It's a pretty mediocre story overall featuring the Paternoster Gang.  They get caught up in a whole incident with the Universal Church from Time of the Doctor.  There's parts of A Perfect Christmas that are very good.  I like how the narrative is told from Vastra's perspective.  There's a lot about her character and past as a Silurian that gets glossed over on the show entirely.  So exploring it here a little bit was extremely welcome.  Plus Dave Rubben is very good at slipping in references and making this world feel very connected in a wonderful way.

If I were just going by the story overall, though, I'd say it was pretty basic.  The gang themselves aren't that funny or deep, and the story goes in a pretty straightforward direction.  Sophie Aldred really makes this special, though.  She does an excellent read of this in the audiobook.  There's this cyborg attacking London due to this Urchin stealing what turns out to be a TARDIS key, and the way Aldred voices the cyborg, who is singing little Chrismas lines and hymns as it blasts away, was particularly funny and memorable, and that alone makes this audiobook worth checking out.

Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time! 

"A Perfect Christmas: Festive Fun with the Paternoster Gang"

Doctor Who takes a festive detour to Victorian London with A Perfect Christmas, spotlighting the Paternoster Gang in a charming holiday adventure. The story cleverly examines Christmas traditions through the eyes of the alien Vastra and the ever-hilarious Strax, who bring their unique perspectives to human customs. Vastra's suspicion of Christmas stockings as a "conspiracy against large presents" is particularly amusing.

Each member of the gang gets their moment to shine, with Vastra’s intellect, Jenny’s bravery, and Strax’s comedic ineptitude all playing key roles. Their dynamic leans into their comedic strengths while tying the festive cheer to an alien assassin plot orchestrated by the Papal Mainframe. Their goal? To use the gang—and a spirited red-haired street urchin named Madge—to gain access to the TARDIS.

Madge is a delightful addition, capturing the spirit of Victorian London with her wit and resourcefulness. The story also takes time to delve into the relationship between Vastra and Jenny, adding emotional depth amid the yuletide chaos.

📝Verdict: 7/10

While the plot itself doesn’t aim to break new ground, the combination of festive charm, character-driven moments, and the gang’s quirky energy makes A Perfect Christmas an enjoyable holiday tale.