Dr Who: A Death in the Family [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Latest Doctor who audio adventure is the second in a trilogy for Sylvester Mccoy's Seventh Doctor, alongside his companions Ace and Hex.

This consists of four episodes running in length from twenty eight to thirty six minutes approx and is spread over two cd's.

It follows on directly from the end of the first part in the trilogy Project: Destiny (Doctor Who) and like that it serves to wrap up loose ends that have run through the seventh doctor audios for years. Thus it's not one for casual listeners to get into easily. It also sees the return of a villain called nobody no one, who first appeared in Forty Five (Doctor Who). But he's well enough introduced so you won't be confused if you haven't heard that one.

Oh, and sixth doctor audio companion Evelyn Smythe also turns up. Because she has a part to play in loose end tying up.

The story sees the Doctor forced to fight nobody no one. He's a word lord. A being from a universe where the laws of physics are verbal, and words have power. Thus one well chosen phrase can literally change reality. He's also quite dangerously made. A great performance from actor Ian Reddington in the role really convinces you of this.

The word lord banks on the fact that there are things the Doctor will never do.

And then the Doctor promptly does.

The consquences for all concerned take people across the universe, see them fall in love and make new friends. And time passing.

But as ever with the seventh doctor, there's more going on than initially meets the eye.

You can't say more about the plot without spoilers. And it's a very clever plot too. It does sag a little in part three where the narrative has to get through a lot and Ace do things that are a bit over familiar, but all this is righted by some very clever exposition in part four. Then we get right to the heart of the seventh doctor as an old friend chides him for his new ways, and you find out why he is the way he is.

So in addition to clever plotting there's a lot of character drama to be had as all the main characters go through a lot of emotional trauma. All the cast rise to that superbly.

You may need to listen to this more than once to take it all in. But that should be a pleasure.

There's an eight minute long interview with the writer at the end of disc two.

And a trailer for the final part of the trilogy Lurkers at Sunlight's Edge (Doctor Who) at the beginning of disc one.

After the shocking revelations of Project: Destiny (Doctor Who) The Doctor, Ace and Hex are confronted by another old adversary - this one even more deadly than Nimrod. This story ramps-up the timey-wimey quota and sees the travellers each battling on different fronts. With The Doctor out of action - seemingly forever - it's down to Ace and Hex to defend the universe, and along with the surprising appearance of a former TARDIS companion they set out to do just that.

Sophie Aldred really steals the show here, initially sounding just like the bolshy but determined teenager who first encountered The Doctor several lifetimes ago. However, she sheds this skin pretty quickly and at one point even seems to have embraced married life, although the wimpiness of her husband is a clear indicator to the audience that this is never going to be a permanent arrangement. With the added bonus of a star turn from the redoubtable Ian Reddington - chief clown in 1988 Doctor Who story `Greatest Show in the Galaxy' - this has to be one of the best audio dramas Big finish have produced, and I await the third installment in the trilogy with bated breath.

As someone who prefers other Doctors to McCoy's, highly rates the eighth series 4 with its twists and turns, and also doesn't really like the Evelyn character I was astonished to find this adventure growing and growing in quality until by the mid point of disc 2 I had decided that (in my limited exposure) this is probably one of the great Big Finish releases.

I can't reveal a lot without spoiling but we get the Word Lord, and more more interesting we get Ace and Hex separated from both the Doctor and each other living post-TARDIS lives. This story follows immediately from the end of Project Destiny and so commences with the search for the time lord sarcophagus mentioned at the end of Destiny and from their we get a well written / acted / directed and produced masterpiece.

I fail to see how this episode can be surpassed, and whilst it leaves some talking points is Doctor Who of the highest quality