Seldom in history has there been a city with a more sordid reputation than Edinburgh. Beneath the surface respectability of the jewel in the Scottish crown lies a warren of filth-ridden alleys and stairs where thieves, murderers and ghouls of every description planned and carried out their foul deeds. In this book we meet them all. Major Weir, the devil-worshipping black magician and his wicked sister Grizel; Captain Porteous, the corrupt official who inspired the population to mob justice; Jessie King, the notorious Stockbridge baby farmer; wife poisoner Eugene Chantrelle; Deacon Brodie, the inspiration behind Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; and of course, worst of all, Mr Burke and Mr Hare, who plied their swift trade in corpses for the dissection table of Dr Knox.