The Demon of Paris [AUDIO/2010.10.7]

★★★★☆

  With The Demon of Paris, the Nest Cottage series (not just Demon Quest, since Hornets' Nest had this quality in abundance also) proves yet again to be this wonderful hybrid of Philip Hinchcliffe and Graham Williams. The Fourth Doctor is a jovial lad with all toothy smiles and aloof mannerisms, but he turns into a sinister, almost menacing investigator once proceedings get serious. Such is the violent nature of this particular story that we see possibly the darkest turn Tom Baker displays as the Doctor in these audio adventures yet.

  I was honestly quite shocked when the second half of The Demon of Paris took such a dark and violent turn. I suppose I should've expected it; Paul Magrs may be many things, but he's not a writer to shy away from the grisly side of life. There's talk on the streets of Paris about a "woman-hater", women are disappearing left and right, and a certain painter is clearly a disturbed man; atmosphere wise, this butts heads with The Dead Shoes and A Sting in the Tale for the top spot. Magrs also wastes no words in allowing Mrs. Wibbsey to describe everything, from the Parisian splendor to the disgusting human slaughterhouse she and the Doctor discover at the tail end of the story. The effect of Susan Jameson acting her heart out as her character reels in shock and disgust at the sight before her is remarkable indeed.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ  

  Romance and horror in equal measure, this is for those of us who like our Doctor Who a little bloody, a little suspenseful and queasy. I don't think this'll be an easy adventure to listen to for quite a few people due to all the blood and gore (portrayed upfront or eluded to), but I must say this ticked my boxes. Tom Baker in a horror-oriented story will always be a pleasure, I suspect.