The Sanctuary

Acknowledgments

I need to begin by thanking my wife Suellen for generously sharing me with Mia, Evelyn, Corben, and the rest of the motley crew of houseguests who invaded our lives over the past year. The good news I can offer her is that with the publication of this book, they’re now gone. The bad news is, the new bunch just called from the airport, and they’re on their way over.

A number of friends generously shared their insights and their time with me while I was writing this novel, and for their contributions that have shaped it in ways big and small, I’d like to thank (in no particular order) Mahfouz Zacharia, Nic Ransome, Raya and Carlos Heneine, Joe and Amanda McManus, Richard Burston, Bruce Crowther, Bashar Chalabi, Tamara Chalabi, Alain Schibl, Dr. Amin Milki, and Lauren Klee, as well as my family — my parents, my brother Richard, my sister Doris, and my Aunt Lillian.

I’d also like to thank my sagacious and patient editors, Ben Sevier and Jon Wood — without forgetting Mitch Hoffman, who shepherded the book in its early days. Without them or the rest of the great teams I’ve been fortunate to work with (for the second time now) at Dutton and at Orion, none of this would be possible, and I’m deeply grateful for the consummate skill and continued support of everyone who worked on getting this book onto the shelves and into the hands of our readers.

Last, but hardly least, I’ve got to mention my überteam at the William Morris Agency. Eugenie Furniss, Jay Mandel, Tracy Fisher, Raffaella De Angelis, and Charlotte Wasserstein: Take a bow. My thanks to you all.