Cracked Page 31
And for the first time in a while, I felt something like hope.
* * *
I was a twin once. I was Ginger Cleary’s twin.
Don’t miss the second part of Danny Cleary’s thrilling story: Cracked: Rehab Run.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Getting Cracked from my head to your hands was quite a trip – and I mean that in every sense.
But without ridiculous amounts of help, love and support from the following people it wouldn’t be here. In some cases, I might not be here:
My agent, friend, and brother from another mother, Sam Hiyate. Don’t Stop Believin’, baby.
My brilliant, wonderful editor Alice Nightingale, who is probably now riding a camel somewhere. In a bikini. And now, and hopefully forever, the wonderful Cath Trechman at Titan, who puts up with me so cheerfully that I wish I could send her daily boxes of chocolate and shoulder rubs.
The lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers, court staff, and other Ministry of the Attorney General colleagues who continue to make my life a hell of a lot more interesting.
The fantastic women of The Rights Factory, past and present, for reading and notes and encouragement, particularly the talented Alisha Sevigny.
My best friend, Marilyn “The Doll” Cleary. One word for you, honey: Bali.
My little modern family: Christos and Lisa. And all my other old friends, who stuck with me through the years of the Bat Cave. I am so goddamn lucky to have you. Nigel, Craig, Shirley, Lynn, Tim, Linda, Vandana, Jenny, Mary-Anne, Jean-Paul and so many others; particularly the late, great Harry Morriss, who died before the book was in print. He was the best of men, and much missed. And thanks of course to all my new friends, who make my life so rich.
My sister Pamela, who probably has this book memorized, and has never had any compunction about correcting me. (I love you, Pam.) My sisters Judy and Isobel, for rarely correcting me. (And unconditional love and support. More intense love and thanks to my three sisters than can ever be expressed.)
And last but definitely not least, The Leslie Clan (sibs and kids): Frank, Theresa, Pam, Judy, Bill, Grant, Isobel, Mike, Aaron, Amy, Connor, Alexandra, Tim, Janet, Myra, Carter, Rosemary, Donni, Laura, Chase, Abigail, Peter, Andrianne, Alana, Andrew, Stephen, Ian and Madeleine. As Mom used to say, we may be crazy, but we’ve never been boring.
And for those whose lives, hearts and minds have been taken over by addiction: please, do whatever you need to do to stop. It’s much better on the other side.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbra Leslie lives and writes in Toronto. Visit her at www.barbraleslie.com, or follow her on Twitter @barbrajleslie.
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TITAN BOOKS
CRACKED
REHAB RUN
BARBRA LESLIE
After Danny’s twin sister was murdered and her nephews kidnapped, Danny crossed North America with her musician brother Darren pursuing those responsible – and being pursued.
Now Danny fulfills her promise to her siblings, and checks herself into Rose’s Place, a posh, remote drug rehabilitation facility on the east coast of Canada. Lulled by the sea air and peace and quiet, Danny starts to come to terms with her losses, and imagine what her future will be.
When Danny finds a human hand on the property however, her rural idyll is shattered. In the ensuing media frenzy, Danny’s TV executive brother Laurence flies up from New York to visit his sister and Dickie Doyle, a university friend and the founder of the rehab facility. But when Danny and Laurence go to Dickie’s cabin, Dickie is gone. And a strange body is trussed up in his bed – minus a hand and foot.
Danny and Laurence race to find Dickie as the killing spree continues – and before they become the next victims.
Coming November 2016
TITANBOOKS.COM
HACK
AN F.X. SHEPHERD NOVEL
KIERAN CROWLEY
It’s a dog-eat-dog world at the infamous tabloid the New York Mail, where brand new pet columnist F.X. Shepherd finds himself on the trail of The Hacker, a serial killer who is targeting unpleasant celebrities. Bodies and suspects accumulate as Shepherd runs afoul of cutthroat office politics and Ginny Mac, a sexy reporter for a competing newspaper. But when Shepherd is contacted by the Hacker, he realizes he may be next on the list.
“Hack is a witty and incisive mystery set in the raucous world of tabloid journalism. Laugh out loud funny and suspenseful—it’s like Jack Reacher meets Jack Black.” Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Blood Gospel
“The man is a legend, a master of his craft, and Hack is a seamlessly flowing, imaginative translation of these realms, blended together in exciting, suspenseful and oftentimes hilariously moving prose that reads like a conversation while serving as engrossing fiction, compelling insight and eye-opening commentary. It’s a joy to read and captures the imagination from the start.” Long Island Press
TITANBOOKS.COM
DUST AND DESIRE
A JOEL SORRELL NOVEL
CONRAD WILLIAMS
Joel Sorrell, a bruised, bad-mouthed PI, is a sucker for missing person cases. And not just because he’s searching for his daughter, who vanished five years after his wife was murdered. Joel feels a kinship with the desperate and the damned. He feels, somehow, responsible. So when the mysterious Kara Geenan begs him to find her missing brother, Joel agrees. Then an attempt is made on his life, and Kara vanishes… A vicious serial killer is on the hunt, and as those close to Joel are sucked into his nightmare, he suspects that answers may lie in his own hellish past.
“An exciting new voice in crime fiction”
MARK BILLINGHAM, bestselling author of Rush of Blood
“Top quality crime writing from one of the best”
PAUL FINCH, No. 1 bestselling author of Stalkers
“Take the walk with PI Joel Sorrell”
JAMES SALLIS, bestselling author of Drive
“A beautifully written, pitch-black slice of London noir”
STEVE MOSBY, author of The Nightmare Place
TITANBOOKS.COM
For more fantastic fiction, author events, competitions, limited editions and more
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
titanbooks.com
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
facebook.com/titanbooks
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
@TitanBooks
EMAIL US
readerfeedback@titanemail.com