This episode features the introduction of Cabot Cove citizens Sheriff Amos Tupper and Captain Ethan Cragg. Cragg has been friends with Jessica for many years, whereas Tupper seems to barely tolerate her, resenting her interference in a police investigation.
This is also the first mention of the never-seen Letitia, the phone operator in Cabot Cove.
Frank Fletcher smoked a pipe that, according to Stephen Earl, was 'a fine-looking meerschaum'. Meerschaum is a soft, white mineral that is most frequently used to make pipes.
Stephen Earl picks up a recent book of Jessica's from the counter entitled Dirge for a Dead Dachshund. The book was in pre-publication at the time, and was not yet released for publication. Maggie Earl refers to having read Jessica's 'latest book', indicating that Dirge for a Dead Dachshund is at least her third book. Cragg also makes mention to Amos 'reading too many of Jessica's books' indicating, again, that Dirge for a Dead Dachshund was not her second work.