As a whole it's one of the weaker New series books I've read. It feels more like a Hartnell era pure historical at times and really misses the feel of Eccleston's TV era.

I do however really like the supporting characters, especially Freddie and Repple.

It starts out really slow and there's big parts of the story where nothing really happens, which has meant it's taken me ages to read because it hasn't motivated me to carry on with it. I've just powered through the last few chapters and I can say it does improve so much towards the end when everything is revealed.

I do find it strange that the Doctor gives away his coat to Repple midway through series 1 and then somehow gets an identical new coat?? How many coats must he have gone through in his lifetime as the Ninth Doctor? Also the name of the book is quite funny in hindsight.

It started off pretty good but fell apart very quickly. Some good moments but as a whole it's just a bit of a mess.

I was most excited for this episode because I love Georgia Cook's writing and it's a murder mystery and it definitely did not disappoint. Everything I wanted from a spymaster story.

Actually way better than The Shakespeare Code. We need more stories set in the Black Country.