I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all those people who have offered advice and encouragement during the writing of Fallen Idols, and also all the family and friends who supported me in my earlier writing ventures. The staff at the Crown Prosecution Service in Burnley and at the Magistrates’ Court in Blackburn deserve a particular mention, as do the members of the Colne Writers’ Circle. Writing can be lonely, and sometimes a writer needs to hear the encouragement in order to keep going. Many people did just that. I know who you are, and I will always be grateful to you.
In particular, I would like to thank my agent, Sonia Land, for showing continued faith in me and providing sound advice whenever I sought it, and also my editor at HarperCollins, Maxine Hitchcock, for being so thorough and enthusiastic.
I am, of course, eternally grateful for the patience shown by Alison, my wife, who has had to share the disappointments as well as the celebrations.