The Rising Night [AUDIO/2009.7.2]

★★★☆☆

  Like many New Series Adventures audiobooks, The Rising Night goes on for a bit too long and suffers from the inherent cause for disappointment I have, which is that it is so apparent while listening that it could benefit from more thought put into the actual production (sound design, music, some actual direction... y'know, that sort of thing). Despite that, I have positive opinions on it overall due to the giddy thrill I get from the way it's written, the way it's read. It's like the writers were truly feeling that they were crafting stories too expansive and/or too deep for the telly, and with the long, imaginative sequences that these audiobooks often hold, I'm inclined to join in the celebratory atmosphere and enjoy it thoroughly.

  The Rising Night may not be one of the most "expansive" releases (i.e. nothing in the story truly indicates that it would've been impossible to tell on the small screen), but it's still a darn solid ghost story from Scott Handcock. Michelle Ryan provides an energetic narration, and she knows when to slow things down and let listeners appreciate the silent moments as well. Think of this as a Dr. Who twist on a haunting/ghost story with plenty of iron involved, as well as a healthy dose of that human drama Russell T Davies was clamouring for every series.