The second story in the current Fifth Doctor and Nyssa trilogy finds the pair arriving on a spaceship that serves as a floating tomb.

As the resting place of the Arrit God-King, from a society the Doctor suggests had the potential to rival the Time Lords, it is a place full of complex trials and potentially fatal traps.

As ever, the pair are not alone. Their visit coincides with an attempt by a family of tomb raiders to loot the God-King’s treasure. Utterly single-minded, their matriarch Virna is prepared to sacrifice anything and even kill to secure the riches, but she holds dark secrets, including the identity of an embittered voice who hectors their party at every turn.

Ramping up the tension further, both parties have to deal with the Arrit-Ko, giant insect-like creatures who roam the corridors and serve the God-King.

With a reasonably large cast, the Virna’s ‘boys’ are well differentiated; nervy, gung-ho and sceptical, and each plays his role in a complex family dynamic. Their mother (Eve Karpf) is a real piece of work and serves as a great adversary for the Doctor, who seems to boggle at the lengths she will go to.

Although it is ever the fate of the companion to be as held hostage to secure the Doctor’s cooperation, this time it is done in overt enough fashion that we can roll our eyes with Nyssa at the inevitability of it. Of course, the resourceful Nyssa does not remain a hostage for long.

Meanwhile, the Doctor gets to figure out the God King’s dangerous puzzles in an all action, Indiana Jones style that at times put us in mind of the Exxilon City sequences from ‘Death to the Daleks’ but set on a much grander scale.

The final moments of episode three provide a disconcerting twist, making good on something which seemed unresolved from the opening chapter of the trilogy and is cleverly seeded early on through a seemingly inconsequential line.

We also enjoyed the mention of the TARDIS’ HADS (Hostile Action Displacement System), first mentioned way back in ‘The Krotons’ and recently name checked again in last year’s ‘Cold War’.

‘Tomb Ship’ has to be one of the most entertaining Doctor Who audios we have heard. Writers Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby provide a thrilling tale which harks back to the great adventure serials, supplying plenty of jeopardy coupled with some surprising twists and turns.

The story is truly sold by its inspired sound design and music, courtesy of Richard Fox and Lauren Yason, which helps to create a unique world. From the booming clue-laden announcements of the ship’s frescos to the score’s haunting vocals tones and urgent drumming, there is a palpable air of tension to the proceedings throughout.

Extras: In addition to a 7½ minute suite, there are 15 minutes of interviews with cast and crew, including reflection on the character of Nyssa from Sarah Sutton and Peter Davison.

Released in May 2014 by Big Finish Productions Ltd.

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