The hapless Marlowe Hapworth is bumped off in a locked room after a
visit to the Frost Fair's Carnival of Curiosities, while in the process
of writing a concerned letter to Madam Vastra, the Great Detective.....
Rick Bellamy, bare-knuckle fighter and drinking/fighting buddy of Strax
the Sontaran, is found dead in an alleyway.... Meanwhile, the Twelfth
Doctor and Clara are on the trail of an inexplicable power spike in late
Victorian London. What can it all mean, and what does it have to do
with a puppet show operated by the mysterious Silhouette?
I LOVE the Paternoster Gang and their Victorian crime-fighting escapades, and they are on fine form here, with some excellent moments for Strax in particular. (The idea of him drinking, in pubs, with mates, is a delight.) Jenny Flint also gets plenty to do, though less is made here than in the TV series of her relationship with Vastra. And there's a surprising moment for Vastra...
I'm liking Clara a lot better recently - I wasn't overly taken with her character last series, but am finding her more likeable and believable now, and that continues in this novel, where we get to see her interacting with lots of characters other than the Doctor. There's a real flavour of her personality coming through now which I, personally, feel was a bit lacking in the previous series.
The Doctor doesn't actually seem to have that much to do for much of the story, but his characterisation seems to be in line with what we have seen so far in this series and he has some good moments. (I'm particularly enjoying the change in his relationship with Clara.) I loved the bit where he repeatedly bumps into - well, you'll see - while remaining apparently oblivious. Blatant fan-pleasing stuff, but hey, I'm a fan, and I like to be pleased.
As ever, Justin Richards is a safe pair of hands where the writing of Doctor Who books is concerned, and on this occasion he has delivered superbly, with a gripping plot, recognisable characters and a satisfyingly villainous baddie. I loved this story!
I LOVE the Paternoster Gang and their Victorian crime-fighting escapades, and they are on fine form here, with some excellent moments for Strax in particular. (The idea of him drinking, in pubs, with mates, is a delight.) Jenny Flint also gets plenty to do, though less is made here than in the TV series of her relationship with Vastra. And there's a surprising moment for Vastra...
I'm liking Clara a lot better recently - I wasn't overly taken with her character last series, but am finding her more likeable and believable now, and that continues in this novel, where we get to see her interacting with lots of characters other than the Doctor. There's a real flavour of her personality coming through now which I, personally, feel was a bit lacking in the previous series.
The Doctor doesn't actually seem to have that much to do for much of the story, but his characterisation seems to be in line with what we have seen so far in this series and he has some good moments. (I'm particularly enjoying the change in his relationship with Clara.) I loved the bit where he repeatedly bumps into - well, you'll see - while remaining apparently oblivious. Blatant fan-pleasing stuff, but hey, I'm a fan, and I like to be pleased.
As ever, Justin Richards is a safe pair of hands where the writing of Doctor Who books is concerned, and on this occasion he has delivered superbly, with a gripping plot, recognisable characters and a satisfyingly villainous baddie. I loved this story!
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