"He hadn’t planned to despatch her so early in the game, if at all, not least because killing her had been risky … But it would probably have been necessary to silence her in the end because there had always been a chance she might reveal what had really happened between them. He had the impression she had already begun to waver, so it was her own fault she was dead."
"It’s a pity you weren’t at your piano lesson on Friday, Daphne Morgan. I bet that poor woman’s cursing you from up there, or the other place."
"But I don't want her to be hanged, I tell you! Supposing she was driven desperate? Love's a desperate and twisting business. It can turn a worm into a fine fellow — and it can bring a decent, straight man down to the dregs! Suppose she did do it. Haven't you any pity?" Hercule Poirot said: "I do not approve of murder."
“‘Father says you’re writing a book,’ he said, heaping logs by the fire. ‘About our Hidden.’ ‘Not just the Hidden,’ I said. ‘The book is about all known species of Folk. We have learned much about their kind since the dawning of this era of science, but no one has yet ventured to assemble this information into a comprehensive encyclopaedia.’”
"I believe it is very much in the public interest to explore the confluence of events that led to the formation of the Alperton Angels cult. Not least to understand the life path that led Mr Angelis and his followers to conduct the terrible crimes they committed and ensure such a tragedy never happens again."
"The Tower of Babel is sometimes called the Sink of Humanity. Its immensity, the variety of its ringdoms, its mysterious and luxurious heights are irresistible to all comers. We are drawn to it like water to a drain."
I’ve read 85 books this year, and all have had something to enjoy in them; so narrowing down my favourites has been tricky! A top 10 proved too hard, so I have put together a top 15 that I particularly enjoyed reading this year, and which represent my favourite genres — mystery, crime, historical fiction, literary fiction and a dash of fantasy and horror!
"Harold met with kindness on his journey. Or he had brought out love in other people. But it was not like that for Maureen. 'A difficult child,' she heard her mother saying."
“ For a minute they stood there huddled together looking in. What they saw was a sight that no one of them ever forgot… There had clearly been a terrific struggle. Heavy furniture was overturned. China vases lay splintered on the floor. In the middle of the hearthrug in front of the blazing fire lay Simeon Lee in a great pool of blood… Blood was splashed all round. The place was like a shambles.”
"I believe that everyone has one story that explains them completely. This is mine."
Books, Cats, Etc. 