...every year for decades there had been great excitement over the Largest Vegetable competition ("That would be my husband", was the standard comment).

— G.M. Malliet

Oh, please tell me we're not doing the Poirot thing again — the suspects in the library with the candlestick or whatever'. Max looked at him [DCI Cotton]. 'Fruitcake in this case. And what would you prefer? A car chase? It’s the most efficient way to flush out a killer, as Dame Agatha Christie well knew.

— G.M. Malliet

Vanity might be a "sin" according to some lights, but he thought in measured doses it was one of life's allowable simple pleasures. It helped everyone get through their days.

— G.M. Malliet