Patricia Cornwell

"In my forties, my optimism was boundless. I had really good health and tremendous success which allowed me to do anything I wanted."

"On the last morning of Virginia's bloodiest year since the Civil War, I built a fire and sat facing a window of darkness where at sunrise I knew I would find the sea."

"I believe the root of all evil is abuse of power."

"I didn't invent forensic science and medicine. I just was one of the first people to recognize how interesting it is."

"I constantly remind people that crime isn't solved by technology it's solved by people."