Set in in the late 1800s in Edinburgh, this seems a well-written enough story, with a moderately likeable detective. But...but.The deceiving wife murdered by her husband (and considered almost excusably so by the detective). The scheming girl murdered by the unknown. The saintly dead wife (raped at fifteen).Flipping to the end shows me we do eventually end up with a living female character (who isn't a bit-part servant) - and this, naturally is the love interest. (view spoiler)[And also the murderer. (hide spoiler)]