The very scenic old town of Culross appears in Kidnapped as Edinburgh. A building next to the Mercat Cross was used for David Balfour's lodgings.

The basis of the historical fiction novel centers around the story of David being kidnapped in a plot set in motion by his scheming uncle who wants his inheritance. Even though the story is set in the 18th century, any Cincinnati criminal lawyer can tell you the penalties for kidnapping crimes today are severe, with sentences ranging from one to twenty years.