I have to admit that all my friends and most of my acquaintances have their unique quirks. I enjoy the company of souls who live beyond the borders of normal. Not only do I use quotes from very old crime novels, but I mention the works of special friends. I like spreading the good news about good books. I always start a book with a murder.
Nothing hooks the reader like a body falling through the skylight-so to speak.
But along with the murder is a sense of place. In my most recent series, the Megan Clark books, the sense of place is more subtle, and character plays a larger role. I include enough description of the setting so the reader knows it is unique, but more important is my emphasis on the victim's character. It would be correct to say that my emphasis has moved from a sense of place which determined the plot, to characterization. My characters and their reactions to situations now determine my plots even though the setting is imbued with a strong sense of place.