The Paternoster Gang are called in to investigate break-ins – that involve a werewolf…

Just as Andy Lane’s The Mahogany Murderers kicked off the long running Jago and Litefoot series, so Gemma Langford’s tale here acts as a pilot for the new Paternoster Gang series. We’re more familiar with the three central characters thanks to their appearances across the Matt Smith era – and Strax made a memorable addition to Jago and Litefoot a few years back – and Langford demonstrates, as if there were any question about it, that the trio can carry stories on their own without the presence, or even mention, of the Doctor.

It’s a satisfying story in its own right, re-affirming the core of the relationships between Vastra, Jenny and Strax, and each of their own peculiar talents (the running gag of Strax and the horse is absolutely spot on), while not neglecting the villainy at work. Nigel Fairs and Julie Atherton keep the audience guessing as to their characters’ motivations – which are nicely built out of the mores of the time, rather than filtering through 21st century eyes, as can so often happen – while Tom Bell makes a couple of memorable appearances.

The Paternoster Gang can’t simply fill the hole left by Jago and Litefoot, and it’s clear from the way that Helen Goldwyn directs this that Big Finish are maintaining an active audio presence in the 1890s, albeit in different form. Torchwood and UNIT would handle a 21st century crisis differently, and that’s looking to be the case here.

Verdict: Clever writing, strong performances and clear direction make this my favourite of the set. 9/10

Paul Simpson