Guess the opening lines...

[kinkytoes]

Hi all, hope it's ok to start this here.

Thought it might be fun and stretch the old grey matter a bit.

I'll attach a shot of some opening lines and whoever guesses correctly post their own?

We could all just post pics but then we might lose track. I don't mind.

Let me know what you think (of the idea, and the opening lines here - hopefully started off with an easyish one but let me know if any clues are needed!)

If it's being done elsewhere please someone direct me 😊

I was never particularly keen on my job before the day I got shot and nearly lost it, along with my life. But the .38 slug of lead which made a pepper-shaker out of my intestines left me with fire in my belly in more ways than one. Otherwise I should never have met Zanna Martin, and would still be held fast in the spider-threads of departed joys, of no use to anyone, least of all myself.

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This is the story of what a Woman’s patience can endure, and what a Man’s resolution can achieve.

If the machinery of the Law could be depended on to fathom every case of suspicion, and to conduct every process of inquiry, with moderate assistance only from the lubricating influences of oil of gold, the events which fill these pages might have claimed their share of the public attention in a Court of Justice.

I think that second one is The Woman in White. I feel I should know the first one, but I don't.

It is The Woman in White. I thought that would be the more difficult one!

The first one is a very well known author. Will give it a bit of time to see if anyone else gets it.

I think the first is a Dick Francis, but I can’t recall which

Too late as people have beaten me to it but I recognised The Tiger In the Smoke and Miss Pym Disposes. Between Peter Wimsey, Campion, Roderick Alleyn and Alan Grant, Campion was always my favourite. I love Margery Allingham's writing; she's just so observant and measured. I read and reread her books all through my teens and twenties. Really enjoy Josephine Tey too especially Brat Farrar and The Franchise Affair.

I think the first is a Dick Francis, but I can’t recall which

Yes, it's Odds Against, the first Sid Halley book.