The actual writing is what you live for. The rest is something you have to get through in order to arrive at the point.

Love interest nearly always weakens a mystery because it introduces a type of suspense that is antagonistic to the detective's struggle to solve the problem. It stacks the cards, and in nine cases out of ten, it eliminates at least two useful suspects. The only effective love interest is that which creates a personal hazard for the detective - but which, at the same time, you instinctively feel to be a mere episode. A really good detective never gets married.

Alcohol is like love. The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you take the girl's clothes off.

She bent over me again. Blood began to move around in me, like a prospective tenant looking over a house.

Show me a man or woman who cannot stand mysteries and I will show you a fool, a clever fool - perhaps - but a fool just the same.

Shake your business up and pour it. I haven't got all day.

You can always tell a detective on TV. He never takes his hat off.