The Assassin's Edge

Acknowledgements

The truth always bears repeating, so once again, I am grateful to Steve, Mike, Sue, Helen, Robin, Lisa, Penny and Rachel, for ideas, criticism, encouragement and forbearance over ever-extending book loans. In addition to her wider contribution, Liz deserves special mention for serving as on-call plants-woman as does Louise for the medical notes. Thank you, Tanaqui, for the photos, most useful and much appreciated. Angus, thanks indeed for reminding me about Otrick’s ring.

The support network continues to evolve and Gill and Mike have proved true friends time and again. As always, I remain indebted to Ernie and Betty for their help beating the tyranny of the working diary over the domestic one.

I couldn’t wish for better than the teams at Orbit, in sales, publicity and most of all, editorially. Sincerest thanks go to Tim, Simon, Ben and Julie, Kirsteen, Adrian, Richard, Bob and Nigel. There isn’t space for me to list all the booksellers who’ve impressed me with their professionalism, nor yet all the readers who’ve brightened up my day with a few lines of appreciation, either personally or in a review. That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful, because I most certainly am.

Finally, I would like to thank all those curators and custodians of museums, stately homes and assorted castles who’ve answered my questions, offered up fascinating extra snippets and been intrigued rather than baffled when I explain just what it is that I do.