Torchwood: Long Time Dead

By: Sarah Pinborough

Narrated by: Indira Varma

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Indira Varma reads this thrilling Torchwood adventure - a prequel to Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Cardiff Bay. The government has ordered the excavation of the wreckage of a secret underground base. DCI Tom Cutler is watching from a distance, fascinated by the process. There are people in his dreams. People he feels he should know.

The disbanded Torchwood Institute spent a century accumulating non-terrestrial artefacts and catching aliens. Who knows what - or who - might still be intact down there. But by the time they find the first body, Suzie Costello is long gone.

Based on the hit series created by Russell T. Davies, Long Time Dead is a prequel to Torchwood: Miracle Day, starring John Barrowman and Eve Myles as Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper. It features Suzie Costello, as played by Indira Varma.

NB: Contain strong language, sexual references and graphic scenes of violence.

©2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2011 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Perfect!

Sex and violence and angst and Torchwood.
They Keep Killing Suzie fans will love this!
Extra points for well-developed characters who do not survive the chapter.

Solid narration and an interesting expansion of

Suzie Costello's character but not really a Torchwood book. That is to say Torchwood is offstage in most of the work. An interesting listen for long time fans and any fans of the character. Additionally the narration is quite good and I would enjoy finding more works read by Indira Varma I just felt as though it were trying quite hard to be a TW book but not quite making it.

A little old, A little new

What made the experience of listening to Torchwood: Long Time Dead the most enjoyable?

This one is set primarily between Children of Earth and Miracle Day. But offers a glimpes of the old Torchwood team. This is the first Torchwood title I've listened to that wasn't one or two hours long. Those are fun but quick. It's nice to have a more In depth story to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

The return of Suzie Costello. Anyone who knows the show should remember the troubled Torchwood member that this story centers on. This one resurrects her (again) and goes deeper into her psyche then ever before. This book also continues story lines introduced in the show that I had wanted to see resolved.

What does Indira Varma bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Indira played Suzie in the show. She is the best choice to narrate this book. She understands who Suzie is and brings out her soul.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and at about 6 hours I could. But I had to listen in two sittings. Maybe next time I'll do it in one.

Any additional comments?

I miss The presence of Gwen. It looked like she might come in at one point. But perhaps there would have been to much contridiction with where shes suposed to be. And Jack has a limited showing.

Long Time Dead brings back an old Torchwood Member

Would you consider the audio edition of Torchwood: Long Time Dead to be better than the print version?

I have not read the printed version but I could not be any happier with the audio version and think Indira Varma is one of the best narrators I have ever listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed getting to know more about the character of Suzie Costello who I felt was a truly a psychotic personality but the story was able to let you see a softer side to her so that in the end you did feel sad that she could not relive her life and change the decisions she had made in the past.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think it was DCI Tom Cutler and his courageous decision to do the right thing despite the cost to himself.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The reality that Torchwood was destroyed and the Torchwood Team were no longer operating in Cardiff and were on the run with most of our favourite members dead. I was also touched by the books conclusion.

Any additional comments?

Even though Torchwood has gone and our beloved TW team is no longer around in the present timeline this story was still captivating and interesting giving a glimpse into the history of Torchwood and how one of their members went so completely bad and operated without the team suspecting anything for a long time.