People who can be very good can be very bad too.

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.

Intuition is like reading a word without having to spell it out. A child can't do that because it has had so little experience. A grown-up person knows the word because they've seen it often before.

Mr. Jesmond made a peculiar noise rather like a hen who has decided to lay an egg and then thought better of it.

I'm afraid of death... Yes, but that doesn't stop death coming.

I believe, Messieurs, in loyalty---to one's friends and one's family and one's caste.

Many friends have said to me, 'I never know when you write your books, because I've never seen you writing, or even seen you go away to write.' I must behave rather as dogs do when they retire with a bone; they depart in a secretive manner and you do not see them again for an odd half hour. They return self-consciously with mud on their noses. I do much the same.