Rebus’s Edinburgh Palimpsest: The Spirits of the Place

This analysis reveals Edinburgh's layered identity through the lens of Ian Rankin's detective fiction, particularly in Knots and Crosses (1987). It highlights how the city's Old Town, with its Enlightenment ghosts—articulate and deferential specters—contrasts with modern threats like serial killers, symbolizing a tension between historical continuity and contemporary disruption. The study employs close reading of literary texts to unpack Edinburgh's palimpsest-like qualities, where past and present coexist, often in uneasy harmony. By focusing on Rebus's nocturnal observations, the research deciphers how place shapes narrative, offering insights into urban memory and cultural heritage. This approach bridges detective fiction with historical geography, enriching our understanding of Edinburgh as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cook, M. (2014). Rebus’s Edinburgh Palimpsest: The Spirits of the Place. Detective Fiction and the Ghost Story, 127–145. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137294890_8