The Accidental Apprentice (48 page)

I was fortunate in being able to call upon my family and friends for advice in mapping the seven tests. My father helped me out with some of the legal intricacies. Sheel Madhur and Dr Harjender Chaudhary gave vital creative inputs. Dr Kushal Mital and Dr Edmond Ruitenberg chipped in with their extensive medical knowledge. Varuna Srivastava served as my first reader and biggest cheerleader.

One of the verses quoted by ACP Khan is by Markandey Singh, a.k.a. Shayar Aadin.

My wife Aparna generously shared her insights into a woman's world. My sons Aditya and Varun were both fierce critics and valuable sounding boards.

The book benefited from the suggestions made by my agents Peter and Rosemarie Buckman.

Suzanne Baboneau, Publishing Director at Simon & Schuster UK, earned my gratitude and respect for welcoming this novel with such enthusiasm. I was blessed to have an editor like Clare Hey whose astute perceptions helped sharpen the final text.

This book was written while I was posted in Osaka-Kobe. I have learnt a lot from the kindness, honesty, generosity and courage of the people of Japan. There is an order and a serenity in their country that equally calms the creative mind and excites it.

Lastly, a big thank you to my readers for their patience, loyalty and encouragement. That is the fuel that nourishes me as a writer.

Also by Vikas Swarup

Q & A / Slumdog Millionaire

Six Suspects

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

Though the author, Vikas Swarup, works for the Indian government, none of the opinions expressed in this novel are to be construed as reflecting in any way the view of the government of India or of the author in his official capacity.

A THOMAS DUNNE BOOK FOR MINOTAUR BOOKS
.

An imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group.

THE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICE
. Copyright © 2013 by Vikas Swarup. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.thomasdunnebooks.com

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First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, a CBS company

First U.S. Edition: July 2014

eISBN 9781466844292

First eBook edition: May 2014