Selina Cadell

A stomach bug sweeps through Portwenn. Martin creates mass panic by declaring it's the swimming pool, and then infuriates the locals by blaming the village water supply. Meanwhile, plumber Bert Large is making a mint off his new business: bottled water.

Louisa's old flame, Danny Steel, comes to Portwenn hoping to rekindle their romance. He is furious with Martin for interfering with his mother's move to a nursing home. A man who has a habit of inexplicably injuring himself consults Martin. Elaine has resigned and moved away with her boyfriend Greg and has been replaced by her cousin, Pauline Lamb.

Martin treats two brothers for salmonella poisoning, likely caused by the putrid contents of their fridge. But there's something else amiss about this family, which has a bizarre passion for taxidermy-and a mother who hasn't been seen in years.

Louisa faints in front of her class, Aunt Joan nearly runs someone over with her car, and Portwenn’s new policeman is falling asleep on the job.

Graham Orchard, a Salvation Army member, arrives in Portwenn to try to trace a missing woman called Emma Lewis. He encounters the curtness of Dr Martin Ellingham when he tries to show him a picture of the woman he’s searching for. The woman’s mother is desperately ill, and wants to see her daughter before it’s too late.