But Grace shook her head, then kissed him on the shoulder.
‘You know what? I think we’ve ended up exactly where we’re supposed to be.’
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to everyone at Headline for making me feel so welcome at my new publishing home. Jane Morpeth, Kerr MacRae, James Horobin, Kate Tindal, Jo Liddiard, Rosie Gailer and all the fantastic sales team – I’m so grateful for your support, hard work and passion. Sherise Hobbs – you are a star and working with you this year has been a pleasure.
Continued thanks to Sheila and Wayne (long may our Christmas lunches continue). Also to Sarah and the foreign rights departments at both Curtis Brown and A P Watt.
Wendy Birch and her team came up with a great new cover look. Thanks also to Jane Selley for copyediting the manuscript up against the clock, when a stint in hospital put finishing the novel on the back seat.
Thank you to John Kelly, Alison, Quentin, Tamasin, Nick Stewart, Will Storr, Sam, Riggster and Antoine McGrath for their time, knowledge and generosity. To the team at Kingston hospital for looking after me and for all the incredible work they do. And to all our friends for their help at that time. To my great friend Suzanne Parkinson for the original brainstorm around her kitchen table. One day I’ll have to write about Tarbert! To my family, especially Mum for the hours spent looking after Fin when I’ve got a hot date with the laptop, and to Dad for the dozens of titles he has thought of for my books (not to mention the hours of entertainment when he unveils them!).
To all the retailers and sales teams who have supported my books from the beginning, and to the journalists who have reviewed the novels and helped get the word out there. And to anyone else I’ve forgotten – forgive me but the book is about to go to press!
As always, much love and thanks to my boys Fin and John, without whom I don’t think there would have been one of my books out this year. Pez Gang for ever.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Part One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Part Three
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Acknowledgements