any mystery writer is both magician and moralist ... two species of artist in short supply.

Sometimes I wonder what the difference is between being cautious and being dead.

People in California seem to age at a different rate than the rest of the country. Maybe it's the passion for diet and exercise, maybe the popularity of cosmetic surgery. Or maybe we're afflicted with such a horror of aging that we've halted the process psychically.

Insecure people have a special sensitivity for anything that finally confirms their own low opinion of themselves.

Everything happens for a reason, but that doesn't mean there's a point.

God save us from the people who want to do what's best for us.

There's really no such thing as an 'ex-cop' or a cop who's 'off-duty' or 'retired.' Once trained, once indoctrinated, a cop is always alert, assessing reality in terms of its potential for illegal acts.