Ratings1
Average rating5
This is, in effect, a ghost story, albeit one clearly tied into the Torchwood mythos. It is set during WWII, down a coal mine where parts of the Torchwood Archive have been sent to protect them from the bombing in London. A young woman is sent to catalogue works from the British Museum and National Portrait Gallery stored down the same mine, and encounters Bilis Manger already there.
The story builds slowly, developing the protagonist's background, the mystery of Manger's presence, and the unpleasant nature of the army guards at the mine entrance. As things develop, it becomes clear that there is something else down the mine with them, hiding in the shadows just out of sight - something for which audio is well suited. Sexism and racism are themes in the background, leading to one disturbing scene that has nothing to do with the obvious ‘monster' and Manger himself is also a constant, unspoken threat.
It's another great Bilis Manger story, with a strong performance also coming from Rosie Baker as protagonist Jill Anderson, who grows as the story does. Given its nature, I'd recommend listening to it in the dark if you can...