I am grateful to the organisers of the Shetland Literary Festival for inviting me to speak, as it was there, at a jolly dinner with Scottish crime writers, that it first occurred to me that I might attempt a whodunnit. Various kind friends read the manuscript in its different stages, made useful suggestions and offered encouragement: Heather Brooke, Oliver Butcher, Sue Cooke, Stephanie Cross, Victoria Hodder, Jeff Hudson, Linda Hughes, Susan Jenkins, Philip Kerr, Miles Mantle, Stephen McCrum, Duncan Minshull, Jackie Nelson, Peta Nightingale, Debra Potel, Joanna Swinnerton, Katrin Williams, Antony and Verity Woodward. Roger Stephenson gave me good tips on the life of a country doctor and DCI John Carr advised me on police procedures and made helpful suggestions. Guy Martin put me right on libel law. My agent Mark Lucas offered useful advice on structure and Steve Gove did a fine job of copy-editing. Tina Seskis inspired me to go the independent route and went out of her way to help me with the publishing process. Katie Roden of Fixabook gave me an excellent steer on cover design, while Laura Bamber came up with the goods. Finally of course thanks to my wife Jo, who comes back after a long day’s work with tricky authors only to find one waiting for her at home.