There are very few well-adjusted people in my books. But I do think that's normal. Because everyone does have their issues and hang-ups.

Agatha Christie's writing is incredibly skillful because her books are incredibly intellectually puzzling and challenging.

I never write about CIA conspiracies or the FBI or mafia or anything like that because I just don't understand that world. But I think I do understand individual human harmfulness.

I'm snobby about books that aren't crime fiction: if I start reading a literary novel and there's no mystery emerging in the first few pages, I'm like, 'Gah, this obviously isn't a proper book. Why would I want to carry on reading it?'

Just because someone has stylistic limitations doesn't necessarily make them a worse writer.

I always notice the dysfunctional dynamic of human relationships because most places where you encounter it, people are trying to pretend it isn't happening.