by Sam Christer
Valentina picks her up and kisses her.
Tom Shaman stands back a pace.
He’s never loved anyone as much as he loves Valentina.
He just hopes she understands why, when their holiday’s over, he is going to have to move on.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Big thanks to Luigi Bonomi for all his advice, tireless support and encouragement – there’s good reason why he’s regarded as the best in the business.
I’m hugely indebted to Guy Rutty, Professor of Forensic Pathology, East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester and Dr Tom Rasmussen, Senior Lecturer and Head of Art History at the University of Manchester. Both gentlemen strived to keep me on the roads of realism and accuracy, any short cuts and inaccuracy are down to me and the pursuit of a good story rather than them.
I’m grateful to all the wonderful team at Little, Brown but especially to Daniel Mallory and Thalia Proctor – I’d have been lost without their professionalism, smart observations and generous contributions. Thanks also to Jane Selley for the copy editing.
Last but not least, immense thanks to my wife Donna who gives so unreservedly and bountifully of her time, patience, love and inspiration. I’d still be on page one without her.
SAM CHRISTER is the pseudonym of an award winning documentary filmmaker. Educated in England, his first job was as a messenger for a newspaper, and he has since worked for several major television studios as a director, producer, host, and reporter. His documentaries have covered scientific discoveries, kidnapping cases, and murder prosecutions, among other topics. Rights to his breakout first novel, The Stonehenge Legacy, have been sold in thirty-five countries, and both The Stonehenge Legacy and Christer’s first Tom Shaman novel, The Venice Conspiracy, are available from The Overlook Press.
