Lisa Gardner: Touch & Go

For the making of this novel, I also decided it was time to create a new character, an honest-to-goodness New Hampshire cop. I didn’t fully appreciate just how unique the county sheriff’s departments are in New Hampshire, until I tied up hours of Lieutenant Mike Santuccio’s well-intentioned time. His insightfulness, not to mention patience with my endless questions, definitely saved me on several occasions. Thank you, Lieutenant, for a fascinating look at rural policing, not to mention fresh respect for the men and women who must police these crazy mountains I love so much. Once again, any mistakes are mine, and mine alone.

Sarah Luke helped with much of the addiction information. While fellow suspense novelist and one of my favorite authors, Joseph Finder, set me straight on the inner workings of Back Bay Boston. Thanks, Joe!

Congratulations to Michael Beardsley, nominated for death by his loving wife, Catherine, who won the annual Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com. Also to Stuart Blair, winner of the international Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate, who nominated his new bride Lindsay Edmiston for a star-making turn in the novel. Since no females die in the making of this novel (a first for me!), Lindsay graciously agreed to the role of Ashlyn’s BFF. Don’t worry, you can still visit the website, where the next contest for literary immortality is already up and running. Maybe 2014 can be your year to fictionally maim that special person in your life.

Speaking of love, Kim Beals was the winning bidder at the annual Rozzie May Animal Alliance auction. Her generous donation to Rozzie May, which assists with low-cost spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, was in honor of her stepdad, Daniel J. Coakley. Her one request, he be a decent guy in the novel, as he is a great guy in real life. Hope you both enjoy!

Being an animal lover, I also donate one opportunity for pet immortality to be auctioned off by my local no-kill animal shelter, the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire–North. This year’s winners, Michael Kline and Sal Martignetti, asked me to commemorate their beloved black Lab, Zeus, who passed away during the writing of this book. Zeus was one of those amazing dogs who seemed more human than canine. As his owners put it, while most Labs could be cadaver dogs, Zeus could’ve been a detective.

Finally, my deepest, most heartfelt appreciation to my editors, Ben Sevier from Dutton and Vicki Mellor from Headline. In the way the writing process sometimes goes, I grew a little frustrated with this book. As in burning it or shredding it, or shredding, then burning it started to sound like great ideas. But my editors insisted on offering insightful comments that dramatically improved the novel instead. Fine. Just remember, what happens in the first draft, stays in the first draft…

Clearly, writing a novel is a lonely, if not always sane, pastime. I am so fortunate to have a truly amazing and supportive family who puts up with me even when my dinner conversation consists of muttering under my breath followed by staring off into space. Then there’s the best friends a girl could ask for, Genn, Sarah, Michelle and Kerry, who know when to make me laugh and when to simply pour another glass of wine.

Finally, my heartfelt adoration to my enormously talented, incredibly gracious, favorite-person-in-the-whole-world agent, Meg Ruley. Yes, she’s that good and I’m happy to have her on my side.

Oh yeah, and just in case you thought I hadn’t noticed, thank you to my amazing readers, who make all this pain worthwhile.

About the Author

LISA GARDNERis the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen novels. Her Detective D. D. Warren novels include Catch Me, Love You More, Live to Tell, The Neighbor, Hide , and Alone . Her FBI profiler novels include Say Goodbye, Gone, The Killing Hour, The Next Accident , and The Third Victim . She lives with her family in New England, where she is at work on her next novel.

ALSO BY LISA GARDNER

Novels

The Perfect Husband

The Other Daughter

The Third Victim

The Next Accident

The Survivors Club

The Killing Hour

Alone

Gone

Hide

Say Goodbye

The Neighbor

Live to Tell

Love You More

Catch Me

Short Works

The 7th Month