#nine nails mcgray

[bluebrrsnmtint]

Inspired by the song “When Somebody Needs You” from he Camp Here & There soundtrack, by Will Wood

[rustic-ghoul]

I love picturing actors as Book characters to help visualise the story.

I’ve adored reading the Frey & McGray series and have finally got my main characters so here we go :

Inspector Ian Percival Frey

With the equal amount of bitchy sass and traumatic angst :

Inspector Adolphus ‘Nine-Nails’ McGray

With the equal amount of rugged rouge and cheeky softy :

Uncle Maurice

With the equal amounts of mischievously brash, galavanting gentleman and heartbreaking tender support system :

[storms-of-lastweek]

Wanted to practice horses today, what better way to do that than paint the lovely Rye and Phillipa!

[rockislandadultreads]

Read-Alike Friday: The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong 

A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain

Beautiful and brilliant, Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI. Yet her path to professional success hits a speed bump during a disastrous raid where half her team is murdered, a mole in the FBI is uncovered and she herself is severely wounded. As soon as she recovers, she goes rogue and travels to England to assassinate the man responsible for the deaths of her teammates.

While fleeing from an unexpected assassin herself, Kendra escapes into a stairwell that promises sanctuary but when she stumbles out again, she is in the same place - Aldrich Castle - but in a different time: 1815, to be exact.

Mistaken for a lady's maid hired to help with weekend guests, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the time period until she can figure out how she got there; and, more importantly, how to get back home. However, after the body of a girl is found on the extensive grounds of the county estate, she starts to feel there's some purpose to her bizarre circumstances. Stripped of her twenty-first century tools, Kendra must use her wits alone in order to unmask a cunning madman.

This is the first volume in the “Kendra Donovan” series.

The Strings of Murder by Oscar de Muriel

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...

This is the first volume in the “Frey & McGray” series.

The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma

This rollicking page-turner with a cast of real and imagined literary characters and cunning intertwined plots stars a skeptical H.G. Wells as a time-traveling investigator.

Characters real and imaginary come vividly to life in this whimsical triple play of intertwined plots, in which a skeptical H. G. Wells is called upon to investigate purported incidents of time travel and to save lives and literary classics, including Dracula and The Time Machine, from being wiped from existence.

What happens if we change history?

This is the first volume in the “Trilogía Victoriana” series.

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O’Donnell

London, 1893: high up in a house on a dark, snowy night, a lone seamstress stands by a window. So begins the swirling, serpentine world of Paraic O’Donnell’s Victorian-inspired mystery, the story of a city cloaked in shadow, but burning with questions: why does the seamstress jump from the window? Why is a cryptic message stitched into her skin? And how is she connected to a rash of missing girls, all of whom seem to have disappeared under similar circumstances?

On the case is Inspector Cutter, a detective as sharp and committed to his work as he is wryly hilarious. Gideon Bliss, a Cambridge dropout in love with one of the missing girls, stumbles into a role as Cutter’s sidekick. And clever young journalist Octavia Hillingdon sees the case as a chance to tell a story that matters—despite her employer’s preference that she stick to a women’s society column. As Inspector Cutter peels back the mystery layer by layer, he leads them all, at last, to the secrets that lie hidden at the house on Vesper Sands.

[mrsmcgray]

Well…

This belongs here but I signed with my other blog @lilithsblackcat

[ninewitchycats]

I’m starting to think that I should create a new blog cause I mostly use this one to reblog photos and I really want to make a blog for Frey & McGray series

Now, I’ll probably do it cause I want to write something like a breaking the psychology in Frey & McGray’s personalities

[sicknessglory]

matching icons for ye and yer london lassie

[nemtheanga]

I’d like to introduce you to Adolphus ‘Nine-Nails’ McGray who, without a shadow of a doubt, is still both the absolute love of my life and, yet, also me.

[ysabeau-valikov]

Guess I gotta make more fanart to fix my version of mcgray. How tragic

[bluebrrsnmtint]

My Frey and McGray headcanons:

1. Ian Frey - Demiromantic and demisexual

2. McGray - Pansexual

3. Elgie - Gay

4. Caroline Ardglass - amgry bisexual

[rustic-ghoul]

I have finally finished ‘The Sign of the Devil’ book along with the Frey & McGray book series…I have thoroughly enjoyed book series and will recommend it to anyone.

But anyway, I started my visual casting for this series but never finished so here we go (I am aware some of these visuals don’t match the entire book descriptions but I don’t care)…(I am also very aware of the cast crossover being heavy on the good omens cast 😁 I like what I like) …this is who I picture as these characters :

Inspector Ian Percival Frey

Detective Adolphus Nine-Nails McGray

Caroline Ardglass

Amy ‘Pansy’ McGray

Lady Anne Ardglass

Uncle Maurice

Superintendent Trevelyan

Dr Clouston

Fiscal Pratt

[a-case-for-mcfrey]

duolingo knows what i've been putting off studying for...

[annarellix]

The Sign of the Devil by Oscar de Muriel (Frey & McGray #7)

The Devil Has Come to Edinburgh…

An ill-fated grave-robbery unearths a corpse with a most disturbing symbol on it. The very same sign is daubed in blood on the walls of Edinburgh’s lunatic asylum, on the night that one of the patients is murdered. The mark in question? The mark of the devil.

The prime suspect: Amy McGray, the asylum’s most infamous inmate, a young woman who has grown up behind bars after she killed her parents many years ago. Her brother, Detective ‘Nine-Nails’ McGray, knows the evidence is stacked against her. To prove her innocence, he needs the help of an old friend… Inspector Ian Frey insists he is retired. But when called upon, he reluctantly agrees to their final case.

Because this is the case in which all will be revealed – as twists follow bombshells on the way to the secrets that have been waiting in the shadows…

Book page: https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/oscar-de-muriel/the-sign-of-the-devil/9781409187707/

My Review: The end of a series it's always a bitter-sweet moment and if you loved the characters it may be hard to say good bye. I discovered this series using Netgalley and fell hard for the "strange couple" Ian Frey and Adolphus "Nine Nails" McGray. They're a perfect match in a sort of positivism vs occultism and this differences made them a very effective couple of detective. They're also complex person and there's always a fun side that makes me smile. As this was the final story part of me wanted to read it very fast and part of me was reluctant to say goodbye. I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty and gripping novel, it surprised me and kept me hooked. It's a gothic novel with plenty of humour. We get to know what happened and all the mysteries were solved in a very satisfying way. I loved this series and think it was one the most entertaining in the historical mystery field. I can't wait to read the next book by Oscar de Muriel and I'm sure I won't be disappointed. This gripping and entertaining novel is strongly recommended. Many thanks to Orion and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Author; Oscar de Muriel was born in Mexico City where he began writing stories aged seven, and later came to the UK to complete a PhD in Chemistry. Whilst working as a translator and playing the violin, the idea for a spooky whodunnit series came to him and Nine-Nails McGray was born. Oscar has now written four Frey and McGray titles and splits his time between Manchester and Mexico City.

Website: http://www.oscardemuriel.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OscardeMuriel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/odemuriel/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8584678.Oscar_de_Muriel

[mrsmcgray]

So, up to The Darker Arts (I haven’t read The Dance of the Serpents), this is my hot take of their relationship.

Minor spoilers? Idk, I tried not to be explicit but do be careful.

The Strings of Murder

They first meet, and they kinda like each other but hate each other at the same time. The beginning of the enemies to lovers trope.

A fever of the blood

They started dating. Frey realizing he would follow McGray to the end of the world and knowing how much he means to him.

The Mask of Shadows

They’re married here, the first scene where Bram Stoker approaches them, honesty, that’s a married couple. Frey had nothing to do there yet he was there because McGray was “unmanageable”.

Loch of the Dead

That’s a couple who are so deeply in love, they trust each other, they know the other very well, they start to catch some stuff the other does (Frey understanding the Scottish accent). But also, McGray supporting Frey. They work really well together they can go separated ways and get things done.

The Darker Arts

As the sun of Mexico, great Luis Miguel would say: La incondicional (the unconditional if you don’t speak Spanish). Frey does everything in his hand to help McGray, they like spending time together after work. This is a married couple who just want to retire and live a peaceful life together

Honestly, if OdM doesn’t make them canon already.

[daemoninfluff]

Nightmares

*GWEN DO NOT INTERACT* (you already got the link,,,)

finally remembered to put this on tumblr too! Will put the link to ao3 into a reblog cause tumblr somehow doesn’t show my posts in the tags when there’s a link in it (sad life)

In short, Frey has nightmares since McG fell out of the window and cause I’m uncreative the title is nightmares too. Tell me if y’all find any errors pls and thx, much love and let’s begin!

Ian Frey sat on the side of his bed, the room dark apart of the small illumination the glowing embers were giving off. The heavy curtains were blocking the moonlight, but also the cold from creeping through the window so he hadn’t yet chosen to open them.

He drove his hands through his still damp hair; at least the shivering had stopped.

It hadn’t been the first night and he was sure it wouldn’t be the last. Since they had come back to Edinburgh, since the Ardglass case had ended in the tragic death of Miss Caroline’s father, he hadn’t slept well.

Frey wasn’t stupid. He knew his brain was just trying to work out the events in Lancaster and on Pendle Hill – at least that was what he told himself. It had been a rough week after all, but now two weeks had gone by and he still wasn’t able to get a normal amount of sleep. And when he was honest to himself, he knew why it was. Better, what it was.

In the beginning he hadn’t been sure if it wasn’t just because he had fallen asleep on the train back. The dreams had been vague, a mix of colors and shadows, the smell of fire and the feeling of cold going through his body. But they continued every following night – or whenever he fell back into his restless slumber – and when he finally started to really see, he realized his numerous near death experiences weren't the full volume of his dreams, not even what woke him up, every time in a cold sweat, heart beating fast and breath rattling as if he had run for what felt like a hundred miles.

Instead it had been McGray. McGray’s death, to be precise, or what Frey had thought to be the end of the man. And every time it got worse.

Frey knew McGray was alive, probably awake even, as he knew the Scot was plagued from nightmares just as well.

If Frey just knew why McGray’s apparent death was eating on him so heavily, why it didn’t seem to let him go; Maybe it would let him sleep easier, find some peace. The whole affair was a riddle to him though.

Frey made his way out of his room, didn’t even bother to close the door. The corridor wasn’t much colder so he didn’t saw the need to close it which might would have aroused whoever else was still awake – worst of them McGray. Frey knew he had to pass through half the house to reach the kitchen, but he preferred his small chance of going unnoticed.

Already as he came to the end of the stairs he realized he wouldn’t have such luck. To his demise most of the doors stood ajar, showing that McGray had once again been roaming around the house before deciding where to stay and therefore probably having left the door open to whichever room he had chosen in the end.

Frey went on still, trying to be as silent and inconspicuous as possible. It shouldn’t work, as he soon found out.

“Ye still awake”, came McGray’s voice from the drawing room. It didn’t feel like a question but Frey still felt obliged to answer.

“Just getting something to drink”, he said but didn’t even look at McGray. “Maybe something stronger…”

Frey strode on, following the dimly lit corridor into the kitchen, not even registering the scrapping noise the legs of the chair did as McGray stood up to follow him. He opened the door and only two steps in he registered the lack of light. The fire had burned out as it seemed, an hour or so ago, still warm but the embers weren’t glowing anymore. Joan also had turned out all the light and since the kitchen wasn’t on one of the outer walls there were no windows to let the moonlight or that of the streetlamps in. Just as Frey turned around the big shadow of McGray appeared in the door frame.

“Why didnae ask ye nanny to bring some juice, lassie”, McGray grunted. He moved to the side just to bring up a candle.

The light was bright between just the two of them and Frey had to squint for his eyes weren’t ready for it. McGray inspected him, Frey could feel the man’s eyes moving over his body. Heat run up his head and ears but he ignored it. As McGray took a step forward Frey turned around and walked up to the pantry. He couldn’t stand looking him in the eyes. Sure, they were alive, nothing like the cold, glassy globes he saw in his dreams, but whatever he knew he would see in them didn’t become him.

Frey could hear McGray grumble behind him as he searched for something high percentage. He found some whiskey behind a few old looking bottles of wine and took it, short of just opening the bottle and taking a few gulps out of it, wouldn’t McGray stand right behind him. So instead he turned around yet again to march out of the smaller room and get himself a cup just to have McGray stand right in front of him once more.

He sighted, “Can you let me get a cup or should I take your own measures and drink out of the bottle?” McGray didn’t need to know that Frey would have done it either way, even though he would have waited until he had reached his own room again.

“Why ye do nae sleep anymore, Frey”, this time McGray squinted, not because of the light and also not because of his eyesight – that had gone back to it’s regular sharp self just a few days after they had arrived in Edinburgh again. No, Frey knew he was searching for something, searching for answers.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”, he mumbled though while looking away. Frey just wanted to go back to his room, maybe relight the fire so he would be able to let the curtains open, just for a bit. He would drink and then he would finally be able to sleep for some more than just an hour or two at a time. Maybe he would end up like Nine Nails himself, not able to sleep without tossing around, staying awake most of the night and drinking himself to sleep. Going crazy. He was sure he would end up being crazy when it went on like this.

“Tell me or I’ll talk to ye wee brother and I’m sure-”

“Don’t you dare talk to Elgie about this”, Frey hissed. His younger brother didn’t need to know about his sleeping problems – if they could be called that.

“Then ye would rather me talking to Joan?”

Frey pressed his lips together. He would have loved to just punch McGray but he knew that would get him nothing but a bloody nose himself.

“Ye as scared talking ‘bout yer feelings as ye are ‘bout believing in witchcraft, it seems”, McGray mused.

Frey huffed. He tried his best to shove McGray aside, pressed himself through the small gap and made for the corridor again, but before he could reach the door he was gripped by the arm, pulled around and in the next second Frey found himself pressed against the kitchen wall. He nearly let the bottle fall, but McGray was faster, grabbing it just a second before he let go.

McGray’s blue eyes were stabbing him with intensity. Frey wasn’t sure if the man could even see his face in the darkness of the room since McGray had abandoned the candle somewhere near the pantry, but he was able to see McGray’s face, mere inches in front of his own, eyebrows scrunched together and mouth tight in a slim line.

“I’m not scared of witchcraft”, Frey huffed, “since it doesn’t exist. It is not real.” He tried to control the heat running into his cheeks but it was pointless as McGray’s breath hit his face, the warmth of the man’s body floating through his too thin night clothing, making the heat of McGray’s hand – still on his forearm – even more noticeable.

“Same goes for yer feelings, then?” Frey gulped. McGray’s eyes squinted again and Frey reminded himself of the man’s great eyesight. McGray almost smiled. “Nae? Then tell me.”

Maybe Frey could have ignored McGray, could have ignored the fear of him telling his Brother – or worse, Joan, who would have announced it to half of Edinburgh until the next evening for sure – but there was something in Nine Nails’ eyes, something warm, nearly caring, that made him break. And within a second Frey had to suck his next breath in, heavily, his lip already trembling and feeling his eyes burning.

He tried to tell himself he wasn’t going to cry, but he knew if he wouldn’t get away soon, he would. And he knew he wouldn’t get away.

“It’s all your damn fault”, he said, his voice quivering. McGray frowned, already opened his mouth to deny his doings in whatever Frey was about to claim, but Frey was faster: “I can’t sleep. I can’t stay asleep. Cause every time I dream of this stupid stunt of yours and Ms Oakley! And every time it gets worse and all I can think of are-” He stopped for a moment, his breath heaving. Frey pressed his eyes together, he wished he was drunk for this, at least lightly. A first tear made it’s way out of the corner of his eye and Frey wasn’t sure if he should brush it off – which would also risk McGray noticing. “I- I see your eyes and they’re- they’re cold and lifeless and… I-It isn’t you! I know you are alive bu- but I just-” Frey gulped some more. He realized McGray had loosened his grip around his arm, had started to move his thumb over the soft skin on the inside like Frey had seen him do to his sister.

He knew he shouldn’t feel like leaning in. He was a man, grown up already, had studied twice – with rather little success, but still – and worked since some many years already. He wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t lean in, wouldn’t search for body contact, not in any form. He was an adult. He didn’t need that.

“Hush.” McGray drove his free hand up to Frey’s face, brushed over his cheek and wiped the tears away Frey hadn’t yet realized were running down his cheeks. He blinked, tried to see, but his vision was blurred. “Speak, Frey. What are ye fearing?”

Frey wanted to snort but instead his breath hitched and he let out a small whine. He was sure he started to blush furiously.

“I- I don’t know”, he finally answered. “I just don’t know.”

McGray hummed, “Then why ye crying just thinking about it?”

“I don’t know.”

Frey was sure he didn’t fear McGray dying, why should he. They weren’t even friends, they were barely partners. McGray didn’t like him and would never do and specifically not after what they had thrown at each others heads in the week in Lancaster. They didn’t get along, maybe when it was about Campbell or the Lady Glass, but never much further. Frey was sure McGray hated him and he shouldn’t feel any different to the other, but just the thought of it made him lower his head and sob.

“Och, stop the whining, pretty boy!”

The next moment Frey found himself pressed against McGray’s broad chest, the tall man rumpling through his hair which would have bothered Frey if he hadn’t just fallen out of bed anyway. He lifted one hand, told himself he wanted to use it to push McGray away, but it just ended in the man’s shirt, his fingers quivering as he clutched them into the fabric.

“I just can’t bear the thought loosing you”, he whispered so silently he was sure McGray wouldn’t catch it, even if his face hadn’t been nearly crushed into the man’s shoulder. Frey wasn’t sure where that had come from, but he knew it was the truth.

It was the truth and it scared him.

[ninewitchycats]

Also my headcanon is that McGray would definitely use a face mask with tartan