A Trick of the Mind

by Penny Hancock

Many thanks to John Burton for the residency at Trinity Buoy Wharf in my own steel container!

  Thank you to Steve Wright, captain of one of the Thames Clippers, who took me on a trip up the Thames and gave me a personal commentary on its geography, its history and its secrets.

  Thank you to crime writer Sara Cox for your information about police procedures in hit-and-run incidents.

  Thank you to Stephanie Glencross and Emma Lowth for all your work on the early drafts, Carla Josephson and Jo Dickinson for your work on later ones and Angles writing group for feedback on the first chapters.

  As usual, thanks to Jane Gregory, and to the team at Simon & Schuster for their continued belief in me!

  Thank you to Emma for reading, and for giving me your young person’s perspective, and thank you so much Polly, Jem, and Andy for your continued support, contributions, and tolerance. And massive thanks to Susan Elliot Wright.

  Enormous gratitude also goes to my mother and late father for providing us with a place to stay in Southwold when my children were little and for some very special memories.

  Last but not least, Tilly, upon whom Pepper was based.