Festival of Murder

Credit: Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane

“People kept asking me: “We love the historical cozy crime stories of Edward Kane and Mr Horse, but when are you going to write something set in the modern day?’ So, I had a chat with The Scotsman people and a new serial was born,” he said.

He got to work and came up with a short-chapter series that revolves around retired advocate depute – William Wallace (‘Wally’) Wood KC – and the suspicious death of a lady falling from a window across from the Tron Kirk.

Festival of Murder is set during the Festival and Fringe and features many recognisable Edinburgh landmarks.

“It’s been great fun taking my characters from the quiet of St Giles Cathedral to the noise and mayhem of The Royal Mile and the cafes and bars of Edinburgh in August,” Mr Macfarlane said.

And what about the new character created for the story, retired prosecutor, Wally Wood? Will we be seeing more of Wood KC after August?

“That’s the thing about these characters – you create them for a specific reason, then they refuse to leave your imagination. Wally Wood and his (entirely fictitious) drouthy cronies in The Cumberland Bar are already giving me headaches about another plot! Watch this space…”

Festival of Murder by Ross Macfarlane KC is currently running weekdays on The Scotsman online.