The Mystery Guest

Acknowledgments

It takes a village to publish a book. It really does.

When I wrote The Maid, I wrote it in secrecy because I was scared of failure. What if it didn’t meet the bar? What if people hated what I put out there?

Let’s just say I couldn’t keep The Mystery Guest quite as secret as The Maid. The good news? As I wrote it, I had the best support team a writer could ever ask for. They championed and guided me in the background as I toiled away on that most difficult of ventures—the dreaded Book Two.

Madeleine Milburn, you don’t realize how extraordinary you are. It’s an act of superhuman generosity to give so much to so many writers. Huge thanks, too, to the amazing team at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency—Rachel Yeoh, Liane-Louise Smith, Valentina Paulmichl, Giles Milburn, Saskia Arthur, Amanda Carungi, Georgina Simmonds, Georgia McVeigh, and Hannah Ladds.

What’s the perfect editorial shape? A triangle. My three ingenious editors form a triad so powerful that it points me in the right direction every time. Thank you, Nicole Winstanley at Penguin Random House Canada, Hilary Teeman at Ballantine US, and Charlotte Brabbin at HarperFiction UK. And thanks, too, to the amazing teams in all of your houses, with special thanks to Dan French, Bonnie Maitland, Beth Cockeram, Meredith Pal, and Kristin Cochrane in Canada; Michelle Jasmine, Caroline Weishuhn, Taylor Noel, Megan Whalen, Jennifer Garza, Quinne Rogers, Kara Welsh, Kim “Blue Type” Hovey, Jennifer Hershey, Hope Hathcock, Diane McKiernan, Elena Giavaldi, Pamela Alders, Cindy Berman, and Sandra Sjursen in the US; Kimberley Young, Lynne Drew, Sarah Shea, Maddy Marshall, Emilie Chambeyron, Alice Gomer, and Bethan Moore in the UK.

My silver-screen cheerleaders include Chris Goldberg, brilliant writer and producer at Winterlight Pictures; the indefatigably positive Josh McLaughlin at Wink Pictures; and the savvy and charming Josie Freedman at ICM.

Friends, writers, and publishing people—you know who you are. If I wrote down all of your names, I might cause another paper shortage. Adria Iwasutiak, Sarah St. Pierre, Janie Yoon, Felicia Quon, Sarah Gibson, Jessica Scott, Adriana Pitesa, and Carolina Testa—you remind me what passion in publishing looks like. Aileen Umali, Eric Rist, Ryan Wilson, Sandy Gabriele, Roberto Verdecchia, Sarah Fulton, Jorge Gidi, Martin Ortuzar, Jimena Ortuzar, Ingrid Nasager, Ellen Keith, Matthew Lawson, Zoe Maslow, Liz Nugent, Dan Mallory, Amy Stuart, Nina de Gramont, and Ashley Audrain—you keep me sane (well, you try your best anyhow). Thanks also to Arlyn Miller-Lachmann for her wise comments and thoughts.

I must apologize for having the best brother in the world, Dan Pronovost (sorry to the rest of you who have other brothers; they just can’t compare). I also have the gift of his family, my wonderful sister-in-law, Patty; my niece, Joane; and my nephew, Devin. You make me laugh, and I’m grateful that you laugh at me, too. If that doesn’t deserve acknowledging, I don’t know what does. Freddie and Pat—long may we raise margaritas. Ma tante Suzanne et ma cousine Louise, you’re in these pages and forever in my DNA. And my beloved Tony, I don’t know how or why you put up with me, but I’m so glad you do.

Readers, you are wonderful. You make the world a better place. Thank you for your support.

Dad, you were the first reader of this book. It’s okay that you’re not with us anymore because I hear your voice every time I call you in my head. Thank you for answering.