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 Elaine has resigned and moved away with her boyfriend Greg and has been replaced by her cousin, Pauline Lamb.

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.

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 has left, and Martin has begun to question what keeps him in Cornwall. It’s certainly not his relentlessly annoying patients. It’s certainly not the amorous advances of the infatuated local chemist, Mrs Tishell. Martin has realised that if he is ever to escape, he must conquer his worst fear: the blood phobia that ended his surgical career.