'A hugely entertaining Victorian mystery'New York Times

'I enjoyed this - properly creepy and Gothic' Ian Rankin

A spellbinding concoction of crime, history and horror - perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes and Jonathan Creek.

New Year's Day, 1889.In Edinburgh's lunatic asylum, a patient escapes as a nurse lays dying. Leading the manhunt are legendary local Detective 'Nine-Nails' McGray and Londoner-in-exile Inspector Ian Frey.

Before the murder, the suspect was heard in whispered conversation with a fellow patient - a girl who had been mute for years.

What made her suddenly break her silence? And why won't she talk again? Could the rumours about black magic be more than superstition?

McGray and Frey track a devious psychopath far beyond their jurisdiction, through the worst blizzard in living memory, into the shadow of Pendle Hill - home of the Lancashire witches - where unimaginable danger awaits...

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Praise forThe Strings of Murder:

'This iswonderful. Abrilliant,moving,clever,lyricalbook -I loved it. Oscar de Muriel is going to bea name to watch.' Manda Scott

'One of the best debuts so far this year- abrilliantmix of horror, history, and humour.Genuinely rivetingwith plenty of twists, this will keep you turning the pages. It'sclever, occasionallyfrighteningandsuperbly written-The Strings Of Murderiseverything you need in a mystery thriller.'Crime Review