In spite of her plainness that would have made wallflowers of other women, she radiated a great sense of self-importance. - Robert Galbraith

He had hoped to spot the flickering shadow of a murderer as he turned the file's pages, but instead it was the ghost of Lula herself who emerged, gazing up at him, as victims of violent crimes sometimes did, through the detritus of their interrupted lives.

Strike had not been able to guard against warm feelings for Robin, who had stuck by him when he was at his lowest ebb and helped him turn his fortunes around; nor, having normal eyesight, could he escape the fact that she was a very good-looking woman.

You can bloody hate someone and still wish they gave a shit about you and hate yourself for wishing it.