The Postscript Murders

A people who elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices.

Women write about violence because women experience violence,’ says Becki. This simple truth has the effect of dissolving any remaining laughter in the room. ‘Men hate us. Books are a way of getting our own back.

His parents, who were Catholic in the stubborn way some old recusant English families are, sticking to their faith all through the Reformation, never expected any of their children to take it this far.

It's my TBR pile," she says. "TBR?" says Neil. "To be read. If I'm ever killed, my TBR pile will be the murder weapon. Sorry, that's in terrible taste. Bad news takes me that wy sometimes.

That's how I know I'm old, he thinks. Because sometime it does take him by surprise. He sees a wizened old man in the mirror and wonders whether a geriatric burglar has broken in.

Motive and means.’ Natalka and Edwin look gratifyingly impressed. Benedict doesn’t tell them that this methodology comes straight from Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.

He imagines her at the crime scene: the outline on the floor, the white-suited figures, the yellow and black tape, the shouts of ‘We’ve found a footprint/murder weapon/DNA.’ But so far real policing has been disappointingly unlike the TV version.

Thank Heaven Fasting. It’s a quote from As You Like It, as he’d been about to tell Natalka. ‘Down on your knees And thank heaven, fasting, for a good man’s love.

Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell and Peggy’s favourite, an out-of-print golden-age writer called Sheila Atkins.

Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

Classic crime,’ says Benedict. ‘Peggy loved these writers. I do too. Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie. Sheila Atkins.

The trouble is, so much of his life now goes on in his head that he’s sometimes not sure what’s real and what isn’t.

I don’t know. Just to get a feel of

It’s all sleek lines and concealed lighting, unlike her parents’ house where, on top of everything, there’s something.

Don’t the Scriptures also tell you to ‘stay awake’ and ‘be ready’?

Miles is obviously going to be a trial.

Harris is rather attractive in a bony, cadaverous way.

It’s quite exhilarating, being annoyed by someone, especially a friend. It’s been a long time since he’s spent so much concentrated time with other people.

Don’t clever people read crime novels?’ asks Edwin, making a list of murder mysteries in his head, starting with Macbeth and including Dickens, Dostoevsky, Charlotte Brontë and Wilkie Collins. He’s a particular fan of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

she’s very good at disappearing into the background. All old people are.