Mystery Writing Quotes

“...to tell the reader what the detective has observed and deduced – but to make the observations and deductions turn out to be incorrect, thus leading up to a carefully manufactured surprise packet in the last chapter.”
― Dorothy L. Sayers, Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror

“This is, you reflect, one of the consolations of the genre: any respectable practitioner must follow the rules in making the truth–however skillfully camouflaged by lies–accessible to all.”
― Dann McDorman, West Heart Kill

“Morals are the first sacrifice at the alter of ambition.”
― Ruby Gupta, The Secret of Leifeng Pagoda