Are they really gods?" "I never worry about theological questions," said Nightingale. "They exist, they have power and they can breach the Queen's peace - that makes them a police matter.

This is your brain on magic.

My dad once told me that the secret to a happy life was never to start something with a girl unless you were willing to follow wherever it led. It's the best piece of advice he has ever given me, and probably the reason I was born.

It's a police mantra that all members of the public are guilty of something, but some members of the public are more guilty than others.

This I know for a fact: the reason African women have children is so that there's someone else to do the housework.

Conflict resolution,' said Nightingale. 'Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?' 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'But don't worry, they also teach us how to beat people with phone books and the ten best ways to plant evidence.

That which does not kill us has to get up extra early in the morning if it wants to get us next time.