dennis scharnberg

neck and neck

“I will write a novel,” declared Jason, “but only if it can be a nineteenth century novel.  None of that modern business, full of nastiness and zig-zags.”

Nicholas Crisp, A Suitcase Fell on Her Head.

who and whom

With exemplary adroitness, Mr. Desmond Davies stepped over and past the corpse of his own integrity.

Victoria Salt,  A Compendium of Opening Lines.

full of absence

Jack opened the window and paused. Then, he simply pointed in.  No words were necessary.

Gwenda Reid,  Murder in Retrospect.

paint by numbers

“Yes, I used to have a bit of a reputation,” admitted Dean.  “But I was able to get rid of that.”

Dell Arbogast, The Null Hypothesis and Other Stories.

roster of opinions

“Oh, it’s not that he thinks only of himself, Janet.  Not necessarily.  It’s that he just does proceed.  And proceed in a thieving way.”

Everson Dwight, Being and Murder.

only the self

Grigoriev’s last words concerned some business about “the dreadful numbers” and about “a geometry of lies.”

Hilary Fewkes,  The Banality Killings.