The Advent Killer (32 page)

First I’d like to thank my agent, Caroline Hardman, and her partner Joanna Swainson at Hardman & Swainson, for believing in this book, and helping me bring it to the attention of such a great publisher.

Thanks also to my publishing editor, Rowland White, and his fantastic team at Penguin/Michael Joseph, especially Kirsty Taylor, Bea McIntyre and Tim Broughton.

And thanks to all the friends and relatives who read previous drafts of this book over the years, and who provided feedback, support and encouragement.

Particular mention must go to my good friends Charlie and Dyan, my sister, Kirsty, my mum and Wendy, plus my future father-in-law, Tony, and the entire Ascott family (plus partners and dogs) and the man I met in St James’ Park (no names were exchanged) who kindly showed me the cut through from Old Queen Street onto Birdcage Walk. Thanks also to Nigel Grimshaw for giving me a break in journalism, and Simon Johnston for passing on various wisdoms during my time at Emap. This wouldn’t have been possible without all of you.

And special thanks, of course, to Anna, who helps, supports, encourages and inspires me every single day (although not specifically to write about murder). This book (and hopefully many more to come) is for you.

Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London
WC2R 0RL
, England

www.penguin.com

First published 2013

Copyright © Alastair Gunn, 2013

All rights reserved

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Typeset by Palimpsest Book Production Ltd, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

ISBN: 978-1-405-91445-1