Quotes from Sue Grafton

I may have people lying to me, but since I don't really know the truth, I can't be sure.

I'm always aware that under the spritely twitter of birds, bones are being crunched and ribbons of flesh are being stripped away, all of it the work of bright-eyed creatures without feeling or conscience. I don't look to nature for comfort or serenity.

You know what they say about living well as the best revenge. I did well because it was the one defense I had. Escape has been the motivating force in my life. Getting away from him, getting away from her, putting that household behind me. The funny this is, I haven't moved an inch, and the harder I run, the faster I keep slipping back to them...There are laws for everything except the harm families do.

and that touched off something else...old sorrows, good friends gone down into the earth. Sometimes I picture death as a wide stone stair-case, filled with a silent procession of those being led away.

I made a stop, ducking into the supermarket to pick up milk, Diet Pepsi, bread, eggs, and toilet paper. I was into my siege mentality, looking forward to pulling up the drawbridge and waiting out the rain. With luck, I wouldn't have to go out for days.

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

The problem with real life is there's no musical score. In movies, you know you're in danger because there's an ominous chord underlining the scene

She was right about one thing: the harm in the world is done by those who feel disenfranchised and abused. Contented people (as a rule) don't kite checks, rob banks, or kill their fellow citizens.

The dead are mute, but the living still have voice with which to protest their innocence. Often their objections are noisy and pious, impossible to refute since the person who could condemn them has been silenced forever.

pretending to do something when you're doing nothing is an art form in itself.

Haven't you ever heard of compromise?" "Oh sure," I said. "That's when you give away half the things you want. That's when you give the other guy half of what's rightfully yours. I've done that lots of times. It sucks.

Infidelity reduces and diminishes, leaving nothing where you once had a sense of self-worth.

Some death is as silent as the flight of a bird, some prey as unprotesting as a knot of rags. The

We live in a society piously concerned about the rights of criminals when their victims' lives have been trashed without any consideration of the price in pain and suffering.

In her presence, I felt as dainty and feminine as a side of beef. When I opened my mouth, I was worried I would moo.

What I could see of the apartment looked much like the office: gold high-low carpeting, Early American furniture, probably from Montgomery Ward. A painting of Jesus hung on the wall at the foot of the bed. He had his palms open, eyes lifted towards heaven- pained no doubt, by Ori's home decorating taste.

He blinked at me lazily and I blinked back at half speed, an exchange I later learned was called a cat kiss.

I was more pissed off in retrospect than I'd been at the time. I know there are people who believe you should forgive and forget. For the record, I'd like to say I'm a big fan of forgiveness as long as I'm given the opportunity to get even first.

The Universe keeps track of our sins and exacts devious and repugnant punishments, like dates with unknown men.

After two unsuccessful marriages, I find myself keeping my guard up, along with my underpants.

I was determined to run, but my body thought otherwise. (Kinsey Millhone)

panic inspires gross errors in judgement (Kinsey Millhone)

Results for I looked as respectable as the bum they were booking. I fancied I smelled better, but perhaps not. I've noticed that most of us don't have a clue what we smell like to other people. It's almost as though our noses blank us out in self-defense.

My problem with country music is that I try to avoid the very situations the lyrics lament.