The Dark

by Valentina Giambanco

  My mother, for more than I could ever say here.

  Gerald, for his indispensable advice on ballistics and DIY.

  There would be no book without Teresa Chris, my agent, whose energy, humor and wise counsel are irreplaceable.

  Jo Dickinson and Stef Bierwerth, my editors at Quercus UK, for their passion as they sheparded this novel to publication and worked out exactly how much blood my name could take on the cover.

  And, finally, the brilliant team at Quercus US—especially Anna Hezel who edited the manuscript with superhuman patience.