The Raincloud Man

Main Range #116

Released: 11 December 2008

Listened: 7/19/20

This is yet another story with D.I. Patricia Menzies, for her happening after “The Condemned,” but before “The Crimes of Thomas Brewster,” and “The Avenues of Possibility.” Even still, Menzies is pretty comfortable with aliens and time travel, and handles all the weirdness quite well. Well enough that the alien community in Manchester trusts her and comes to her with problems. The plot itself is a bit convoluted, with interplanetary and intertemporal gamblers on board a floating casino, which teleports from Manchester to Rio (which would have made a great visual, if there were any). The baddies are a bit one-note, but an awful lot of bystanders get killed. Charley and her deception, once again, take a big role here, where she’s warned that the consequences of her lies may be very great indeed. This is the last appearance of Menzies as far as this project goes, and it’s safe to say I’d welcome her return, and even taking on a companion role if that were possible.