MartinEllingham,aLondon-basedsurgeon,relocatestothepicturesqueseasidevillageofPortWenn,establishinghimselfasthearea'sgeneralpractitioner.HegrewupintheareahavingbeenraisedbyhisnowwidowedAuntJoanNorton.HisreasonsforleavingLondonandthehigh-paidlifeofaconsultantarenotclearinitiallybutrelatedtoaphobiahehasrecentlydeveloped..eee