No one ever talked about why they never went near the cliffs, even when there was a fence protecting them, or why they preferred to keep the curtains over the floor-to-ceiling windows closed.
They went about their lives without talking about the unnerving things, the dark things, about the house.
And at night, while they slept, two strange lights burned in the darkness.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With every book, I owe thanks to my editor, Danielle Perez. With this book, gratitude doesn’t cover it. She worked tirelessly to make this book the best it could be. It’s possible she has read it as many times as I have by now, which is an incredible feat. I owe her an unending debt for her patience, expertise, and willingness to always dig a little deeper. Thank you so much, Danielle.
Thanks to my agent, Pam Hopkins, who as always is a voice of reason in a crazy business. She is my rock.
Thanks to my husband, Adam, who helps me with plot problems, makes sure I always have the time and space to write, and does a million small things for me. I would never have written my first book, or any book after it, without your partnership and support.
Thanks to my sister, Nicole, and my brother, David. We had to lean on each other this year. I would be a wreck without both of you.
Thanks to the marketing and publicity team at Berkley, including Fareeda Bullert, Jin Yu, Danielle Keir, Tara O’Connor, and many others who do so much hard work putting my books into people’s hands （or in front of their eyeballs）。 I appreciate everything you do.
Thanks to the art department at Berkley, who go above and beyond to give me amazing covers.
Thanks to the librarians and booksellers who recommend my books—you are magic. Thanks to the bloggers and everyday readers who tell a friend, “You’ve gotta read this.” Thanks to the readers who write me nice notes, which always tend to hit my inbox on my lowest days.
Thanks to Molly and Stephanie, who talk me off the ledge over and over again, with every book. I’m always happy when I can return the favor.
Lastly, thank you to my mother, Suellen, who made me the woman I am and who passed in November 2020. I gave her an early copy of each of my books, but on release day she’d still go to her local bookstore, buy a copy, and tell the sales clerk excitedly that she was buying her daughter’s book. I was beyond lucky to have a mother so brilliant, brave, and loving. Thank you for everything, Mom. Rest well.