Final Betrayal

by Patricia Gibney

  First, and most importantly, to you, my reader, thank you for reading Final Betrayal and for your continued support.

  A few years ago, I sent my first manuscript to an agent and she totally believed in me and my writing, surprising the life out of me. Ger Nichol of The Book Bureau has worked tirelessly on my behalf, negotiating contracts and looking out for me and my writing welfare. Thank you, Ger. I would never have got this far without you. Thanks also to Hannah at The Rights People.

  I’m grateful to have a great team working with me at Bookouture. I wish to thank Lydia Vassar Smith for her professional editorial input on Final Betrayal. Special thanks to Kim Nash and Noelle Holten for their media work, for organising blog tours and publicity. Thank you also to those who work directly on my books: Alexandra Holmes (publishing), Leodora Darlington, Alex Crow and Jules McAdam (marketing). Jane Selley for her excellent copyediting skills.

  Michele Moran brings my books to life in audio format, so thanks to Michele and the team at The Audiobook Producers.

  The writing community is very supportive of me and my work. Thank you to all who have listened to me, chatted and advised me, especially my fellow Bookouture authors. Special thanks to Carol Wyer and Angela Marsons, who give advice when I look for it. Also thank you to Caroline Mitchell, fellow Irish writer, and Robert Bryndza.

  Thank you to Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, who is a strong supporter of my writing and who organised Ireland’s first Murder One crime festival in 2018, along with Writing.ie and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature. I hope there will be many more. Thanks also to the Town of Books Festival, Red Line Festival and Harrogate Crime Festival for having me on panels in 2018. It was a massive honour to have The Stolen Girls shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2018 Ryan Tubridy Listeners’ Choice Award. Thank you Ryan and your listeners for your support.

  Thanks to Ger Holland for the enjoyable photo shoot in Dublin, and also Barry Cronin for such a fun day photographing me in the eerie forest near Ballinafid Lake.

  To all the bloggers who give freely of their time to read and review and take part in blog tours, thank you. And to each reader who has posted reviews, I am so grateful. You all make a difference.

  I wish to acknowledge the tireless work of libraries and their staff. Thanks also to local and national media, and bookstores. I have spoken at many book club events over the course of the last year and I wish to thank everyone for your warmth and kindness.

  Special thanks to Brian Gibson for advice on one aspect of this book, and John Quinn. I write crime fiction and seek advice where necessary, but inaccuracies are all my own. I fictionalise police procedure in places, to help with the pace and the storyline. It is fiction after all!

  I started writing when Aidan my husband, died after a short illness, to keep me from sinking into a black hole of despair. I love my writing; it keeps me focused and alive. But I would not be able to continue without a supportive network around me. My circle of friends has grown since I started writing. Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for the writing trips away, Grainne Daly for the words of wisdom and the good vibes when I need them, and Niamh Brennan for advice. Jo and Antoinette have always been there to pick me up, so thank you too.

  Thanks to my mother and father, William and Kathleen Ward, and to Lily Gibney and family, my sister Cathy Thornton and my brother Gerard Ward. Special thanks to my sister Marie Brennan for reading early drafts of this book (all my books, actually). I appreciate your time and input. I don’t always listen, but at least we no longer pull each other’s hair like we did as kids!

  My children, Aisling, Orla and Cathal, are three of the strongest, most polite and respectful young people I know. As teenagers, they lost their dad to cancer, but they met life head on and have grown into fine young adults. I am so proud of you and thankful to have you in my life. A mention to Gary, Darren and Dawn who keep them grounded.

  I have dedicated Final Betrayal to my grandchildren. I hope by continuing to focus on my writing I can show them that with hard work, perseverance and commitment you really can get ‘stuff’ done. Daisy, Shay, Caitlyn and Lola give me a new outlook on life and fill me with love.

  All characters in my books are fictional, as is the town of Ragmullin, but real life has influenced my life and my writing. Thank you to the people of Mullingar, my home town, for supporting me and my work.

  Published by Bookouture in 2019

  An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.

  Carmelite House

  50 Victoria Embankment

  London EC4Y 0DZ

  www.bookouture.com

  Copyright © Patricia Gibney, 2019

  Patricia Gibney has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.

  ISBN: 978-1-78681-848-5

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.