Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hunt | 2015 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 2 | The Strings of Murder | 2015 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 3 | A Fever of the Blood | 2016 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 4 | A Mask of Shadows | 2017 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 5 | The Loch of the Dead | 2018 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 6 | The Darker Arts | 2019 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 7 | The Dance of the Serpents | 2020 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 8 | The Falling Shroud | 2020 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
| 9 | The Sign of the Devil | 2022 | Oscar de Muriel | Buy |
The Frey and McGray series by Oscar de Muriel is set in 1890s Edinburgh and follows two mismatched detectives: the refined Londoner Inspector Ian Frey and the rough-edged Scotsman Inspector Adolphus “Nine Nails” McGray. Every case they investigate has a potentially supernatural dimension, with McGray convinced the paranormal is real while Frey insists on finding a logical explanation.
The series started with The Strings of Murder in 2015, a case involving a gruesome killing linked to a cursed violin. Over nine books, the detectives have investigated murders at Scottish lochs, dark arts practitioners, serpent cults, and various other crimes in the closes and streets of Victorian Edinburgh. De Muriel, a Mexican-born violinist and chemist, brings an outsider’s appreciation for Edinburgh’s history and atmosphere to each book.
The series has been described as “the Victorian X-Files” for its blend of period detective fiction with hints of the supernatural. The books are best read in order, as the relationship between Frey and McGray develops throughout the series.