I think there has been a great deal of valuable revisionism in women's history.

I have seen all, I have heard all, I have forgotten all. marie antoinette

Lives in previous centuries for women are largely a matter of class. It would have been fun to have been a rich, privileged woman in the 18th century, but no fun at all to be her maid.

I think crime writing is my link with trying to preserve a sort of order.

Mary Queen of Scots was my first love, and that is always something special.

I love hearing details of writers' craft, as cannibals eat the brains of clever men to get cleverer.

My mother, who was quite sharp when I was young, became utterly mild.