Review: The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries, Series One

By JUSTIN PARTRIDGE

Dark Shadows gets its own Nick and Nora Charles in the debut series of The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries from Big Finish. Anchored by the dazzling rapport of ex-lawyer, turned supernatural P.I. Tony Peterson (Jerry Lacy) and Maine’s head witch in charge Cassandra Collins (Lara Parker), this first series really charms, creeps out, and delights in equal measure across four macabre whodunits. Better still, this series is a wonderful jumping on point for those interested in both Dark Shadows and the stellar audio dramas of Big Finish. Perfect for a breezy Halloween binge listen, the first series of The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries starts this new spin-off series off on a real high note.

Available from Big Finish.

Standing somewhat apart from main continuity, this first series really works hard to be both accessible and entertaining. Lucky for us, it succeeds at both. Though each mystery can be enjoyed on their own, this first series nails a sort of a loose serialization that rewards listeners taking in the whole box set. Battling fallen angels, cunning deal making daemons, time loops, and sometimes each other, Tony and Cassandra find themselves back in each other’s lives, forming a partnership that grows from tenuous allies to a supernatural investigation team to rival John Constantine and Zatanna. The scripts from Philip Meeks, Zara Symes, Alan Flanagan, and Aaron Lamont, stand as wonderfully spooky, gimmicky mysteries that hook listeners early, but the writing staff always makes sure to make good use of their best tools; Jerry Lacy and Lara Parker.

From the first entry, “The Mystery of Crucifix Heights”, the pair, supported by Julia Duffy’s plucky and long suffering Rita Channing, Tony’s secretary, really seem to relish the character’s new found status quo, under the direction of  David Darlington, Darren Gross, and Joseph Lidster, this series’ directorial staff. Fans of the estranged couple will delight to know that the actors haven’t lost one bit of their spunky, hilarious banter as they bicker and charm across the stories. Even better both actors really build on the established canon interactions of the characters and grow it into something new, but familiar. The Tony and Cassandra of this series are not the same people who met in Collinsport all those years ago and this debut series is all the better for it. One of the great joys of these new “extended universe” works is seeing how the characters have evolved beyond the show and The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries is a great example of how fun that evolution can be, both for the audience and the original cast members.

And the stories themselves are real belters! Like I said, they are loosely connected by the first series’ semi-serialized structure, but each one really nails a specific kind of dread and horrific fun. Philip Meeks’ opening entry is a classic “Party in a Posh Mansion” mystery in which Tony is enlisted to keep watch over an auction of occult items where the bidders suddenly start dropping like flies. The next, “The Mystery of La Danse Macabre” by Zara Symes, finds our gruesome twosome looking into a haunted playhouse, complete with a falling chandelier straight from Phantom. The series one finale, “The Mystery of Karmina Sonata” by Aaron Lamont, is a gory send up of the “Dame in Distress” type of noir these spinner rack whodunits birthed and tees up the show nicely for the incoming second and third series.


But it is the season’s third story, “The Mystery of Flight 493” by Alan Flanagan, that makes this debut series really special. Equal parts crucial point in Tony and Cassandra’s new working relationship and a wickedly clever horror take on the “time loop” story structure, this yarn really sells both the dynamic of its leads and the spooky, surprisingly psychological threats they will be facing. Hearing the show’s opening music bumper over and over across the tracks of this tale can get a bit grating, but for my money, this story is where this first series really finds its footing, sending it into a finale episode that really ties the room together, man.

If you were looking for a user friendly way into this franchise or even a playful side story starring one of the show’s great ships (don’t @ me), then look no further than The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries Series One. Anchored by the indomitable charm and skill of Lara Parker and Jerry Lacy, this twistedly fun side trip into the crossroads of crime and the supernatural is well worth taking. Just don’t make any deals. We all know how deals at the crossroads turn out and if you aren’t careful, you’ll find yourself as another case file in the “Unusual Investigations” of Tony Peterson and Cassandra Collins.

Justin Partridge has always loved monsters and he thinks that explains a lot about him. When he isn’t over analyzing comics at Newsarama or ranting about Tom Clancy over at Rogues Portal, he is building Call of Cthulhu games, spreading the good word of Anti-Life, or rewatching Garth Marenghi's Darkplace for the dozenth time. He can be reached at the gasping Lovecraftian void that is Twitter @j_partridgeIII or via e-mail at [email protected] Odds are he will want to talk about Hellblazer.  

Now available: Maggie & Quentin - The Lovers' Refrain

A lot of new DARK SHADOWS dropped earlier this week, courtesy of the gang at Big Finish. The producers have fully embraced the new anthology format that has become the series standard since the release of "Echoes of the Past" in the summer of 2016. Rather that stagger individual tales throughout the year, the company is now giving us omnibus collections that feature multiple actors and creators.

Now available is "Maggie & Quentin - The Lovers' Refrain," a four-disc collection of stories starring, naturally, Kathryn Leigh Scott and David Selby. I'm still making my way through the collection (expect to read some reviews here next week) but so far it's been appropriately gothic.

You can listen to the trailer for "Maggie & Quentin - The Lovers' Refrain" below, or jump to the Big Finish podcast to listen to the first 15 minutes of it free HERE.

"Maggie & Quentin - The Lovers' Refrain" is available directly from Big Finish on compact disc or digital download HERE.



"The Girl Beneath the Water" by Lila Whelan

“If I don’t leave now something will try and stop me! Don’t you see what’s happening here? Something doesn’t want us to leave.”

As Maggie Collins welcomes her children home to Collinwood to celebrate her husband Quentin’s 65th birthday, she is blissfully unaware of the cruel magic at work underpinning the heartwarming scene. In a battle for reality, Maggie and Quentin must come together to protect their children against an ancient magical force that knows no mercy. But in doing so, they risk losing everything they love. For who can be trusted when you can’t trust yourself?

"The Sand That Speaks His Name" by Mark Thomas Passmore

"'Abandon all hope, ye who enter here…’ Just the standard disclaimer - nothing to worry about."

A mistake from Quentin’s past casts a dark shadow over his and Maggie’s weekend getaway in New York City. A Golem is loose, threatening innocents and only Quentin knows how to stop it. But first, he must learn how and why the creature has come back to life, a task which takes Maggie and Quentin on a quest through the hidden supernatural network of the Big Apple. Will Maggie’s foray into the perilous life Quentin used to live drive an irreparable wedge in their relationship? Will the rampaging Golem give them the chance to find out?

"The Hollow Winds That Beckon" by Cody Schell

“Ghosts. The seas are haunted. By the spirits of men - and women - who left land searching for something or other. A new land. Treasure. A new life. They keep searching.”

A sunny day of fishing is interrupted by dark clouds as Quentin and Maggie find themselves swept up in events beyond their understanding. They’ll do their best to escape a mysterious island, even if their failure means joining those who have failed before them - the ghosts on the waves.

"The Paper to the Flame" by Alan Flanagan

“Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet / She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet...”

When a group of Windcliff patients start chanting a centuries-old song, Maggie and Quentin investigate - and find themselves drawn to an abandoned town with haunted streets and a fire burning deep below. There they must face an enemy far stronger, and far more unhinged, than they could ever have imagined - one with a grudge that stretches into both their pasts, and will have a profound effect on both their futures...

Big Finish creators want you to know FEAR

"FEAR (n): an unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful, or bad that is happening or might happen."

Some of the creators of the DARK SHADOWS line of audio dramas have created an independent suspense anthology called FEAR. If you're a fan of Big Finish's work, you'll recognize many of the names in both the writing and cast credits of this anthology: Joseph Lidster, Alan Flanagan, Wendy Albiston and James Lawrence.

Here's a short summary of the tales you'll find on FEAR:

The Joy of Cancer: Robert has been diagnosed with testicular cancer but this isn't what scares him... 

Tomorrow Will Be OK: People disappearing, libraries burned, extreme violence game shows... are you terrified? Never fear! Doctor Penny's self help group will make it all go away. 

The Stranger Things That Happened: Fifteen year-old Maya starts to investigate the weird goings-on in her village, drawing with her her ageing dog, a Finnish exchange student and the Devon and Cornwall police. A tale of paranoia, suspicion and the teenage mind. 

Cancellation: The stars of rural drama Bamberly Farm are about to find out that there are things much more terrifying than being off the air...

FEAR is available on CD and download from Bandcamp.

Via: What Noise Productions