by Ellie Marney
Bell smiles, bites his lip. Then he turns and walks back the way he came.
Emma watches him go. Then she turns, too, not toward the church, but back to face the view down the street.
The old oak hums nearby. Three paces take her up to it, and she puts her hand on the trunk to steady herself. Rough bark under her palm, and she’s reminded of the trees near Quantico.
She tries not to think about Bell.
Do you think you’re self-aware, Emma?
She doesn’t want to hear Simon’s voice now. She closes her eyes. Inhales and exhales deeply for a moment to stop the dizzy feeling.
Once she’s sure she can move and breathe and think comfortably, Emma opens her eyes. Careful of her bandages, she takes off her jacket, slips off her formal shoes.
The envelope in her hand impedes her ability to carry everything, so she bends down and leans it against the base of the tree. She folds the jacket over her arm and picks up her shoes. She leaves the envelope where it is.
It’s a short walk across the grass to the place where she parked the Rabbit. She unlocks the car and dumps her jacket and shoes on the back seat. Her running shoes are in the passenger footwell. She sits down on the edge of the passenger seat and pulls them on.
Emma Lewis, walking around the front of her car to get in behind the wheel, start the engine.
It’s a six-and-a-half-hour drive back to Apple Creek.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
A lot of research goes into book-writing. I’m probably flagged on some government watchlist for weird internet searches and even weirder reading lists.
I’m grateful to the folks of Trauma Fiction and Writer’s Detective FB groups for answering my various questions about debilitating injury, gory death, and law enforcement processes. Special thanks to my brother-in-law, Dr. Sebastian Corlette, for answering my bizarre queries about diethyl ether.
Many podcasts were listened to during the creation of None Shall Sleep. I’m particularly appreciative of the insight (and acknowledgment of the victims) of Laura Richards, Jim Clemente, and Lisa Zambetti, the hosts of Real Crime Profile on Wondery.
I’m a long-time fan of the work of John Douglas, whose book Mindhunter I first read in my twenties. While writing this book, I also read many of Douglas’s other works, including The Anatomy of Motive and Inside the Mind of BTK. I’d also like to acknowledge the influence of Joe Penhall’s Netflix series Mindhunter; Bryan Fuller’s NBC series Hannibal; the work of Thomas Harris (especially The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, and Cari Mora), Stephen King, Barry Lyga, Leigh Bardugo, and Courtney Summers; and The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson.
Including a list of author names would make a long index, but I consulted many open-source articles and academic papers related to forensic examination—ask me sometime about document analysis!—which I’d like to acknowledge.
I’d also like to thank personal contacts in the security services and within Sisters in Crime Australia, and initial contacts at the FBI. The FBI historical webpages are a great source of information, by the way, but I also read a number of articles by National Academy graduates and books on the history of the FBI, including The Bureau by Ronald Kessler.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This is my ninth book, and it has been by far the easiest and the hardest one to write.
To Josh and Tracey Adams, my incredible agents. We got down to the wire with this one, but you held the line—thank you so, so much. Another massive thank-you to Caroline Walsh and Christabel McKinley, in the UK, for sharing this book outside the United States. My deepest gratitude, always, and long may the adventures continue!
To the extraordinary team at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, all my thanks. I’m particularly grateful to my editor, Hannah Milton—for taking this journey with me, showing infinite wisdom, grace, and patience, and being as much of a Mindhunter fangirl as I am. Much appreciation to copyediting wizard Anna Dobbin and editorial assistant Ruqayyah Daud. Thank you to Janelle Barone, whose artistic work on the cover is an absolute knockout. Deep gratitude to the marketing and publicity team at LBYR, especially Siena Koncsol and Bill Grace, for getting this book into readers’ hands. Many huge thank-yous to Hannah Koerner and the LBYR subrights team for their incredible hard work bringing this story to the world.
I’d like to acknowledge and give thanks to David Colón-Cabrera, who provided invaluable feedback around representation and encouraged the manuscript’s improvement. I’d like to thank Shanese Mullins from LBYR for her excellent input. I’d also like to thank Pam Gruber, who first championed this book.
Hugs and thanks also to Jodie Webster, Sophie Splatt, and Eva Mills at Allen & Unwin for your awesome support, always, and for everything you’ve done to bring Emma, Travis, Kristin, and Simon to readers in Australia.
Speaking of readers, this book would be nothing without you. High fives to my newsletter mates and to every supportive friend, reader, blogger, and booktuber who has connected with me online, especially on Twitter. You’re awesome, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I pray you’re never forced to listen to Simon recite Byronic poetry.
This book was first conceived on a winter writing retreat in 2018, when I said, “I want to write a YA serial killer thriller,” and C. S. Pacat said, “That sounds amazing.” During long evening phone calls and frenetic brainstorming sessions, she has been the colleague who has kept me focused, inspired, and (mostly) sane. This book would not have been written without her unstinting support and friendship, and I am forever grateful.
When I needed ideas and advice (OMG, so much advice) and time and quiet space to complete the book, Amie Kaufman gave me all those things and more. She is a gem. Amie, all the love to you and your fam.
I’m deeply grateful to Amanda for getting as excited about serial killers as me, and sharing resources, podcasts, and ideas. I’d also like to thank Jay Kristoff for his advice and Fist-Bumps of Encouragement, and for letting me borrow his wife’s true-crime brain from time to time.
Everyone should have friends like Eliza Tiernan and Sarah Mayberry, who read the manuscript and declared it good and offered incredible insight. Thanks also to Liz Barr, who encouraged me to make Simon a real boy. Thank you to Kate Armstrong for explaining about Washington traffic, among other things. Thank you to Emma Viskic and Sulari Gentill for crime-fiction wisdom. I’m extra grateful to Jodi McAlister for adding to my store of knowledge about fairy princes.
I want to thank all the other members of the House of Progress, including Nicole, Lili, Peta, Ebony, Dave, Will, Kate, and Skye—I’d never have done this without your collective help. I’d also like to thank the women of the Vault, and I send lots of love to Fleur, Rachael, Nic, Gabrielle, Trin, and Bec. Thanks to other Australian writing compatriots, especially Angela, Kylie, Izzie, Alison, Nova, Simmone, Emily, Cate, Kelly, and Michael. I’ve probably left some people out, sorry—but friends, I see you, and I appreciate you every day.
I’ve been endlessly supported by Sisters in Crime Australia—special thanks to Carmel and Jacqui. All gratitude to friends from the Castlemaine community who understand what’s going on when I’m wearing that glaze-eyed expression, especially Andy Johnston. Honorable mentions to Adele Walsh and Danielle Binks for YA enthusiasm. And I would like to thank Writers Victoria, for many years of assistance and for being generally excellent.
I’ve left the most important thanks for last—this book would not have been possible without the support and understanding of my family. Lots of love and hugs to Lucy, Bae, Millie, and Frankie. Biggest love of all to my boys, Ben, Alex, Will, and Ned, who inspire me and encourage me every single day (even when I want to listen to that playlist of songs from 1982 again). And finally, it’s Geoff who makes me omelets and reminds me to look after myself and picks up the slack and keeps me on the level. Love you so much, babe.
xxEllie
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Christopher Tovo
ELLIE MARNEY
is an award-winning author of nine YA crime fiction titles, including the Every and Circus Hearts series and the novels No Limits and White Night. She has been behind the scenes at Westminster Public Mortuary in London and interviewed forensic autopsy specialists around the world in pursuit of just the right gory details—she may or may not know how to commit the perfect murder. Ellie has lived in Indonesia, India, and Singapore, and is now based in Australia with her partner and their four sons. Find out more at elliemarney.com.
