The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward

The Lovecraft Investigations #1

by Julian Simpson (Adapter), H.P. Lovecraft (Inspiration)

The only full-length work of fiction by cult American author HP Lovecraft gets a 21st-century makeover by award-winning UK-based writer-director Julian Simpson.

10 Episodes: 4 hours 8 minutes

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy

10 pages, Audiobook

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jostein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent radio drama.

This adaptation is in the form of a present day podcast, and the members of the podcast gets drawn into the case of Charles Dexter Ward. It's a great production and re-write, and I highly recommend listening to it with headphones to get a little sound isolation and to pick up all the details. Properly scary at times!

[Hart_D (ajibooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to all three seasons of this and they were entertaining. The audio production and voice acting is top-notch. It's a modern-day version of Lovecraft's stories. They're presented as though they're part of a true-crime podcast, but otherwise close to the source material. This is unlike the Lovecraft-inspired stories I am more used to (such as Jordan L. Hawk's books or Peter Clines's 14), in that those are original stories using Lovecraft's ideas, and it's very unlike Winter Tide, which is a thoughtful exploration of Lovecraft. This podcast isn't really deep in any way, just something fun to listen to. But if you like cosmic horror and unsolved mysteries, it's done well.

[Lobo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miałam na liście do odsłuchania od dawna, puściłam z czystej ciekawości, żeby spróbować i tak mnie wessało, że słuchałam do trzeciej w nocy. Z kilku powodów:
1) to produkcja BBC, więc jakość dźwięku jest cudowna;
2) to fikcyjny podcast horrorowy w formule podcastowego śledztwa dziennikarskiego, więc dokładnie to, co teraz badam;
3) cała formuła - CAŁA - jest żywcem wzięta z Tanis i The Black Tapes - dwoje dziennikarzy, śledztwo idące w dziwne miejsce, ogólnoświatowe spiski, sposób, w jaki śledztwo prowadzą, nawet formuła "podcast to... radio w Internecie", którą w The Black Tapes wypowiada Alex, a tutaj Kennedy - bardzo podobne postaci i podobne motywy, bo znowu trzeba wciągają w Thelema, Crowleya, Parsonsa i inne figury historyczne;
4) The Black Tapes to mój komfort horror podcast - wszystko, co go naśladuje (i to bardzo dobrze) mieści się wysoko w moim prywatnym rankingu;
5) Sam retelling tekstu Lovecrafta jest bardzo ciekawy, chociaż nie jest to jedyny słuszna strategia retellingu, która sprawia, że Lovecraft przewraca w grobie swoje mizoginiczne, rasistowskie kości. Niemniej, historia ma udany twist, łączy się z mitami Cthulhu w szerszym sensie i daje dużo radości z łapania nawiązań historycznych i literackich.

Podsumowując - jestem podjarana jako fanka horroru i jako badaczka podcastów, bo BBC zerżnęło formułę z podcastu, który reklamuje skarpety i materace. Cudowne.

[Sally DeBerlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well made and pleasant to listen to (if this is the right thing to say about a horror story). The perfect entertainment for a dark December weekend, snuggling on your sofa having a nice cup of tea. I liked how they turned Lovecraft's old story into a pseudo modern true crime podcast.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-listening to this in one big binge. So well written. Also, acted and sound designed and stuff.

[Danny O’Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a crime that this isn’t a BBC TV Show.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was technically my first Lovecraft. I have resisted reading his works, because there is a lot of blatant xenophobia and racism in the texts as well as other problematic things.

However, I'm glad I went with this podcast.

It was done in a true crime podcast style, modernized very well.

It was gripping, it was riveting. And I was actually sad that there wasn't more at the end.

The narration was exceedingly well done. I look forward to listening to the next production

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is for all three seasons and stories of the podcast. It includes The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, The Whisperer in Darkness and The Shadow Over Innsmouth. I like Lovecraft fanfic. The Beebs wrote, and modernized, the bejesus outta all three.

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative, gripping, and enjoyable. Significantly less racist than the original, I'd assume, based on the author.

[Nicolas Lontel]

Intéressante réécriture contemporaine (et dans un genre littéraire du podcast d'enquête) de la nouvelle de H.P. Lovecraft. J'ai pas mal décroché de l'univers lovecraftien donc ce n'est plus trop un truc qui m'intéresse beaucoup, plus jeune, j'aurais clairement plus aimé.
Il y a quand même une certaine mise à distance des politiques de l'auteur originel (les cultes des créatures sont liées à l'ascension du nazisme), mais sans aller dans une réécriture politique totale comme pour Maplecroft ou The City We Became.

Bref, bonne vibe lovecraftienne dans un récit qui reprend les thèmes et codes narratifs de l'auteur et les actualise.

[vk chompooming · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given this audio drama 5 stars, but it was too short. As someone who has read most all of the works of H.P. Lovecraft this audio drama was WWAAAYYYY better than any of Lovecraft's works. This audio drama was well acted, almost scary, and addictive as crack-cocaine!!! If you love the works of H.P. Lovecraft, try this.

[Grey]

Got recommended this an unique HPL adaption that I'll definitely like. Listened to the dexter ward and innsmouth episodes. It's made in the style of those true crime podcasts set in the modern day and oh boy turns out I hate that. If I liked those I'd probably be all in but for me this completely annihilates the atmosphere.

[OG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to this serial. Written into modern times, this is lovecrafts beginnings as we inevitably head to insmouth. I love the connecting up of new urban legends and science as explanations for what’s happening, but we all know where it’s heading. To a bloody and hideous conclusion.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun narration. I look forward to listening to all of these BBC versions. The longest HPL book too. I wonder how close it was to the book version. Still I enjoyed the true crime podcast version.

[Ulrika Stonegate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Not a recording you want to finish when woken up by a thunderstorm while sleeping in a camp

[Lieze Neven · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best audio plays I have ever listened to.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding update of Lovecraft's Case of Charles Dexter Ward. That story is complicated and difficult to tell. I had heard an audio drama by the wonderful HP Lovecraft Historical Society (they do stories as old time radio dramas set in the 1930s). This ambitious effort updates the story to today and gives a background as a podcast investigation. It works very well, with a combination of narration by the presenters and the story unfolding by interviews with the characters. An outstanding cast, eerie sound effects and music, make this a thrilling and enjoyable listen. The story doesn't end here, it segues into the next chaper, The Whisperer in Darkness. Clever touch stringing them all together. The BBC always produces outstanding content. On to the next section!

[Ken Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just two thirds through my listening to this series and I would say I am enjoying it even more this time. Apparently some people don't appreciate the complexity and richness of the plot but like the best artworks the more you look the more you see. Julian Simpson the writer must have done so much research for this series and then took everything and used his imagination to mould it together into a cohesive and exciting narrative. I'm just in awe of his art and skill.
Add to that the totally believable characterisation carried out immaculately by the cast especially the two main characters played by Barnaby Kay and Jana Carpenter. Jana is Julian's wife and it may be that he wrote the character of Kennedy Fisher with her in mind but she is a great choice for this part.
If anyone ever makes a TV series or film of this adaptation I hope they have the wisdom to cast the same actors in the roles.
Congratulations to all of you involved in this production. I am looking forward to what ever you do next.

[Dana Raber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super torn whether to give 4 or 5 stars. But it’s such a high-caliber production with incredible actors, writing, and other factors, that I think it’s among the best podcasts I’ve tried.

I had one serious gripe with the whole thing, and that’s that as the show became more and more complicated, I completely lost some of the story threads. I couldn’t really tell you what was going on.

The best part I’d say is the voice acting. I start dozens of podcasts and drop most of them due to crappy, cheesy acting. It really needs to feel authentic to make me want to listen :’) Kennedy and Matthew’s voices were always awesome but then I had a few special favorites to listen to like Albert, Melanie and Parker.

It was pleasant thriller/horror. Not the greatest I’ve ever heard, but it earned its 4 or 5 stars. Wonderful show!

[Søren Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t really heard any story-based podcasts before, but this worked way better than I would have expected!
It takes some of the Lovecraft stories, and puts them up to date. The story is told through two podcast investigators, and all of the people they meet.
It is interesting, addicting and sometimes genuinly creepy!
The production value is through the roof, with both god actors and a great sound design👌
If you have an interest in Lovecraft, or just value a supernatural detective story, then this should be added to your podcast library🐙

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this podcast style adaption of The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward. It was really well done. A lot of the time I forgot it was fictional as it felt so real! It had me hooked and it was proper creepy at times where I would stop listening at night and resume in the morning. You should definitely give it a listen.

[Jillian Neubauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Lovecraft work that I read, (well listened to anyways) and I am so in love with it. It felt so real, that I totally lost track of time when I was listening. The podcast inside of a podcast format was so cool, and spectacularly executed!! I have already recommended it to ALL of my friends. I am very fond of this piece of art!! Go listen now!!

[Sam Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of things to like about this. The mystery is compelling, the characters are great, and the way that the story is modernized is quite interesting as well. I like how the writers add new things that modern audiences would find more frightening. I loved the creepy cassette interviews with young Charles Dexter award. A very spooky and compelling listen.

[Martinfg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radio drama doesn't get any better than this. Superb.

[(Mark) EchoWolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really excellent horror story podcast, the first of the trilogy, followed by The Whisperer in Darkness (season 2), and then the final Shadow over Innsmouth (season 3).

[James Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

First season of BBC Lovecraft Investigations series. Very clever modernisation of HP Lovecraft's novels in the form of a podcast.

[Dannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely amazing listen! The perfect amount of suspense, drama, and horror. Super eager to listen to the other seasons.

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good one.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story fantastically done!

[Carl Hyam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im listening to it for a second time!