River is taking a vacation – but something keeps trying to kill her.

James Goss’ introductory story for this new box set makes clear that we’re away from the continuity-laden tales of recent times for River – much as I’ve enjoyed hearing her interacting with earlier Doctors and companions, inevitably this has drawn some of the spotlight from the glorious former Melody Pond. River’s front and centre for this story that needs her to put the pieces together, with help and hindrance from the local mayor and a policeman who’s never actually had to deal with a crime.

There’s a clever conceit at the story’s heart that allows Goss to play with tropes that Jack Finney is perhaps best known for working with – it’s not something that’s even vaguely unusual in the Doctor Who universe, but the reasons behind its presence are intriguing, and River’s solution suitably dramatic. He also has some fun with the patterns of Nordic drama – we feel a little bit in Fortitude territory, but then something happens to wrench our conceptions of the characters around.

Howard Carter’s sound design and music sell the bitter nature of the environment and Ken Bentley ensures the misdirection convinces as necessary.

Verdict: A different and well-created start to the set. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order The Diary of River Song from Big Finish