise are truly invaluable. If anyone’s looking for a freelance editor, please let me know. I’d be happy to put you in touch with him.

Lastly, I’d like to thank all the readers, librarians, booksellers, and critics who have read my thrillers and have recommended them to others. At this stage of my career I still need all the help I can get, so I would appreciate your continued support.

Whew! I think that just about covers it.

It’s finally time for the good stuff.

Without further ado, please sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story…