The Detective Duo is Back!

In my previous post, I had shared my thoughts on a new series I had started which pairs an Englishman with a Scot to solve highly unusual crimes.

To my utter delight, this detective duo birthed in the mind of author Oscar de Muriel is back in action with the second book in the series: A Fever of the Blood. I liked the first book 'Strings of Murder' so much that I had to start the next book immediately!

   

The second book adds a layer of complexity to the otherwise successful partnership between Frey and McGray. With an inmate of the lunatic asylum on the run after poisoning a nurse, the case is too close to home for McGray and this worries Frey who does not favor his involvement in pursuing the killer. The killer was last seen in conversation with a mute girl who hasn’t spoken in almost a decade and this shocking development affects McGray, strongly and personally. In the room of the killer are found traces of witchcraft. Soon, the duo find themselves in Lancashire, infamous for the witch trials of the 1600s, on the trail of a supposed mad man who is tracking women rumoured to be witches, with unmatched brilliance.

Lancaster Castle which also served as a prison. 
Image Source: Wikipedia

Obsessed with following the killer, McGray’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic till Frey is left wondering whether he has been bewitched. Frey finds himself in the unenviable position of wondering how far and to what extent he can support McGray and where he should draw the line. For it seems that McGray is lost to all reason.

How can a lunatic be so cold and rational in his persecution of the women he thinks are witches? Why is he pursuing them? What has a centuries old witch trial and a curse which was to last 13 generations have to do with this case? Has McGray fallen under a spell? Will this case cost McGray his mind or maybe even his life?

Two books down the lane, the tenuous relationship between the Englishman and the Scot has firmed into a grudging respect for each other. While I did wish for Frey to leave aside all practicalities and follow McGray headlong into the witches’ lair at Cobden Hall on Pendle Hill, I could not help but see the sense in his holding himself back. Being a good friend is not about jumping to death together. Rather it takes more courage to withdraw support and try to dissuade a person from taking foolhardy decisions.

The supporting characters are all back in the second book, some of them in full force. Lady Glass and Caroline too have their story and it comes to the fore in Fever of the Blood. Dr. Clouston gains more of our respect as we see his struggle to be fair to his patients irrespective of their family backgrounds. 

Two Women accused of being Pendle Witches
Image Source: Wikipedia

I sneaked in an author interview, sometime between the two books, and happily know that with plans to have atleast nine books for Nine-Nails McGray the chances of this emotionally tortured and impulsive man taking his life anytime soon are quite remote. Whether he retains his sanity, though, remains to be seen. On the other hand, I do long for Frey to do something impulsive that would require thinking from the heart and not the mind. Though, maybe as Caroline Ardglass tells him you need to love someone beyond reason to be able to do so.

They approached me, ready to put their plan into action, and I howled: 'Wait a bloody second! Am I the only person in this room who believes murder and torture ought to be punished?'

Caroline looked at me with the most turbulent eyes. I had seen that expression before, and it made me feel an awkwardness that was disturbingly familiar.

'No,' she said, 'but you are the only person here who doesn't love someone.' 

Never in my life, had anybody's words wounded me so deeply, so swiftly.

In which case all I need to do is wait for him to fall truly, madly, deeply in love.

If you are in the mood for crime-fiction with a distinct edge, you will not go wrong in giving the McGrey and Frey series a try! 

The Devil and The Detectives

A new swoon-worthy detective duo is in town!

Awesome in solving crime and crazily adept at egging each other on with witty retorts, McGray and Frey, the delightful creations of Oscar de Muriel’s rich imagination keep the reader easily glued to their side as they race across locations trying to outsmart some fiendishly clever villains.

I have been wanting to start a new series or two this year and the McGray and Frey novels were already on my series wish-list. Pairing an Englishman with a Scot in the late 1800s, this exciting new series promises a rollicking time for whodunit aficionados.

The pretty and pernickety Frey, unwillingly and grudgingly, teams up with the unkempt and eccentric McGray to solve cases assigned to the ‘Commission for the Elucidation of Unsolved Cases Presumable Related to the Odd and Ghostly’. Warning: Do not be taken in by the silly name of their subdivision for their cases are anything but that. Frey did take it lightly and lived to regret the day. Their division's forte: solving mind-whirling crimes that expose human cruelty (or would inhuman cruelty be more apt?) and may or may not involve elements of the occult, black magic, witchcraft, and other paranormal phenomena.

The first book in the series, The Strings of Murder, introduces the detectives to each other and lays the foundation of a partnership that hints at growing stronger but also increasingly complex over time. Jilted by his fiancée and nearly out of a job, Frey is forced to move to Scotland in a last bid to get back into the good books of the London CID. He arrives in Edinburgh looking for ‘Nine-Nails’ McGray with whom he is not just required to partner but also stay with till alternative accommodation can be arranged.

'My name is Ian Frey. I am looking for Inspector Adolphus McGray.'
'Oh, Mr. Frey from London! O'course! We didnae expect ye so early, sir. I'm afraid Mr. McGray isn't at home now.'
'I suppose I can find him at City Chambers?'
The man shook his head. 'No, no, I'm afraid. Mr. McGray must be at the lunatic asylum as we speak.'
I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. 'Oh! Well, I really cannot say it surprises me. Do you know whether he is receiving proper care?'
Now I thank Heaven the butler's eyes were not daggers. 'Mr. McGray doesn't go as a patient! He's visiting someone.'

Soon, Frey and McGray find themselves knee-deep in a spine-chilling murder case where the killer is targeting violin virtuosos and tearing apart their guts, supposedly using them to make violin strings. At the heart of the gruesome killings is an old and infamous instrument, the Amati 1626, rumoured to be cursed because the Devil himself had used it to play his music.

Tartini's Dream in which the Devil played the violin. 
Image Source:Wikipedia.

Owned at various times in history by some of the most renowned music maestros, Paginni, Tartini, and finally Stradivari, it was on the Amati 1626 that the terrifyingly eerie ‘Devil’s Trill Sonata’ had been composed. 

One string quivered like the broken voice of a terrified soul, while the other provided a low, anguished accompaniment that brought to mind Mrs Caroli's desperate wails. Altogether, the strings produced unimaginable echoes and harmonics- had I not seen it with my naked eyes, I would have sworn we were listening to an entire string quartet brought from Hell.

The soft voice of an old woman came to my memory: 

'It was horrible music....like poking knives...fear itself must sound like that...'

And, all those killed had played this very violin.

Is the violin really cursed? Is a dangerously deranged human killer behind these gory deaths or has the Devil come to collect more souls? Will one of Frey’s dearest family members have to pay the price of this investigation?

With plenty of unexpected twists, amusing repartee, and quite a bit of interesting trivia on violins and music composers, the story relentlessly races towards a gripping finale which left me thoroughly satisfied but deeply saddened at the same time. More surprising and unbelievable than anything else is the cruelty humans often show against each other.

While Frey has his own charms, I have a slightly skewed preference for McGray. Maybe it’s his tragic past or his loud unapologetic and strong sense of self or his eccentricities that leave me with admiration for this hardiest of souls who has seen too much in his young life and yet survived to challenge fate.

Earliest Depiction of the Violin (1535)
Image Source: Wikipedia

Supporting characters such as the irascible Lady Ardglass (nicknamed Lady Glass due to her fondness for drinking) with her match-making attempts (Frey with her grand-daughter Caroline), the nice Dr. Clouston with his empathetic approach, and irreverent servants Joan and George with their crude conversations play an indispensable role in including a lighter vein to what would have otherwise been a deeply dark and disturbing novel.

Recommended to fans of brilliantly plotted detective novels that leave you itching to know what happens next; the McGray and Frey series has confidently established its place in the highly competitive world of crime fiction.

My First Love

I bought my first Kindle about 5 years ago. It was insta-love and I lost my heart as soon as I held that most glorious of all devices in my hands. I had acquired not just another gadget but a dangerously addictive power: to possess any book I desired instantaneously with a mere one-click buy. In the years that we have spent together, my Kindle and I, my fervent passion for it has mellowed down to a deep affection. I still carry it on my daily commute, when I am travelling, and even use it for my everyday reading. In an interesting preference reversal, though, lately I have found myself gravitating toward buying more of print books.

In some ways, I have gone back to the reading habits of my pre-Kindle days. Don’t get me wrong, I am crazy about the convenience my Kindle offers: all my books wherever I go. It’s just that I have realized I cannot forgo the experience of reading a Hardcover/Paperback. I need books. The old-fashioned kind. Ones with a spine, and a cover that you can open, and pages you can turn.

The other day, I  met up with another bookaholic friend for lunch. She has recently bought a Kindle and as she talked about her reading experience with stars in her eyes, I was reminded of who I used to be. And I found myself explaining, as much for my sake as hers, why e-books will always be second best for me.

So, here’s my unpoetic but heartfelt ode to print books:

1.       Charmed by the Cover

It is not for nothing that so much money and effort is invested in coming up with just the right cover for a book. How many times have I picked up a book ‘cos it had a gorgeous cover? Too many times to count. No e-inked black-grey cover can come anywhere near the vibrant colors and the intimate feel of a cover on a print book. The cover is the gateway to the magical experience of losing ourselves in the story. It is the cover that says 'Open Sesame' and leads us in. I have often been mesmerized by book covers and longingly traced my fingers over the photograph/illustration/artwork on it as if the very act of connecting would let me enter ‘The Forgotten Garden’ or ‘The Lake House’ or ‘The Chamber of Secrets’.

2.       Fascinated by the Feel

I like flipping pages, being able to move to previous pages without losing my current place! There is certainly something to be said for a format if you can exercise the flexibility of being in two places at the same time easily without having to type in a location(s). I often do this: flip to earlier pages when the murderer is announced in a mystery novel to identify the red herrings that misled me or the clues I missed. And, I do this while staying on the page I have reached. No ‘flip-the-page’ effect on an app or e-reader can provide the feel of turning a page over and moving to the next.

There are also those pop-up books I adored as a child. Open the book and out pops the castle, ready for you to step in and wield the magic wand! 

Let’s also not forget books which promise an immersive experience such as ‘S’ by J.J. Abrams. Would you really want to read 'S' on an e-reader?

3.       Seduced by the Size

In my college years, I had a soft corner for big fat books. The more the pages, the more desirable the book. Of course, this was selectively true. It held ground only for fiction and not those boring tomes on Economics or Accountancy. Even though I may not have much time to read lengthy novels these days, they still hold a powerful attraction for me: those huge convoluted family/business sagas where betrayals and loyalty came from unexpected corners. There is no fun in reading fat books on e-readers. Each book looks and feels the same. One size fits all.

Lest you think am not enthusiastic about my Kindle, let me reiterate that I am very fond of it and take it everywhere. However, print books have something e-books cannot have. Individuality! They come in different shapes and sizes, use different fonts and varied covers, and their pages can be snow-white or ivory-cream or golden-beige. Each book has a unique identity. It is special.

Last but not the least, what they say about not being able to forget your first love ever is true. My first love was an Enid Blyton Hardcover with a colourful cover illustration, a friendly font, and charming characters.

Voices Beyond the Veil

I did not discover Sumana Khan at my usual book browsing haunts. Not on Goodreads and neither on the book blogs I frequently visit.  Rather surprisingly, I came across her on the Pre-orders and New Releases page of an online shopping site. Considering I go there only in a state of ennui and with no expectations, I was lucky to have struck gold soon.

In retrospect, I am glad I was bored out of my mind on that fateful day and randomly searching for any book that seemed even remotely interesting. Otherwise, I may have only come across Khan's writing much later or maybe never. What a horrifying thought! Intrigued by the synopsis of her debut novel and in a mood to indulge my reincarnation fixation, I promptly bought ‘The Revenge of Kaivalya’ -  her foray into karmic intersections of human lives. And when I was done reading the novel, I had a new addition to my 'authors-to-watch-out-for' list.

I love that Sumana Khan’s stories expertly weave myth, mystery, esoteric beliefs, and everyday events into a rich tapestry of lives interconnected in ways that defy earthly explanation. What I love most though is the strong pull of her otherworldly themes and the seemingly effortless fluidity of her writing, both of which she uses extremely well to ensnare the readers and keep them turning pages relentlessly till they reach the end; exhausted yet exhilarated at having read another great story.

Khan’s debut novel is one of my favorite reincarnation-themed novels and also the reason why I picked up her new collection of short stories 'Encounters’. I usually stay away from the short story genre but I was confident that making an exception this time would serve me well. While all the five stories are engaging and display Khan's writing skills to an advantage, the first and last story of the collection win hands-down as the best of the lot. They exerted a haunting influence such that I was surprised to find myself thinking about them long after I had moved onto other novels.

The first story ‘First Love’ is a splendid concoction of fantasy, myth, folklore, and forensic science where a young girl’s obsession with a fantasy lover ends in an unexpected and unique togetherness.

Image Source: Wikipedia

The last story ‘Best Friends Forever’ is a very poignant portrayal of a little girl’s loneliness and longing to be with someone. Another impressive piece of writing is the second story ‘The Storyteller’ which centres on an aching plea of souls whose lives were cut tragically short and brings to fore the human need to be remembered by posterity.

Image Source:Wikipedia

In ‘First Love’, Khan not only succeeds in holding the reader’s interest with her fantasy-forensics mash-up but also through the very realistic portrayal of the socio-psychological ramifications of an inherently marriage-driven culture. Where the education, talent, and intelligence of a girl are often easily overlooked for the more desired accomplishment of raising a family: commonly perceived as the only worthy goal for any female. Similarly, it is not just the ghostly bonding in ‘Best Friends Forever’ that keeps us hooked to the story but also the dread and sadness that comes with realising an innocent life is about to be irreparably harmed by a selfish unhinged adult who is supposedly a protector. Such cases are plentiful in daily newspapers and this places the story a bit too close for comfort. There is also that tantalising sliver of forbidden love in this story that successfully arouses interest in the conclusion.

Overall, with 3 sure hits out of 5 stories, ‘Encounters’ is definitely recommended for evenings when you don’t want to invest time in a full-fledged novel and would rather relax with some gracefully written and vibrantly imaginative stories.