Loch of the Dead

By: Oscar de Muriel

Narrated by: Andy Secombe

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

A mysterious woman pleads for the help of Inspectors Frey and 'Nine-Nails' McGray. Her son, illegitimate scion of the Koloman family, has received an anonymous death threat - right after learning he is to inherit the best part of a vast wine-producing estate. 

In exchange for their protection, she offers McGray the ultimate cure for his sister, who has been locked in an insane asylum after brutally murdering their parents: the miraculous waters that spring in a small island in the remote Loch Maree. The island has been a sacred burial ground since the time of the druids, but the legends around it will turn out to be much darker than McGray could have expected. 

Death and increasingly bizarre happenings will intermingle throughout this trip to the Highlands, before Frey and McGray learn a terrible truth. 

©2018 Oscar de Muriel (P)2018 Penguin Random House UK

Critic Reviews

"A hugely entertaining Victorian mystery." (New York Times)

 "I enjoyed this - properly creepy and Gothic." (Ian Rankin)

Not one of his best

This is still worth a listen, but I didn't think it was the best of the series. Things got just a little too silly, and some of the detail at the end seemed a trifle spurious. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book overall, and Andy Secombe was very good, as usual.
The main characters seems to be mellowing and are starting to show a little fondness for each other, this would be understanding in a long working relationship, but it lessens the vitriolic barbs that were very funny.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

What an excellent surprise

I can’t remember how I came about buying this audible book but I’m glad I did! I have listened to it almost non stop over about 4 days and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have listened to and enjoyed all the M.R.C. Kasasian books and I love a Victorian mystery/crime novel with good characters and this didn’t disappoint.
I also didn’t realise this was the 4th in the series when I downloaded it and started listening but it didn’t detract from the pleasure and I have now downloaded book 1 as well.
My only complaint would be as other reviewers have mentioned which is the somewhat dubious Scottish accents and the very overdone deeply gruff accent of McGrey. However as the book went on I became less irritated as I became more involved with the story. Totally loved his narration of Frey and uncle Morris but not so much of the Scottish women who definitely sounded like Scottish men more often than not!
In general it’s a great listen and I’m pleased to say spent another credit on book 1!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The accent was hard to handle

I've enjoyed reading the earlier books in this series, but decided to get this one as an audio book. I won't be doing that again. The narrator's Scottish accents were just too over the top. Maybe I was more sensitive to it because I am Scottish but it was seriously annoying at times.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A great follow up to an excellent series of books

A family curse, the desire to cure this curse, and to keep this cure from others, is our main storyline in this book. Treachery, family secrets, double crossing, misdirection, taboos, and murder. Everything you could want in a crime novel.

I should make it clear that my review is based on the unabridged audiobook, so some of my comments might not be relevant to the paperback or Kindle version. However, the only comment on the narrator is that you can clearly tell when one day’s recording ends and the next begins – his voice drops an octave or so over the day. Then when he starts the next day’s recording his voice is much higher and fresher. His range of accents and emphasis is excellent.

Like most of the Frey & McGray books The Loch of the Dead feels just ever slightly too slow to get going, we spend longer than is necessary setting up storylines before we get to the action of the main plot. Whilst it is fun that the story is set outside of Edinburgh it loses a little something in the process too, it feels slightly more dislocated than the preceding books. By only having the manor and islands to use as the backdrop some of the atmosphere is lost, particularly with the constant use of shadows and darkness in the house. This is an interesting motif, but gets a little tiresome after a while, there are only so many ways you can describe darkness.

The use of piano playing to set the mood is a clever idea that I enjoyed, it became as if the book had its own soundtrack built in, playing only in your mind. Oscar’s love and knowledge of music is again clear. It is however a shame there are none of the usual background characters who add some of the extra flavour, like Madame Katerina. We do meet Frey’s uncle but he seems rather one-dimensional, besides one revelation that is interesting but adds nothing to Frey’s overall backstory.

There are spoilers from this point on.

The family is suffering from a ‘curse’ that can only be cured by drinking human blood. It’s a fabulous storyline that flows excellently. A curse that follows families down through history, driving them mad, ruining their bodies, and leaving them in never ending pain. Those who also enjoy medical books may be spotting that this is in reality the inherited condition Porphyria, first discovered and described in the period The Loch of the Dead is set in – McGray certainly learned a lot in his very short time at medical school. Porphyria can indeed be alleviated (although never cured) by being injected with Haematin, a compound made by synthesising haemoglobin found in blood.

This is a brilliant move by Oscar de Muriel, and his symptoms fit; burning in sunlight, mental illness, stomach or abdominal pain, seizures, and weak bodies that look like the undead (some believe Porphyria was the original cause of the vampire myth).

Also, whilst Benjamin’s storyline is interesting it does feel slightly underdeveloped, as does McGray’s sister’s storyline. The only other negative is that the ending is slightly too long, it drags out for a few more chapters than is needed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another great addition to the series.

These are genuinely good books. Great stories. Great performance by the narrator. A good dash of humour too.

Fabulous, as ever

Another amazing adventure, absolutely love these two entertaining characters - can’t get enough of them, and all brought to life by such fabulous narration.

Loch of the dead 💀

As good as the first book, really enjoyed this book.
The author has never gone of the boil.

Another cracker

I love these books Frey and Nine Nails are the perfect duo for spooky dealings.

Awesome!

Andy Secombe really brings the characters to life. Great stories and plots. Love these books.

Brilliant

I loved this book immensely. The series ours getting better and better with each new book and I'm becoming more fond of the characters with each one. Brilliantly written and brilliantly read.