Reading isn't an occupation we encourage among police officers. We try to keep the paperwork down to a minimum.

Civilizations have been founded and maintained on theories which refused to obey facts.

The kind of people who always go on about whether a thing is in good taste invariably have very bad taste.

I'd the upbringing a nun would envy. Until I was fifteen I was more familiar with Africa than my own body.

People think I write fantasy, but I don't; some things may be exaggerated or distorted in the same way that painters distort and alter things, but they're realistic figures. They're perfectly recognisable.

FAY: The British police force used to be run by men of integrity. TRUSCOTT: That is a mistake which has been rectified.

Every luxury was lavished on you - atheism, breastfeeding, circumcision.