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    The Strings of Murder
    The Strings of Murder
    The Strings of Murder
    Ebook388 pages6 hours

    The Strings of Murder

    By Oscar de Muriel

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    1888: A violinist is brutally murdered in his Edinburgh home. Fearing a national panic over a copycat Jack the Ripper, Scotland Yard send Inspector Ian Frey. Frey reports to Detective "Nine-Nails" McGray, local legend and exact opposite of the foppish English Inspector. McGray’s tragic past has driven him to superstition, but even Frey must admit that this case seems beyond belief.There was no way in or out of the locked music studio. And there are black magic symbols on the floor. The dead man’s maid swears there were three musicians playing before the murder. And the suspects all talk of a cursed violin once played by the Devil himself.Inspector Frey has always been a man of reason—but the longer this investigation goes on, the more his grasp on reason seems to be slipping...
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPegasus Crime
    Release dateMay 3, 2016
    ISBN9781681771786
    The Strings of Murder
    Author

    Oscar de Muriel

    Oscar de Muriel is a violinist, translator, and chemist - and the author of three other novels in this popular series, The Strings of Murder, A Fever of the Blood, and A Mask of Shadows. He lives in England.

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    Reviews for The Strings of Murder

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      The Strings of Murder – A Great ReadThe Strings of Murder is the brilliant crime debut of Oscar De Muriel who has written a brilliant mixture of crime historical noir mixed with a touch of horror. It would be easy to say this is for a particular fan of historical crime fiction but it offers fans of all crime fiction a great mixture of noir and horror while being firmly set in Victorian Edinburgh.Inspector Ian Frey is summoned to meet the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in St Paul’s Cathedral where he is told they are both about to be dismissed from the force because of their lack of progress in the Jack the Ripper case that is tearing the east end of London to pieces.Frey is given hope of staying in the Police when he is sent to Edinburgh to assist in the investigation of a murdered violinist that looked similar to the murders of Jack the Ripper. He is not happy to be sent to Scotland a country he regards as backward at best, and even worse when he meets his colleague and new boss ‘Nine Nails’ McGray. It is all too much for Frey especially when he finds that Frey does not go by the ‘book’ and believes in supernatural and occult nonsense.As the body counts increases the pressure on McGray and Frey doubles especially when there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why the murders are taking place and their intestines being removed. The only seeming connection are that all the murdered people happen to be violinists who happen to know each other, including a possible victim, Frey’s own younger brother.They are so desperate for clues so that they are able to catch the murderer they strike up a hopeful plan which seems rather macabre to Frey but knows he needs to go with it. Somehow even though both detectives are close it does not stop the murders and they do not know where to look either above or below ground. If Frey can protect his brother he and McGray may just be able to solve the case and he can go home for Christmas.Oscar De Muriel has written a spellbinding fast paced crime thriller that takes you crashing through Victorian Edinburgh. Through the use of prose De Muriel is able to recreate the city and the smells of the period as his imagery is so strong and wonderful. This is an excellent crime debut which may be the first in a series which I really hope does happen.
    • 3/5
      After an uncertain start, eventually this does gain traction and an enjoyable romp ensues. In the end, I did enjoy it, but …We begin in the London of Queen Victoria; the literary register seems uncertain, the diction, frankly, all over the place. One notices that the author is Oscar de Muriel, originally from Mexico City; one makes allowances.The protagonist, Inspector Ian Frey, serving also as the narrator, is conceited, vain and arrogant; he is snobbish and condescending. He migrates to Edinburgh, where he joins the pantomime-Scot Inspector ‘Nine Nails’ McGray, there to investigate a series of gruesome murders committed it seems, by a haunted violin.Inspectors Frey & McGray? Silly phonetic-dialect-speak? Supernatural goings-on? Absurd.And then (at last!) the penny drops: this is a joke! It’s meant to be funny! Or if not, apologies, but that’s certainly how I prefer to see it. Suddenly the anachronisms become ironic, the characterisations satirical, and, yes, now I see this as comic writing, I do enjoy it. It’s just that the signals are for too long unclear and, at the risk of sounding like the Elector to Mozart, at 400 pages, there are simply too many words : this novel is about a third too long. Soon, one begins to find it difficult to be bothered.And it’s been better done: for the bumptious anti-hero, see M.R.C. Kasasian (The Mangle Street Murders); for pratfalls and farcical plotting, M.J. Trow (The Adventures of Inspector Lestrade).I would recommend Oscar de Muriel as an author to look out for, next time round.
    • 5/5
      A most unusual and entertaining book with two unique lead characters. Set mainly in Edinburgh of the 1880's,it concerns violins and murder. The series of murders are particularly vile not to say most mysterious.This is one of those all too rare books which are different from the usual run-of-the-mill.
    • 5/5
      What a great way to get started with the A Case for Frey & McGray series. Inspector Ian Frey is no longer welcome at Scotland Yard. But since he comes from a well-known wealthy home, you can not just put him on the street. So he's relocated to Edinburgh to help his new boss, Inspector McGrey. Having arrived in Edinburgh, Frey does not fit in and he's eager to get the case down as quickly as possible so he can go back to London. This is wishful thinking. McGrey picks him up at his house. The chemistry between the two is far from good. They argue like an old couple. While Frey strives for clear policing, McGrey is the one who also uses supernatural powers to help. In this case, a string of violinists are found dead and nobody knows how this could happen.The story is very exciting and it captivated me from the first page to the last. I will definitely continue with this series.
    • 4/5
      3.5Book source ~ LibraryA closed room murder mystery in 1888 Scotland. The murder is similar to London’s Jack the Ripper and two detectives with opposite styles must solve the case before the public finds out and panic ensues.Nine-Nails McGray is local and Ian Frey is an English dandy from London. McGray believes in the supernatural and Frey is the no nonsense guy who only believes in facts. So, kinda like Mulder and Scully only in 1888 Scotland. Except Frey’s beliefs start cracking the more they look into this case. Although he can’t quite let go of cold hard truths to dive into the supernatural, there just isn’t something right about this whole thing and it’s irritating him. He wants his orderly life back with all the good food, fine things, and lovely social conventions he had to leave behind in London. But he has to solve this case first. And it’s taking forever to break. In the meantime people start dropping like flies. Frey and McGray are stumped.I was all in from the beginning of this book. The writing is not spectacular and Frey and McGray are a bit irritating, but overall this tale is gripping enough that it had me turning the pages quickly. Who doesn’t love a good locked room mystery? I was all set to give this book 4.5 or 5 and then the end happened. No. That is a bullshit way to finish a mystery. I will not say what exactly pissed me off because it would be a spoiler, but pissed off I was. Anyway, I know some mystery lovers will be cool with the ending, but I’m not one of them.
    • 3/5
      There are conflicts, lots of conflicts, of how to rate this book...I mean, yes, it's a well-executed murder mystery. Yes, I enjoy it. Yes, there are fast-paced, heart-gripping, complex action pack that leave you wanting more. The writing, for one, was amazing. And I especially love the character development.So why did I give it a 3?The book felt... flat to me. I found the characters quite irritated, despite the well-done development. There is something missing in this book that didn't really do a great job to trigger the reaction in me. I acknowledged the fact that yes, it is fast-paced. Yes, it is gripping. But I fail to feel it. And that's the downhill of this book for me.However, I wouldn't disagree the fact that this book has the potential. and I'm looking forward to Oscar de Muriel's new works. It was a great start nonetheless.**I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way can affect my opinion on the book and its content.
    • 3/5
      An assistant inspector at Scotland Yard, Ian Frey, who has close ties to the head of police, finds himself relegated to Edinburgh (or as the character's father calls it, "Edin-bloody-burgh!"), when the head is forced to resign.

      He is asked to help solve a locked-room mystery involving the brutal murder of violinist. Frey is forced to live with and work under a Scot who is the exact opposite of Frey and outside of trying to solve the case, they spend all of their time trading insults.

      The book caputured me from the beginning, the mystery is intriguing, and as the author is a violinist, he taught me a few interesting things about violins. What detracted from the story was the continual disrespect Frey had for Scotland and its people. At first I found his comments humorous but as the story went on, Frey's superior attitude became increasingly grating.

      This book appears to be the start of a series, and in spite of the rude comments about the Scottish, I did enjoy the actual story and will read the next book in this series.
    • 5/5
      The Strings of Murder - Oscar De MurielIf you enjoy historical fiction, read this book. If you like crime novels, read this book. If you like horror stories read this book. If you like the occult and the supernatural, read this book. If you can stomach gruesome, read this book. If you like detective tales with two dysfunctional, diametrically opposed policemen read this book. If you love a debut novel, read this book. If you relish a well written, plot driven, atmospheric, knowledgeable story, read this book. Oh, you’ve done it again Real Readers! Given me a debut novel that lifts my heart. And I see that it may be just the first in a series with Nine Nails McGray and Inspector Frey. Oh Mr. De Muriel please write them quickly. I want more!!Imagine Mulder and Scully in Victorian Edinburgh, remember Eugene Tooms from episode 3 in the first series of the X Files? (geek? moi?) And you’re part way to the flavour of this new novel. The plot is so tight you can’t second guess, it unravels so skilfully you’re carried along desperate to know what’s going on because there are several strands to the crime itself, very clever ideas and no shortage of wit. And the dynamic between the characters are delightful. I loved it when McGray calls Frey ‘the Archbishop of Fussminster’!!! I can visualise this on the screen big or little, there’s an element of Ripper Street but it is more substantial than that.It took guts to write a novel like this. Insert the wink emoticon here. The writer wasn’t just fiddling about. Insert another wink emoticon here. And I’m not saying why as I try not to do spoilers. If you would like to know what I mean, read this book!
    • 2/5
      Not to my taste. The narrator is skilled and effective, but I dislike the main character intensely - his accent, his arrogance, his bigotry. In fact, after two hours I haven’t yet come across a character that I care about. I am not going to waste any more time on it.

    Book preview

    The Strings of Murder - Oscar de Muriel

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