But only one of them knew this

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James. I enjoy her artful descriptions, particularly of architecture and art as well as of Christian churches and liturgies. She brings a grace to murder mysteries that is pleasantly unexpected. She not infrequently slips in telling observations that cause you to set the book aside for a moment to digest the import of what she is saying.

Towards the end of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman there is such a turn.

Half a hour later Dalgliesh was seated opposite the Assistant Commissioner in the latter's office. The two men disliked each other but only one of them knew this and he was the one to whom it didn't matter.

It's one of those wordings that initially seems awkward, forcing you to stop and disentangle it. Knowing Dalgliesh's character (wise and moral), he is the one to whom it doesn't matter. With that knowledge and having straightened it out, what seemed like awkward phrasing suddenly becomes a deft and minimalist rendering of an entire scene and relationship. You realize she is saying so much more than the few words yield directly. That is wonderful.

By the way, An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is a very enjoyable read. I made the mistake of bringing it along on a business trip and stayed up too late before an early morning meeting in order to finish it.