Book cover of The Edinburgh Detective

Book description

In the 1860s, a few years before Arthur Conan Doyle began his medical studies at Edinburgh University, there appeared a hugely popular series of books with titles like "Curiosities of Crime in Edinburgh", "The Sliding Scale of Life" and "The Disclosures of a Detective". They were all the work of…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Edinburgh Detective as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I loved the fact that this book predated Sherlock Holmes and was written by a genuine 19th-century detective. I also liked the fact it is based in my home town of Edinburgh, arguably one of the most atmospheric cities in the world. The stories are meant to be true and were based on McLevy’s experiences as a detective, moving between the Old and New Towns in the city. 

Finally, I liked the fact that the stories are all bite-sized, easy to read in a single sitting, and laced with the author’s own brand of dry humour. 

From Malcolm's list on British Victorian crime.

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