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.
The helicopter seen delivering Brian Shelby to Cabot Cove is an earlier production Hughes/MD 500 (model 369) with a V shaped stabilizer. Unlike many times, the sound heard is the correct sound for this aircraft. This same helicopter has been seen in other series as well.
Guest stars and murder suspects Richard Hatch (Terry Jones) and Anne Lockhart (Grace Earl Lamont) co-starred in the original Battlestar Galactica (1978) as Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Sheba respectively.