John Maher

They say human life is the most precious thing. The Collector doesn't agree. When world renowned archaeologist Philip Carlton suddenly and unexpectedly commits suicide, the police are called to investigate. Heading up the investigation is Detective Lucy O'Hara, a Forensic Linguist - and she immediately sees something is wrong with the suicide note. In her gut, she knows this was cold-blooded murder. Battling sceptical superiors and the Irish establishment, Lucy digs for the truth and begins to uncover a shadowy trade in ancient artifacts led by a mysterious figure known only as 'The Collector'. As Lucy works to uncover his identity, she soon realises she is up against a ruthless mastermind who is systematically eliminating anyone who might lead her to him. But Lucy won't give up and soon The Collector turns his attention to her... The Collector - the first in a gripping new series featuring Detective Lucy O'Hara.

The Collector

sharkie

Amanda Autumn Berrey

We are sure that there is some quite harmless explanation for her disappearance. Artistic young people have their whims.”

“You know what you do? You know how rain takes the colour out of everything? That’s what you do to the English language. You blur it every time you open your mouth.”

nadine 

“What I fear in you is something you don't know is in you.”

“We all want things we can't have. Being a decent human being is accepting that.”  

“People today always want to get things, they no sooner think of it they want to get it in their hands, but I am different, old-fashioned, I enjoy thinking about the future and letting things develop all in good time.”

“I don't want to be clever or great or "significant" or given all that clumsy masculine analysis. I want to paint sunlight on children's faces, or flowers in a hedge or a street after April rain. The essences. Not the things themselves. Swimmings of light on the smallest things. Or am I being sentimental?”

“Moon-music, so silvery, so far, so noble. The two of us in that room. No past, no future. All intense deep that-time-only. A feeling that everything must end, the music, ourselves, the moon, everything. That if you get to the heart of things you find sadness for ever and ever, everywhere; but a beautiful silver sadness, like a Christ face. Accepting the sadness. Knowing that to pretend it was all gay was treachery. Treachery to everyone sad at that moment, everyone ever sad, treachery to such music, such truth.”

“It's no good trusting vaguely in your luck, in Providence or God's being kind to you. You have to act and fight for yourself. The sky is absolutely empty. Beautifully pure and empty.”

“I don't want to die. I feel full of endurance. I shall 

The Collector quotes

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