by Luca Veste
Stav Sherez, for continuing to say nice things about the series. You give me a jolt of happiness each time, given how much I admire you and your work. Thanks man.
Next, my awesome editor at Simon & Schuster, Jo Dickinson. Thank you for not panicking when I came to you two months before the deadline with a completely different story. I am so glad you reacted with excitement, rather than absolute horror. You are incredible at what you do. Never change. Also to Emma Capron, Louise Davies, and the rest of the team at S&S. I am forever grateful for all your efforts.
My agent Phil Patterson. I cannot say enough good about this man and his continued support and presence in my life. I got very, very lucky in finding you. Also to Sandra Sawicka and Luke Speed for all you do.
Darren Dodd, who gave me an incredible amount of advice about how politics works at the local and party levels. I discarded most of it, as no one would find it believable, but what I did use came from that conversation. Thank you sir. All mistakes are my own and intentional. As always.
Sarah Hughes and all at Waterstones Liverpool One, Karen Sullivan, Bob Stone and all at Write Blend, Pete Sortwell, Liz Barnsley, Jo N and all at Tandragee Library, Paul D. Brazill, Tracy Mearns, THE Book Club on Facebook, Anne Cater, Steph Broadribb, Vicky-Leigh Sayer aka The Welsh Librarian, “Eloquar”, and “Book Addict” Shaun. Thank you for all the support you give me and the books on and offline. Couldn’t appreciate it more.
Thank you to Emma Palmer, who won an auction to have a character named after herself. Supporting that particular charity is massively appreciated. Hope you enjoy seeing your name in amongst this unsavoury bunch of characters.
To my parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins, and in-laws. You’re all fantastic, as always.
Gina Kirkham, for your unending help and drive. Hope to continue to make you proud.
Finally, the best for last. My wife Emma and daughters Abigail and Megan. Abs and Migs – you know the score now. Instead of me saying something nice which makes you roll your eyes, how about this . . . tidy up your rooms, do your homework, stop arguing, and eat all your tea. Like good girls. Only joking! Well, not really, but here’s something nice as well. You make me so proud every day. You’re both incredibly talented, funny, and clever. Thank you for being my daughters. To Emma – I can’t imagine a life in which I don’t have you supporting me every step of the way. You make my life easier. You’re my partner, and other half, in every sense. There are no books without you. In fact, without you, I would be covered in bees constantly. Ti amo, bella. Thank you.
Luca Veste is a writer of Italian and Scouse heritage, married with two young daughters. He studied psychology and criminology at university in Liverpool.
Find out more at www.LucaVeste.com or follow @LucaVeste on Twitter and Facebook.
Also by Luca Veste
Bloodstream
The Dying Place
Dead Gone
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2016
A CBS company
Copyright © Luca Veste, 2016
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.
No reproduction without permission.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-4711-4755-5
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-4139-3
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-4140-9
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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