In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect... and no.

In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned. -Jane Haddam.

My husband used to take care of the business part of this, and after he died I found I wasn't really any good at it. I hate remembering who owes me what and bugging them if they haven't paid me.

People always seemed to know half of history, and to get it confused with the other half.

In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned.

You've either got to find a way to make your continuing characters insteresting without making them maudlin or overwrought, or you've got to put more emphasis on the suspects.