Created by Ross Macfarlane KC in 2019, the popular series continues in The Scotsman every weekday from today until Christmas Eve.

Set in Edinburgh in the 1850s, the serial follows the fortunes of the struggling young Victorian advocate and his Cockney manservant, Mr Horse.

Mr Macfarlane said: “I had no idea when I came up with these characters that they would prove so popular. I suppose that we can all identify with Edward from our early careers – out of our depth, being plunged into unfamiliar areas of law and scratching around for work.”

This year’s serial was inspired by real-life events from the 1700s. “I had always been intrigued by the Edinburgh tale of ‘Half-Hangit Maggie’ – the lady who stood trial for the death of her child and was then executed, but – having been hanged – she later woke up in the cart carrying her to the graveyard.”

He added: “This is a pretty mind-numbing legal conundrum, isn’t it. What do you do with someone who has been found guilty, sentenced to hang, is duly hanged, but wakes up later?  Maggie couldn’t be tried again and she had already served her sentence. So – as as a matter of law – what to do?”

The serial also includes period details such as the building of the gallows right outside the home of the person to be executed.

“I’ve also included the lawyers’ visits to the now-demolished Calton Jail,” said Mr Macfarlane. “An enormous prison that used to stand on top of Calton Hill. Calton Jail was so grand that first-time visitors to Edinburgh used to think that it was Edinburgh Castle!”