In Review: Big Finish: The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 3

Synopsis: Victorian London harbours many secrets: alien visitors, strange phenomena, and unearthly powers.

A trio of investigators stands ready to delve into such mysteries: the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, her resourceful spouse, Jenny Flint, and their loyal valet, Strax.

If an impossible puzzle needs solving, or a grave injustice needs righting, help can be found on Paternoster Row.

But even heroes can never escape their past…

Review: The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 3 offers listeners backstory, Baker Street homages, and Bloomsbury trouble. The stories by Lisa McMullin, Robert Valentine, and Roy Gill build up to an excellent cliffhanger set to be resolved in October.

Story

“Family Matters” by Lisa McMullin offers Jenny Flint’s origin. Her parents and brother are real pieces of work. In meeting them, listeners also gain an understanding of Victorian freak shows. I really liked the twists in this story involving freak shows, a prophecy, and the parallel journey that brought Madame Vastra and Jenny together.

“Whatever Remains” by Robert Valentine is my favorite story in the set. It’s a brilliant, unabashed love letter to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. It’s also a deep dive into Silurian mythology that sets up a longer story arc. 

Additionally, it sows the seeds of legitimate marital tension between Madame Vastra and Jenny. I appreciated that they don’t have a typical spat, but the issues are born from their very specific set of circumstances.

“Truth and Bone” by Roy Gill sees the return of Stonn and Tom Foster. Gill crafts an effective bait and switch in the story, which ties everything into the larger arc. Along the way, Stonn and Tom serve as marvelous counterpoints to Madame Vastra and Jenny, and there’s lovely character growth.

Gill tops off his tale with another poignant Sherlock Holmes homage, Madame Vastra has saved the day, but she has opened the door to dark forces that may change her snd Earth forever.

Acting

As ever, Neve McIntosh, Catrin Stewart, and Dan Starkey are peanut butter, chocolate, and more chocolate together. They are joined by a superb supporting cast. 

Special kudos go to Robert Fitch. He plays two roles to absolute perfection in “Whatever Remains,” cycling through the Conan Doyle tropes with aplomb.

Overall

Is it October already? I can’t wait to hear how our heroes solve the mystery they’ve been confronted with in the next box set.

• You can purchase The Paternoster Gang: Heritage 3 here.