dennis scharnberg

numbers always lie

“There are so many things that I don’t want to know, Jill.  Try to understand that, won’t you?  Please?”

Allison Terew, The Shining Shifting Things.

making ends meet

“I’m Rodney,” he said to himself.  “I’m all that matters.”

Nicholas Crisp,  A Suitcase Fell on Her Head.

sounds from above

The abbreviated expression “SDA” which appeared in the body of the missive was shown to mean “sleeping deeply again.”  At least that is what Brenda, the older sister, claimed.

Kiefer Sythe, The Detective Club.

surplus of sincerity

“The Waste Land” presents an inventory of the pseudospiritual  bric-a-brac of early modernity.  Consider Madame Sosostris and her pack of cards.

Clifford O. Mounce, A Portable Darkness.

envy and fashion

“I don’t think I can do this, Jeremy.”
“Of course you can.  Lying is fun, Jane.  You’ll see.”

Flavia Gringarten,  A Picture Holds Me Captive.

to be continued

“…a relentless nasty feces-flinging attack on anyone who even looks like he believes in something.  By vile hateful cowards.”

Will Bestwyck, Letters From Mr. Palindrome.

one plus one

“Pointing and laughing, Jerry, is a powerful tool.  The combination, you see.”

Chadwyck Graves, Maoist Struggle Session and Other Stories.

taking a ride

“No, Sergeant.  Kevin was a relentless vegan.  He would seek forgiveness from the asparagus on his plate!”

Hilary Fewkes, The Banality Killings.

using rough language

“Deceivers want to be found out,” Trumbull insisted.  “It’s an established principle of criminal investigation.”

Clive Ennis, The Case of the Broken Handle.

ring of truth

“That’s how I look at things, Patricia.  In terms of perfection.”

Tristan Holyoke, A Tree Full of Monkeys.