Aphra Behn has enough to worry about – without the arrival of a Scots gentleman spouting rubbish…

Big Finish’s licence now extends to the Peter Capaldi era, and we’re gently ushered into it with this well-observed tale from Lizbeth Myles, told by Neve McIntosh – the odds of Mr C himself turning up in the near future, I’d guess being very low. It’s set during one of those periods when the 12th Doctor is travelling by himself – there’s a side comment about there normally being someone with him who can almost act as a filter between Time Lord and humanity – and as ever when he’s on a mission, nothing is going to get in his way… particularly any idea of thinking through all the ramifications of some of his plans.

It’s a story set in a period that we don’t seem to get that much of in Doctor Who fiction, but the convolutions of the conspiracy are sufficiently well explained that the listener doesn’t feel lost as to which side is which (even if which side is right may be considerably more complicated. McIntosh provides multiple voices for the characters, and an enjoyable take on the Doctor – hopefully she’ll return for more.

Verdict: A historical whose SF aspects add to the mystery. 8/10

Paul Simpson