The Bloodless Soldier

"What do you know of the mysteries of life?"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Audio

Released: June 2010

Series: Jago & Litefoot 1.01

Featuring: Jago, Litefoot

Synopsis

A group of soldiers return from overseas service – but they have brought a terrible evil back with them. As death strikes on the streets of London, Sergeant Quick calls upon the help of Professor Litefoot, while an old enemy lurks in the shadows. Jago and Litefoot are on the trail of the Bloodless Soldier – and tragedy will hit close to them...

Verdict

The Bloodless Soldier was an excellent story to kick off the first series of the Jago & Litefoot spinoff series! I have heard nothing but rave reviews about this range so I'm delighted to finally be getting stuck into it and after a phenomenal pilot in the form of The Mahogany Murderers, this was a stellar start to the series proper. I loved the mystery and I just know I'm going to be a big fan of the Victorian setting and the somewhat dark atmosphere that accompanies it. I liked the enigmatic start with numerous soldiers retrning home and finding out that one of them was barmaid Ellie's brother provided a strong connection to an already familiar character. Hearing how Captain Hertford was in a very bad way was good and I liked the threat of something bad coming home from the subcontinent. It seemed like a disease or that he was possessed, and the truth was something of a combination of the two. I liked how Jago was wanting an alcoholic beverage or four but the get together in the pub establishment was called short after Sergeant Quick called in Litefoot for an urgent case following a murder. The victim had only been dead for two hours but his blood had been completely drained! That was brilliant and gruesome, especially with there being no blood found at the scene! The revelations coming that Hertford had been bitten by an animal in India was intriguing and the fact that Corporal Lorton had called in Dr Tulp for some diagnosis and potentially a cure was instantly good continuity from his involvement with the mahogany murderer. It was nice to get a voice for the character too and I suspect he'll be a recurring villain. Jago having fallen on hard times at the declining theatre was a good theme but a shame for him as he deserves better than small audiences! Private Michael coming with a proposition for an act that would get the crowds in was a little odd, especially with a demand for £100 up front, but a meeting was set to see the attraction. I thought Sunil was a good character and I loved the line of him following the trail of death. He was the nemesis of the beast that drank blood and infected to create more of its kind. It was fun to hear how butchers had been robbed of beef brisket to feed the beastly Captain and I'd have liked Litefoot to put the pieces together there. Private Higson sneaking off to see Ellie was nice and him having to put the care of the Captain before his sister was a big shame, especially with the fate that befell him. The Captain being let loose whilst Higson was away was fun and Michaels was away too, off to see the beast as a stage attraction! That was fun. Michaels forcing Ellie to help him with his selling was strong and I liked the feel of the back alley for the offering. Litefoot was cautious which I liked in his character and he recognised the attraction as the beastly culprit which was terrific. The only cure for Hertford was a bullet to the head which was brutal, but how else could stop an infected beast that drank blood for water? Smith and Sunil were killed in quick fashion whilst chained to Michael, but before being shot the Captain bit Private Higson and quick transformation ensued which was very thrilling. Jago shooting Higson before Ellie saw what her brother had become was pure emotion and the theatre manager was absolutely distraught, but he did what he had to after Litefoot's hesitation. His changing back to human form as a corpse was some kind of comfort, but that was such an emotional ending to an excellent audio!

Rating: 9/10