Torchwood Main Range #9 - "Ghost Mission" by James Goss

The whole reason I've decided to begin working my way through the Torchwood Monthly Range was because I wanted to be able to get the Torchwood: Soho sets and felt I needed the context of Ghost Mission and Goodbye Piccadilly to get it. So, having reached my first milestone, I can safely say I'm one step closer to Soho. So with fan favourite character Norton Folgate introduced and a plot thread that'll seemingly resolve in many audios time set up, how was Ghost Mission?

Andy Davidson's always wanted to join Torchwood, but he's never been allowed close. Now he's finally gotten his chance and has to complete a job single handed. The one problem however is his assessor just so happens to be a ghost.

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

Who doesn't love Sergeant Andy? Probably the most relatable member of the original Torchwood cast, I think everybody can agree when they say Andy should've been allowed into Torchwood. So, with Andy in the spotlight, is it a surprise he's the highlight. Actually able to prove himself, Andy proves himself worthy as the lead of a Torchwood story and it's a joy to watch him work. Seeing the process of a Torchwood investigation is genuinely quite fascinating and it's really fun to be along for this ride. Of course, the main focus from fandom at large would be on our new character - Norton - who can I just say is a delight. Incredibly fun, brilliantly performed, he's definitely a highlight here and I'm very glad Big Finish has involved him in so many audios following. Of course, the script is also great (it's a Goss script, how couldn't it be?) but I do want to highlight the church sequence towards the end since it genuinely scared me upon listening to it.

Ghost Mission's pretty close to perfect, so I don't have many criticisms with it. I would say that whilst I loved both the plot surrounding the cloning goo and the ghosts in the church stuff, they feel like two different stories and don't really fit together. Also, towards the end, with all the different reveals and monologues and exposition, the story gets a little convoluted and I was a little unsure on The Committee's place in all of it.

Overall, Ghost Mission was great. It felt like classic Torchwood with new characters. Andy's great as always and Norton is a great addition to the recurring cast, with a more than entertaining performance behind him. Just could've been a little tighter.

9/10

Pros:

+ Andy get's the spotlight and he's unsurprisingly great

+ Norton is a really entertaining character

+ Really let's us into the process of Torchwood, incredibly interesting listen

+ The scenes in the church were genuinely quite terrifying

Cons:

- The plot with the clone goo and the haunted church felt like they were from two different stories

- Plot gets a little convoluted with all the clashing explanations and reveals

Top 5 Best Torchwood Monthly Range Stories:
5. #6 - More Than This by Guy Adams
4. #8 - Zone 10 by David Llewellyn
3. #2 - Fall to Earth by James Goss
2. #9 - Ghost Mission by James Goss
1. #4 - One Rule by Joseph Lidster

Top 5 Worst Torchwood Monthly Range Stories:
5. #6 - More Than This by Guy Adams
4. #3 - Forgotten Lives by Emma Reeves
3. #5 - Uncanny Valley by David Llewellyn
2. #1 - The Conspiracy by David Llewellyn
1. #7 - The Victorian Age by AK Benedict