Dear Readers,

I hope this message finds you well. Today, I have some news to share with you all. After a lot of thought and consideration, I've decided to take a short break from my writing. Writing *Shattered Trust* was an intense and rewarding experience, one that truly deepened my appreciation for storytelling and for the powerful, layered characters that make a story resonate with readers. This break is a time for me to rest, reflect, and return with a fresh perspective and even more energy for the future stories I can't wait to bring to life. This novel was heavily inspired by *Bosch*, a show that redefined what a gritty, character-driven detective story could be. Titus Welliver's portrayal of Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch has been a major influence in creating my protagonist, Nathan Reed. Welliver brings a deep humanity to Bosch, grounding him with an authentic blend of integrity, resilience, and the all-too-human struggles with family, trauma, and duty. Watching Titus Welliver step into the role with such precision helped me craft Nathan's layered personality and personal conflicts, making him someone readers could relate to and root for. Alongside Welliver's inspiring portrayal, actors Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar and Amy Aquino as Lieutenant Grace Billets brought their own powerful contributions to *Bosch*. Hector's Edgar is a character of complexity and depth, a loyal partner with struggles of his own, mirroring the loyalty and tension found between Nathan and his own allies. And Aquino's Grace Billets is a reminder of what it means to be a grounded, steadying force in a world often filled with turmoil, an attribute I sought to bring into *Shattered Trust's* supporting characters. Without *Bosch* and its talented cast, *Shattered Trust* would not be the story it is today. The inspiration they provided and the way they brought their characters to life drove me to dig deeper, to make each plot twist sharper, each character richer, and each conflict more intense. I'm grateful for the series and all its incredible cast and crew for laying down the path for so many of us in storytelling. To my readers, I want to say thank you. Your support and enthusiasm have given me the courage to tell this story, and it's something I'll never take for granted. Though I'll be on a brief break, please know that I'm already thinking about the next story and how I can make it even better. Your patience means the world to me, and I can't wait to dive back in when the time is right. Until then, keep reading, keep dreaming, and never stop fighting for justice.

With deep appreciation, 

 Oluwladeorimi Odunaiya