The Widow

Acknowledgements

Sister Ursula IBVM, for turning on the light.

And those who helped replace the bulb: my parents, David and Jeanne Thurlow; my sister, Jo West; and Rachael Bletchly, Carol Maloney, Jennifer Sherwood, Wendy Turner, Rick Lee and Jane McGuinn.

The experts: former DCI Colin Sutton, for putting me right on police matters, and John Carr, the fount of all knowledge on online child safety.

My wonderful agent, Madeleine Milburn; editors Danielle Perez and Frankie Gray, and all at Transworld and NAL/Penguin Random House for their encouragement, patience and determination to put The Widow on the page.