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Doctor Who: Silhouette Book Review

“Silhouette” is a solid “Doctor Who” adventure.

The story: After detecting an abnormal power spike, the 12th Doctor and Clara once again arrive in Victorian England where they reunite with their old pals Strax, Madame Vastra, and Jenny. There is little time for pleasantries, however, as trouble is already afoot after a man named Marlowe Hapsworth is found dead in his home. After a bit of investigating, the Doctor and company discover that the man had attended the local Frost Fair where he took in a mysterious shadow puppet show (at the Carnival of Curiosities) run by the even more mysterious woman Silhouette. While she may initially seem like the main suspect, she’s far from the only strange thing in the area as the Doctor, Clara and the Paternoster Gang encounter a blank faced individual, an Undertaker of sorts, living origami birds, a shady industrialist (Mr. Milton), and various people who seem to have a suspicious connection to just about all of the main characters. To make matters even more problematic, more brutal murders begin to occur. Who is the mastermind behind these deaths and what is their overall plan? How do all of these story elements tie together? All will be revealed in the end.

After only two episodes (soon to be three), we (the fans) have only just begun to absorb Peter Capaldi’s take on the Twelfth Doctor. And yet, despite all of that, veteran “Doctor Who” novelist and Big Finish audio writer Justin Richards has nailed the Doctor’s voice and personality as we get to see him in all his grouchy, arrogant, rude, funny, and demanding glory. In fact, all of the core characters have been perfectly captured here. From Strax’s humorous scene stealing moments to Clara’s spirited heroic moments, each and every character has a shining moment. It may not seem like much to some readers, but giving all of the characters something to do goes a long way in the Whoniverse. There have been many a story where the companions and supporting characters are disappointingly given nothing to do. That’s certainly not the case here.

As far as the story goes, it’s a well plotted mystery to be sure. Yes, there are a few lulls in which the characters merely wander around for clues, but these scenes pay off in the end as all of the puzzle pieces come together in a satisfactory manner. Without giving away too many spoilers, the calm, self-confident, and diabolical Mr. Milton character really made the story blossom in the last act. Without this layered character, “Silhouette” might have been in danger of being a rather routine adventure, but thankfully, it never turned out that way.

Overall Thoughts: If you can’t get enough of the 12th Doctor, pick up the fun and breezy “Silhouette.”

Note: “Silhouette,” two other 12th Doctor books (“The Blood Cell” and “The Crawling Terror”) and a War Doctor tale (“Engines of War”) are scheduled for release in the U.S. on September 9, 2014.  Reviews of these titles will be coming in the near future.

September 6, 2014 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Book review | 12th Doctor, Clara Oswald, Doctor Who: Silhouette Book Review, Jenny, Justin Richards, Madame Vestra, Peter Capaldi, Strax