The Distant Dead by Lesley Thomson (books for students to read TXT) 📕

book I read that while shelterers in the tube did huddle over board games and sing Vera Lynn songs, in dark stations and stairways, women were raped and murdered. Crime was rife. The Nazis weren’t the only enemies.

In 1940, nineteen-year-old Maple Church, a ‘respectable’ clerk with Hackney Borough Council was murdered in a bomb-damaged building after a night out in London. My character Maple bears no resemblance to Maple Church, however her name is by way of tribute. I hope Maple is resting in peace.

As a novelist, I am proud to be part of a wonderful team. Against the thorny backdrop of furloughs, staff shortages and home-schooling, Head of Zeus worked hard to bring The Distant Dead into being. Thank you so much to:

Christian Duck – Production, Liz Hatherell – Copyeditor, Vicky Joss – Marketing, Anna Nightingale – Editorial Assistant, Lauren Tavella – PR, Mark Swan and Matt Bray – Cover design, Jon Appleton – Proofreader. I am lucky to have the fabulous Richard Attlee reading the audiobook.

Laura Palmer who, has for nearly a decade, helped make my novels the best they can be.

Always thanks to Georgina Capel and all at Georgina Capel Literary Agency, including Irene Baldoni, Philippa Brewster and Rachel Conway.

Thanks as ever, to retired Chief Superintendent Stephen Cassidy and to ‘The Detective’s Mother’ – Shirley Cassidy.

Friends and family have been vital in this tough time, I’ve valued your support and encouragement.

Heartfelt thanks to my fab cousins, Tasmin Barnett (adopted ‘younger sister), Roger Goodwin, Ronnie Rees. William Nelson and Katherine Nelson. To my Uncle and Aunty, Peter and Lynn Nelson. To my dearly loved Aunty Agnes who, being looked after in her care-home, has been painfully out of reach and died of Covid four days after receiving the vaccine.

Thank you, Elizabeth Anscombe, Teresa Andow, Sarah Barclay, Laura Barnett, Melissa Benn, Philippa Brewster, Jenny Bourne Taylor, Kathryn Burton, Jonny Burton, Elaine Butlin, Stuart Carruthers, Marianne Dixon (aka Vikasini), Helen Eve, Susan Eve, Hilary Fairclough, Katrina Heather, Nigel Heather, Flis Henwood, Lisa Holloway, Christine Muscato, Emma O’Grady, Steve O’Neill, Shirley (Sam) Margerison, John Pumphrey, Tina Ross, Rick Ross, Ruth Ussher, Paul Ussher, Guy Warner, Joann Weedon and Harriet Wood. My particular thanks to Juliet Eve for her gimlet eye.

Libby’s Patisserie became a take-away during Lockdown. Our lattes and brioche, brought to a bench across the street on a tray by Libby’s partner Matt, became more special than ever.

The highest of fives to the fellow members of the ‘Crime Trio’, Elly Griffiths and William Shaw, who, as fellow writers and good mates, keep me up and running. Here’s to more rainy-day meetings on a grey windswept beach, hopefully only for old times’ sake.

A special mention goes to Domenica de Rosa (11.11).

Where is a writer without readers? Thank you all for your wonderful messages. Those requests to write faster spur me on!

My gratitude is due to all bookshops which during the pandemic yet managed to get fiction to readers. To the bloggers whose ‘Tours’ were spiced with particular value in this Virtual Time. A big shout out to David Gilchrist and all who run the treasure that is the UK Crime Book Club. If you’re not a member, don’t miss out!

It’s rare my novels include an autobiographical element. However, like Stella with Stanley, I’ve spent hours in Tewkesbury Abbey listening to Evensong with our dog Alfred napping on my lap. On our last visit, in front of two security guards, he disgraced himself and me, by lifting a leg against a pillar in the north ambulatory. Despite this, I’m grateful to Alfred for his company and for those lockdown walks he made legitimate.

I wouldn’t have put fingers to keys without my beloved wife, Melanie.

Lesley Thomson

Lewes, 2021

About the Author

LESLEY THOMSON grew up in London. Her first novel, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People’s Book Prize in 2010. Her second novel, The Detective’s Daughter, was a #1 bestseller and the series has sold over 750,000 copies. Lesley divides her time between Sussex and Gloucestershire. She lives with her partner and her dog.

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