(The house) was a quaint, bright, fairytale cottage and neat as a pin. There were crocheted doilies on the furniture and roses on the teacups. Knick knacks were placed everywhere and in random fashion; countless tiny figurines of playful animals or sweet-tempered children, curious souvenirs from places long forgotten, photographs in swirling brass frames, and flowers. In vases, in clay pots, in chipped cups or mismatched glasses, in anything that could still hold water, Tilda MacArdan placed a flower.

A Distant Murder, Donna McLean