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Dark Shadows: The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries #3
Dark Shadows: The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries
The private detective and the witch are back investigating four new exciting mysteries: 3.1 The Mystery of the Grandest Order by Aaron Lamont. When Professor P. Stone is shot dead in their office, Tony and Cassandra find themselves on the run. A ruthless assassin is on their trail, and it seems hell stop at nothing to get hold of the Professors research. 3.2 The Mystery of the Fishermans Wife by Jessica Smith. Its not unusual in the mystery-solving business for a client not to want to give you any extra information about their lives; even if its to help you solve the case. But when a shabby woman with a wad of cash asks Tony and Cassandra to purchase an artefact in secret and refuses to tell them what it is or what she wants it for, that lack of information could lead to her own murder3.3 The Mystery of a Mothers Love by William Proudler. After the death of her grandmother, Alices had a lot of thinking to do. She wants to be a detective, too. When Howard Finch storms into Tony and Cassandras office, insisting they find his missing wife. Alice cant help but tag along. What seems at first like an open and shut case soon takes a sinister turn, as Alice finds herself confronted with something shes tried so hard to forget. Some things should be left alone, some things should never be found. 3.4 The Mystery of the Jack-in-the-Box by Zara Symes. If theres one thing that Tony and Cassandra have learned during their time working together its that even the most innocent of objects can hide the most hideous of evils. But, when their gypsy friend Mari returns with a supposedly possessed Jack-in-the-Box, even our seasoned detecting duo are taken aback
Audio CD
First published November 30, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 14, 2025
"The Tony & Cassandra Mysteries, Series 3" is a four-part audio drama collection from Big Finish that blends pulpy detective storytelling with supernatural horror and a touch of dark humor. Following the unlikely partnership of private eye Tony Peterson and witch Cassandra Collins, the set throws them into a series of cases that range from assassins and missing persons to cursed artifacts and sinister toys. Each story has its own flavor—sometimes action-heavy, sometimes more introspective, sometimes hauntingly creepy—while together they showcase the series’ mix of character interplay, gothic atmosphere, and playful genre bending. All four of the stories are set in 1973. What follows are my thoughts on each of the four tales.
The Mystery of the Grandest Order: Aaron Lamont’s The Mystery of the Grandest Order is a lively entry in the Tony & Cassandra audio series, mixing pulpy action, supernatural intrigue, and a surprising amount of humor. The setup is strong, with a shocking murder, a relentless assassin, and even the complication of Alice going into labor, all of which keep the pace brisk and the stakes high. The witty banter between Tony and Cassandra adds charm, and there are some genuinely funny moments that lighten the darker edges. That said, the story occasionally feels a bit chaotic, with too many elements jostling for attention, and it never quite achieves the emotional weight it seems to aim for. Overall, it’s an entertaining and enjoyable listen, but not one of the series’ standout tales.
Jessica Smith’s The Mystery of the Fisherman’s Wife is the standout of the "Tony & Cassandra Mysteries, Series 3," and easily my favorite of the collection. What sets it apart is its willingness to ground the supernatural trappings in a story that feels deeply human, weaving themes of secrecy, vulnerability, and domestic abuse into a narrative that carries genuine emotional weight. The client’s reluctance to reveal the truth adds a layer of tension that goes beyond the usual occult detective fare, forcing Tony and Cassandra into murkier, morally complex territory. Smith balances this with a measured pace and strong character work, allowing the horror elements to heighten, rather than overshadow, the emotional core. If the resolution feels a little tidy compared to the raw power of the buildup, it’s a small quibble in what is otherwise a moving and memorable story. A compelling, atmospheric tale that shows just how strong this series can be.
William Proudler’s The Mystery of a Mother’s Love aims to give Alice a larger role in the Tony & Cassandra series, exploring her grief, her ambitions to be more than just a secretary, and a missing person case that forces her to confront painful memories. I had a harder time following the story in this one. The pacing is slower, and the eventual revelations don’t carry the same weight or shock, leaving the narrative feeling somewhat predictable. It had some truly horrific moments in it. It’s not without heart, but next to its companions, it comes across as the weakest entry. It also marks Alice's departure from the series.
Zara Symes’ The Mystery of the Jack-in-the-Box was my second favorite in the collection, a story that delivered genuine chills with its blend of supernatural menace and childhood innocence turned sinister. The idea of a possessed toy could have felt hokey, but here it’s handled with real atmosphere, letting the slow build of dread make the eventual horrors land all the harder. The presence of Mari adds welcome texture to the supporting cast, and the danger to innocent lives raises the stakes in a way that feels immediate and unsettling. While it doesn’t quite match the emotional resonance of my top pick, it succeeds on its own terms as a dark, creepy tale that lingers after the final scene.
I liked this series and it's unfortunate that this is the last of the Tony & Cassandra Mysteries (Lara Parker, who portrayed Cassandra, passed away in 2023). The final story does lead right into The Phantom Bride, one of the full-length entries in the Dark Shadows line. While these are perfect for fans of Dark Shadows, because they don't rely on knowledge of the series, they can be enjoyed by fans of mysteries and suspense even if they don't know the series or just have cursory knowledge of it.
The Mystery of the Grandest Order: Aaron Lamont’s The Mystery of the Grandest Order is a lively entry in the Tony & Cassandra audio series, mixing pulpy action, supernatural intrigue, and a surprising amount of humor. The setup is strong, with a shocking murder, a relentless assassin, and even the complication of Alice going into labor, all of which keep the pace brisk and the stakes high. The witty banter between Tony and Cassandra adds charm, and there are some genuinely funny moments that lighten the darker edges. That said, the story occasionally feels a bit chaotic, with too many elements jostling for attention, and it never quite achieves the emotional weight it seems to aim for. Overall, it’s an entertaining and enjoyable listen, but not one of the series’ standout tales.
Jessica Smith’s The Mystery of the Fisherman’s Wife is the standout of the "Tony & Cassandra Mysteries, Series 3," and easily my favorite of the collection. What sets it apart is its willingness to ground the supernatural trappings in a story that feels deeply human, weaving themes of secrecy, vulnerability, and domestic abuse into a narrative that carries genuine emotional weight. The client’s reluctance to reveal the truth adds a layer of tension that goes beyond the usual occult detective fare, forcing Tony and Cassandra into murkier, morally complex territory. Smith balances this with a measured pace and strong character work, allowing the horror elements to heighten, rather than overshadow, the emotional core. If the resolution feels a little tidy compared to the raw power of the buildup, it’s a small quibble in what is otherwise a moving and memorable story. A compelling, atmospheric tale that shows just how strong this series can be.
William Proudler’s The Mystery of a Mother’s Love aims to give Alice a larger role in the Tony & Cassandra series, exploring her grief, her ambitions to be more than just a secretary, and a missing person case that forces her to confront painful memories. I had a harder time following the story in this one. The pacing is slower, and the eventual revelations don’t carry the same weight or shock, leaving the narrative feeling somewhat predictable. It had some truly horrific moments in it. It’s not without heart, but next to its companions, it comes across as the weakest entry. It also marks Alice's departure from the series.
Zara Symes’ The Mystery of the Jack-in-the-Box was my second favorite in the collection, a story that delivered genuine chills with its blend of supernatural menace and childhood innocence turned sinister. The idea of a possessed toy could have felt hokey, but here it’s handled with real atmosphere, letting the slow build of dread make the eventual horrors land all the harder. The presence of Mari adds welcome texture to the supporting cast, and the danger to innocent lives raises the stakes in a way that feels immediate and unsettling. While it doesn’t quite match the emotional resonance of my top pick, it succeeds on its own terms as a dark, creepy tale that lingers after the final scene.
I liked this series and it's unfortunate that this is the last of the Tony & Cassandra Mysteries (Lara Parker, who portrayed Cassandra, passed away in 2023). The final story does lead right into The Phantom Bride, one of the full-length entries in the Dark Shadows line. While these are perfect for fans of Dark Shadows, because they don't rely on knowledge of the series, they can be enjoyed by fans of mysteries and suspense even if they don't know the series or just have cursory knowledge of it.
November 11, 2022
So we've come to the end of the Dark Shadows full cast audios by Big Finish Productions, hopefully, there will be more in the future but considering how much Covid interfered with the writing process of future productions, we might not see anything for a long while yet or at all, so this is a rather bittersweet release in that sense. It's also the end of the Tony & Cassandra series.
The Mystery of The Grandest Order:
After a brutal shooting in their office, Tony and Cassandra are on the run alongside their pregnant secretary from a ruthless assassin and a mysterious order who are desperate to keep a very simple truth forever a secret.
This was a really fun and action-heavy story with plenty of running around and violent death but on top of that it's absolutely hilarious, a story filled to the brim with brilliant gags, but it also has a few heartfelt moments as well. Aaron Lamont has written a very fun story, nothing amazing but an engaging way to spend an hour. 8/10
The Mystery of a Mother's Love:
When a distressed husband hires Tony & Cassandra on a case to find his wife, after having done a terrible thing. They along with Alice descend into a dark cave where something evil latching onto a mother's need lurks...
This was a really disturbing story with an unnerving atmosphere and horrifying scenes such as drowning and mutilation. This is probably the bleakest story I've heard from this series so far and that's saying something but I absolutely loved it. It's also a departure story for Alice, a shame to see her go, but understand why. William Proudler has written a fantastic script, hope he gets to write more for the company in the future! 10/10
The Mystery of The Fisherman's Wife:
When Tony and Cassandra are hired to help get in contact with a mysterious Thomas Anderson to help with the purchase of an artifact, things aren't as they seem and Thomas Anderson's wife is awfully shy, scared even, but there's more to it all than meets the eye.
This was an interesting little story on domestic abuse with a rather Supernatural twist to it, however, Jessica Smith manages to combine the two in a way that doesn't feel contrived or disrespectful and actually has a lot to say about the horrible things women go through at the hands of abusive partners. 8/10
The Mystery of The Jack-In-The-Box:
Tony and Cassandra have been called by their friend Mari to deal with a mysterious case of a Jack-In-The-Box haunting a children's orphanage, a mystery that will take them to a circus and then to a toymaker's shop. But in solving this case, they are about to learn a terrifying truth.
It's such an exciting, creepy, and unique story in the Dark Shadows series with a heartbreaking ending that leads into The Phantom Bride. It's a shame this spin-off is over now but it's been a wild ride! 9/10
Overall: 35/40
The Mystery of The Grandest Order:
After a brutal shooting in their office, Tony and Cassandra are on the run alongside their pregnant secretary from a ruthless assassin and a mysterious order who are desperate to keep a very simple truth forever a secret.
This was a really fun and action-heavy story with plenty of running around and violent death but on top of that it's absolutely hilarious, a story filled to the brim with brilliant gags, but it also has a few heartfelt moments as well. Aaron Lamont has written a very fun story, nothing amazing but an engaging way to spend an hour. 8/10
The Mystery of a Mother's Love:
When a distressed husband hires Tony & Cassandra on a case to find his wife, after having done a terrible thing. They along with Alice descend into a dark cave where something evil latching onto a mother's need lurks...
This was a really disturbing story with an unnerving atmosphere and horrifying scenes such as drowning and mutilation. This is probably the bleakest story I've heard from this series so far and that's saying something but I absolutely loved it. It's also a departure story for Alice, a shame to see her go, but understand why. William Proudler has written a fantastic script, hope he gets to write more for the company in the future! 10/10
The Mystery of The Fisherman's Wife:
When Tony and Cassandra are hired to help get in contact with a mysterious Thomas Anderson to help with the purchase of an artifact, things aren't as they seem and Thomas Anderson's wife is awfully shy, scared even, but there's more to it all than meets the eye.
This was an interesting little story on domestic abuse with a rather Supernatural twist to it, however, Jessica Smith manages to combine the two in a way that doesn't feel contrived or disrespectful and actually has a lot to say about the horrible things women go through at the hands of abusive partners. 8/10
The Mystery of The Jack-In-The-Box:
Tony and Cassandra have been called by their friend Mari to deal with a mysterious case of a Jack-In-The-Box haunting a children's orphanage, a mystery that will take them to a circus and then to a toymaker's shop. But in solving this case, they are about to learn a terrifying truth.
It's such an exciting, creepy, and unique story in the Dark Shadows series with a heartbreaking ending that leads into The Phantom Bride. It's a shame this spin-off is over now but it's been a wild ride! 9/10
Overall: 35/40
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews