Pathfinders-skinsaw-murdersWriter: Cavan Scott

Published by Big Finish Productions

Starring Trevor Littledale as Ezren, Ian Brooker as Harsk, Stewart Alexander as Valeros, Kerry Skinner as Merisieil and Sunny Ormonde as Xanesha.

Released: July 2014

BUY THE THE SKINSAW MURDERS

COVER BLURB

Sandpoint used to be such a safe place to live – until the scarecrows started to walk.

A series of grisly murders points to an undead killer. With Merisiel missing, Valeros, Harsk and Ezren must track the mysterious Skinsaw Man back to his haunted lair. Can they survive vengeful spirits, necrotic guardians and assassin cults to discover the secrets of the ancient rune carved into each of the corpses? Or will death find them as they explore the dangerousstreets of Magnimar?

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Sssh, gather round and I’ll let you into a little secret. I’ve been a gamer (the old school RPG kind, not one of the vacuous video heathens whose brains are slowly being turned to mush by the combined willpower of Sony and Microsoft) for more than three decades, and as soon as Big Finish announced this series, I began to get excited, began counting the days until it’s eventual release and last month, the opening chapter, ‘Burnt Offerings’ finally appeared; and to my immense relief, it was very good. In fact, it was better than I dared hope it would be.

So, with our party of adventurers (Harsk, Ezren, Merisiel and Valeros) credentials and characters established, it’s time to really get down to business with ‘The Skinsaw Murders’, and Cavan Scott wastes little time with frivolity or needless exposition, preferring instead to plunge our brave band into a tale of haunted houses, lost loves, insane families, strange cults, foul monsters, the undead, murder, sacrifice, betrayal and a dark quest for power that allows the underlying arc to emerge and take centre stage and our heroes expedition to begin.

‘The Skinsaw Murders’ feels almost like you’re playing an old AD&D adventure, like you’re right there, fighting alongside the protagonists, yet at the same time has all the ingredients of a classic fantasy novel, reminding me of the stories woven by the likes of Jack Vance, Robert Howard, Michael Moorcock, Poul Anderson and Gene Wolfe, which creates a unique, adrenaline infused listening experience, a thrilling tale told by an accomplished and peerless cast, that breathes life, incredible, magical life, into the world of Pathfinder.

I just wish they’d do something about the theme music though, as it’s a little too, well, medieval, when it should be filled with loud thunderous drums, the clashing of steel on steel and it should make your heart pound and your blood pump a little faster, like, I don’t know, like the theme from Conan The Barbarian maybe. A statement of intent that throws the listener headlong into the world of our courageous warriors. But, you can’t have everything you want I suppose, and if I have to make to put up with the theme music then it’s an infinitesimal price to pay when the series is this good. Cry havoc…

(Original published at the Mass Movement website)

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