The Last Kind Words

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m indebted to Bill Pronzini, James Grady, Max Allan Collins, Brian Keene, Alethea Kontis, Linda Addison, Gerard Houarner, and Dean Koontz for giving much-needed encouragement during a particularly difficult time.

My editor, Caitlin Alexander, for her wise editorial reading, sage advice, and astute guidance (but no salty bagels this year, wtf?).

My agent, David Hale Smith, who talked me off the ledge a few times (and actually talked me onto it at least once or twice).

Finally, thanks to Ed Brubaker, Ken Bruen, Norman Partridge, Eddie Muller, and Ed Gorman, my brothers in noir.