Shakespeare References in Say No To Murder

Nancy Pickard’s mystery novel Say No To Murder contains a couple of Shakespeare references. The first is to The First Part Of King Henry The Fourth, and specifically a reference to one of Falstaff’s most famous lines. After a fire is put out on the boat, Jenny Cain and her boyfriend, Geof, check on each other. Pickard writes: “‘Discretion being the better part of valor,’ Geof said, ‘we’d better get dressed. You sure you’re all right?’” (p. 45). Falstaff’s line, from Act V Scene iv, is “The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.” The second reference is to Shakespeare himself. Jenny is getting her father settled on the boat. She tells him, “Great men reap what humble seeds they sow” (p. 71). Then Pickard writes: “My father straightened his shoulders and gazed off into the distance. ‘How terribly profound,’ he breathed. ‘Shakespeare?’” (p. 72). Jenny answers, “Jabberwocky.”

Say No To Murder was published in 1985. The edition I read is the Pocket Books edition, published in 1988.