Doctor Who: The Way Through The Woods Review (2.5/5)

The Way Through The Woods successfully captures the time-travel orientated sequences found in many of Steven Moffat's Doctor Who episodes, but soon it feels like Una McCormack is treading water in what perhaps would have been better suited as a faster, edgier Quick Read instead of a full 250-page novel. The central plot takes place in several timelines including modern day and the final years of World War One (though you'd be hard pressed to notice that conflict as just two references are made to it), opening with the strange disappearance of Vicky Caine and then moving forwards and backwards in the two eras to explain the mystery of Swallow Woods. Most readers should have no trouble breezing through the compelling first half, however once the truth about the aforementioned woodland is revealed things go downhill rapidly, with author McCormack struggling to find major events to keep the narrative flowing over the remaining hundred pages. Indeed, finishing Way gave me more of a sense of relief to be done rather than a sense of satisfaction or moving or chilling memories of its climax lingering, and when you come out of a novel feeling no better for having read it you can tell that something wasn't right. I commend the new title for its attempts to reach the same level as exec Moffat's stunning, innovative and noticably intelligent adventures on screen, but the compromise in cohesion and enjoyment means that The Way Through The Woods leaves far too much desired despite its interesting premise.