A real detective.
Remarkable stories.
A city to explore.
Discover the real James McLevy, read his cases and explore the Edinburgh streets behind the stories.
Whether you know him from the BBC drama or are meeting him for the first time, start with the man, the fiction or the city.
Choose your starting point
Meet the real McLevy
His life, colleagues and police career, followed through biography and surviving records.
Enjoy the BBC series?
Find the drama and books, then explore the history behind the fictional detective.
Explore his Edinburgh
Maps, wynds, buildings and photographs: put the stories in their setting.
Start with a story
The White Coffin is available in McLevy’s own words. Read it alongside the research notes on the case to begin exploring the relationship between a memorable narrative and the historical record.
Life beyond the detective
The city’s history also belongs to the people who lived, worked and brought up families in its streets. Explore ragged schools, Little Ireland and Dean Bank Institution for Girls.
Follow the evidence
Read original accounts, compare newspaper reports and find sources for your own research. McLevy’s recollections, contemporary records and modern fiction each need to be read on their own terms.
Explore all six sections
The Real McLevy · BBC & Fiction · Cases & Stories · Victorian Edinburgh · Places & Walks · Sources & Research
About the project
An independent site bringing together research on James McLevy and Victorian Edinburgh. Read about the project.
