Brad Meltzer

"Even when you’re ready for it, nothing sneaks up on you like grief."

"“You’re telling me you can hack into an FBI agent’s phone?” “Only when they’re dumb enough to use their personal one instead of a secure line. Swear to Steve Jobs, whoever invented working from home should get a big wet kiss on the mouth.”"

"302 phone number. Delaware. Truthfully, I didn’t think they allowed anyone to live in Delaware anymore."

"In every life, whatever you do, you either destroy or create."

"He felt…good, which should’ve been a sign. If life taught Zig anything, it’s that the universe saves its best punches for when you least expect it."

"I hate watching cable news; it makes you dumber."

"I know why you’re here, Mr. Zigarowski. Your commitment to repetition makes it nauseatingly obvious."

"There are only four different magic tricks: You make something appear. You make something disappear. You make two things change place. Or you change one thing into something else. Everything in magic is a variation on those four."

"“How old are you, Mr. Zigarowski? Late forties?” “Fifty-two.” “Mhmm. You got lucky with that head of hair. Lady Time picks her lovers with care.”"

"You say you’re a mortician? You should know better than anyone. Just because you’re not dead doesn’t mean you’re alive."

"Sure enough, as Colonel Hsu stepped into his office, she gave him a big thumbs-up with a double pump. She was a politician. If she was leading with charm, bad news was coming."

"She thought about praying, but learned long ago there’d be no answer."

"Years ago, his stepdad had told him that anyone who drives a BMW has a small penis."

"“I love that you’re one of the kindest people on the planet, Ziggy, but I’ve seen teenagers in horror movies who’re less predictable…car washes that were less predictable…” “I get the point, Waggs.” “Ferris wheels that were less predictable!”"

"Years ago, during her first visit, Nola came here to do good, to set things right. But like any decision you look back on through the lens of time, what you marvel at most is how naïve you were."

"As Huck’s about to learn, the worst prisons are the ones we create for ourselves."