A colleague once described neurosurgeons as the ‘fighter pilots’ of medicine, a simile laden with daring, action and a touch of romance. Where does that leave us ‘scrupulous, mildly obsessive introverted’ neurologists? Peter Kempster and Andrew Lees (see page 372) provide a magisterial and beautifully argued review of ‘Neurology and detective writing’. This will leave you in no doubt that neurologists are the sleuths of the medical world. Sherlock Holmes—created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, himself a doctor—is the model of observation and deduction, and linked to Gowers, Charcot and Freud. Perhaps the best detectives were neurologists manqués?

We have a letter from general practice from Steve Collyer, a latter day Dr …