Since 2007, Nicholas "Brigadier" Courtney and Terry "Davros" Molloy have played Inspector Lionheart and Professor Dunning in the ongoing Scarifyers series of audio dramas. After the unfortunate death of Nicholas Courtney, it was thankfully decided to not end The Scarifyers, but to continue the series with a new lead: David Warner as Harry "Thumper" Crow, Lionheart's old sergeant. The Magic Circle is the story tasked with making that transition.

The plot is the usual Scarifyers nonsense, which is to say that it's hugely enjoyable but you can't really solve the mystery on your own. As always, it's an excuse for hilarity and grossness at the same time, though my favorite scene was the one where Crow and Dunning commandeer a bus and are forced to keep its riders from revolting.

Though it's a tragedy that Nicholas Courtney left our world, it would have been a shame for The Scarifyers to end because of it. I'm glad that the series seems to be continuing as before, and I'll happily pick up the next adventure of Crow and Dunning as long as Cosmic Hobo Productions continue to make them...

You can read a longer version of this review at Unreality SF.