BBC Radio 4, October 28, 2022 and on BBC Sounds

Sixteen months after the sinkhole apparently swallowed up DI Sarah Ward, the floods have receded from Harland – leaving plenty of wreckage, physical and emotional, in their wake…

It’s good to see that some of the Limelight series are getting a second run, and Lucy Catherine’s tale of a new town built on the site of something very, very old definitely was one that has plenty of storytelling life – as the author pointed out in our interview with her last year, she’s mapped out a lot of the history, and it deserves to be told.

Where the first season focused on Ayesha Antoine’s Sarah Ward, this first episode (named after the old word that is the derivation of Monday) is narrated by, and focuses firmly, on Tyger Drew-Honey’s Dan, who knows that he owes his life to Sarah’s intervention during the floods. His life isn’t exactly on track – he’s back living at home with his dad, who doesn’t seem to want him there; he’s more interested in playing an online game… and one that has resonances that will quickly bring back memories of the first season for the listener. Heading back to the wreckage of his old job brings him in contact with a familiar face, albeit someone else who’s been through the wringer, who warns him that the trouble in Harland is by no means over.

Caleb Knightley’s sound design once again immerses the listener in the different audio environments, and Toby Swift’s direction doesn’t allow the pace to flag. If you enjoyed season 1, then the whole of the new season is now available (we’ll run reviews to match the Radio 4 broadcasts); if you’ve not visited yet, Harland might not be somewhere that TripAdvisor would recommend – but if you’re a fan of supernatural drama, you’ll want to head there soon.

Verdict: The recapitulation of season 1 is handled deftly as new threads make themselves known. 8/10

Paul Simpson