If all power corrupts, then a doctor, who literally holds life and death in his hands, must be at particular risk.

Human kindness is like a defective tap, the first gush may be impressive but the stream soon dries up.

Murder is the unique crime, the only one for which we can never make reparation to the victim.

The tragedy of loss is not that we grieve, but that we cease to grieve, and then perhaps the dead are dead at last.

Charm is always genuine; it may be superficial but it isn't false.

Crime fiction confirms our belief, despite some evidence to the contrary, that we live in a rational, comprehensible, and moral universe.

Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary the more ­effective your writing. We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it.