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Melody Malone Mystery #2
Doctor Who: The Ruby's Curse
She's got ice in her heart and a kiss on her lips...
1939, New York. Private Eye, Melody Malone, is hired to find a stolen ruby, the Eye of Horus. The ruby might hold the secret to the location of Cleopatra's tomb - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. Can Melody escape the ruby's curse?
1939, New York. River Song, author of the Melody Malone Mysteries, is forced to find a reality-altering weapon, the Eye of Horus - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. River doesn't believe in curses - but is she wrong?
From the top-security confines of Stormcage to the barbarism of first-century Egypt, River battles to find the Eye of Horus before its powers are used to transform the universe. To succeed, she must team up with a most unlikely ally - her own fictional alter ego, Melody. And together they must solve another mystery: Is fiction changing into fact - or is fact changing into fiction?
1939, New York. Private Eye, Melody Malone, is hired to find a stolen ruby, the Eye of Horus. The ruby might hold the secret to the location of Cleopatra's tomb - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. Can Melody escape the ruby's curse?
1939, New York. River Song, author of the Melody Malone Mysteries, is forced to find a reality-altering weapon, the Eye of Horus - but everyone who comes into contact with it dies. River doesn't believe in curses - but is she wrong?
From the top-security confines of Stormcage to the barbarism of first-century Egypt, River battles to find the Eye of Horus before its powers are used to transform the universe. To succeed, she must team up with a most unlikely ally - her own fictional alter ego, Melody. And together they must solve another mystery: Is fiction changing into fact - or is fact changing into fiction?
275 pages, Hardcover
First published May 20, 2021
236 people are currently reading
2610 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
May 27, 2021
ms kingston proved that a) she is the ONLY person ever qualified to write anything about river song and yes that does exclude steven moffat, and b) she can read minds because i sincerely believe that when we met for 5 seconds at supernova in 2013 she tapped into my 12yo brain and went "ah this future twink is gonna lose his fucking shit in 8 years time if i combine two of his special interests into one book"
May 21, 2021
Loved this with my whole, entire heart. If you know me at all, you know River Song is my favorite fictional character of all time. I had super high expectations and hopes going into this and I’m so pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed.
This felt like a proper Moffat Era DW script to me. I’m genuinely impressed with how well Alex Kingston captured the Essence of River/Melody and wove the history of doctor Who, Rivers personal past (Hello, silence anyone 💀) and Melody’s fictional persona into one of the most unique and Intriguing books I’ve read.
Absolutely stellar novel overall, More River books written by Alex Please!!
This felt like a proper Moffat Era DW script to me. I’m genuinely impressed with how well Alex Kingston captured the Essence of River/Melody and wove the history of doctor Who, Rivers personal past (Hello, silence anyone 💀) and Melody’s fictional persona into one of the most unique and Intriguing books I’ve read.
Absolutely stellar novel overall, More River books written by Alex Please!!
January 27, 2023
This is a book that is based on the television series Doctor Who. This one has River Song as the main character. In this one, River is writing another Melody Malone novel while serving her time in Stormcage. While at Stormcage she gets to know another prisoner who has discovered a dangerous object. This ties in with the story that River is penning.
This book was just so delightful. I listened to the audiobook which just enhanced the experience. I will give this universe credit. They excel at audiobooks. This one is voiced by Alex Kingston who authored this book and was the actress played the character on the show. At first it seems like we are getting two different stories as we spend time in the two different time settings. We are getting the Melody Malone story which is a detective noir fiction mystery. And we are spending time with River Song which is more of the science fiction genre. Eventually these two stories overlap and it never felt forced. We basically get your detective noir fiction science fiction story with time travel. Throw in a little historical fiction too as we meet a couple of well know historical figures. This book packs a lot and it pulls it off. The main character is perfectly portrayed. I really didn't think that would be an issue considering who wrote this book. And fans of the show will be giddy with all the easter eggs and cameos that are throughout this book. The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is I thought that some of the minor players could have used a little more fleshing out. That being said I am glad we spent so much time with the main character and seen a little character growth.
This book is perfect for fans of the television show. I do think readers who know nothing of the show will like it but not nearly as much as fans of the show. This was a fun book that showed all the traits of the character of River Song as we travel along with one of her adventures. If you do decide to read this book do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook. It just enhances the adventure and I enjoyed my time with this character.
This book was just so delightful. I listened to the audiobook which just enhanced the experience. I will give this universe credit. They excel at audiobooks. This one is voiced by Alex Kingston who authored this book and was the actress played the character on the show. At first it seems like we are getting two different stories as we spend time in the two different time settings. We are getting the Melody Malone story which is a detective noir fiction mystery. And we are spending time with River Song which is more of the science fiction genre. Eventually these two stories overlap and it never felt forced. We basically get your detective noir fiction science fiction story with time travel. Throw in a little historical fiction too as we meet a couple of well know historical figures. This book packs a lot and it pulls it off. The main character is perfectly portrayed. I really didn't think that would be an issue considering who wrote this book. And fans of the show will be giddy with all the easter eggs and cameos that are throughout this book. The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is I thought that some of the minor players could have used a little more fleshing out. That being said I am glad we spent so much time with the main character and seen a little character growth.
This book is perfect for fans of the television show. I do think readers who know nothing of the show will like it but not nearly as much as fans of the show. This was a fun book that showed all the traits of the character of River Song as we travel along with one of her adventures. If you do decide to read this book do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook. It just enhances the adventure and I enjoyed my time with this character.
September 15, 2024
River Song is probably the only #Girl Boss I approve of.
god, I hate that freaking concept!
May 13, 2021
Really feels like a love letter to River Song. Could’ve maybe used an extra edit as there were a couple of inconsistencies I noticed and a few grammar errors but not enough to ruin the story or my enjoyment of it. I recommend this to anyone who loves River Song.
July 30, 2021
Over last few years we had Tom Baker and Sophie Aldred do books now we have Kingston but it's more as River Song who is writing it. Is very golden book (I left joke here for you) because this full of them. I wonder how much of this is Rayner too.
We have a crime mystery in 1939 in style of old Bogart movie and Captain Jack popping up. No Doctor! No Mammy or Daddy. The 'golden baddies' Spoilers Sweety talking cat. A nod to Carry on Cleo but no Sid James.
This my TOP DOCTOR WHO 2021 NO SPOILERS SWEETY
We have a crime mystery in 1939 in style of old Bogart movie and Captain Jack popping up. No Doctor! No Mammy or Daddy. The 'golden baddies' Spoilers Sweety talking cat. A nod to Carry on Cleo but no Sid James.
This my TOP DOCTOR WHO 2021 NO SPOILERS SWEETY
April 21, 2023
if there was ever going to be a book that would further form a very much-needed bridge between my girlhood and my adulthood which would allow me to cross into who i once was, this delight would be it. it was one for my inner little girl who thought and still thinks at 22, that river song is the greatest character in existence. a hero to many little girls i imagine but to no one more than me.
alex kingston knows her character, which does not come as a surprise to anyone lucky enough to have witnessed her craft and her sheer devotion to it over her career. from this, doctor who: the ruby's curse feels like a love letter to her character. it is here where she adds further depth to river, characterising her beyond her role in the television series, justifying what makes river song the beloved individual that wrapped herself around the heart of the girl i was long ago. so much so that a bonus is how this adventure does not disappoint. it has the fun and silliness of a doctor who serial mixed with pond family moments to soothe the heart of anyone, like me, who still, a decade on, is destroyed by their ending and the meeting of the thirteenth doctor and her wife - one which very much should have happened on television had the bbc had not been the cowards they were during jodie whittaker’s era. everything feels so very much like the characters we know, i simply wish it had been longer so i could have read this forevermore.
unfalteringly brave in the face of time as the force wraps itself around her whilst running through her bloodstream as she loves ferociously, aided by the sheer loyalty she possesses to the three she loves dearly - stemming from the series but solidified here by kingston is how i will treasure this character forever.
- “if there were an incarnation of motherness on earth, it would not be cleopatra. it would be my mother.
but then, perhaps everyone thinks that about their own mother.
no. it just turns out i’m the luckiest person in the universe. and i wish i deserved her.
i’d have to content myself with knowing that because i carry her love inside me, with that of my father, with that of my husband – well, that’s how the universe was saved.”
alex kingston knows her character, which does not come as a surprise to anyone lucky enough to have witnessed her craft and her sheer devotion to it over her career. from this, doctor who: the ruby's curse feels like a love letter to her character. it is here where she adds further depth to river, characterising her beyond her role in the television series, justifying what makes river song the beloved individual that wrapped herself around the heart of the girl i was long ago. so much so that a bonus is how this adventure does not disappoint. it has the fun and silliness of a doctor who serial mixed with pond family moments to soothe the heart of anyone, like me, who still, a decade on, is destroyed by their ending and the meeting of the thirteenth doctor and her wife - one which very much should have happened on television had the bbc had not been the cowards they were during jodie whittaker’s era. everything feels so very much like the characters we know, i simply wish it had been longer so i could have read this forevermore.
unfalteringly brave in the face of time as the force wraps itself around her whilst running through her bloodstream as she loves ferociously, aided by the sheer loyalty she possesses to the three she loves dearly - stemming from the series but solidified here by kingston is how i will treasure this character forever.
- “if there were an incarnation of motherness on earth, it would not be cleopatra. it would be my mother.
but then, perhaps everyone thinks that about their own mother.
no. it just turns out i’m the luckiest person in the universe. and i wish i deserved her.
i’d have to content myself with knowing that because i carry her love inside me, with that of my father, with that of my husband – well, that’s how the universe was saved.”
May 30, 2021
You have to love an actor who loves their character so much they write a whole novel about her, AND narrate the audiobook version. Alex Kingston does a great job as River (and Melody) to no one's surprise, and I don't think I've ever heard an audiobook narrator having as much fun as she does.
A must-read for River fans.
A must-read for River fans.
June 2, 2021
The insanely high production value of this audiobook coupled with Alex Kingston acting the absolute shit out of it has led me to conclude any subsequent audiobooks I listen to will automatically pale in comparison.
This is quality entertainment.
This is quality entertainment.
Read
August 13, 2025Fell at the first hurdle as this book changes FONTS when it changes PoV. I get the reasoning, but my gods, what a horrible, jarring thing it is to read, bringing you out of the narrative flow/imagery with every switch (and the Malone font is sans serif, which makes it even worse).
On principle, I won't give a star rating to a book I didn't finish, but please, publishers, for the love of all things unholy, DON'T do this!!!
On principle, I won't give a star rating to a book I didn't finish, but please, publishers, for the love of all things unholy, DON'T do this!!!
May 24, 2021
Brilliant! I was really looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint. The Melody Malone parts read much more like Hard Boiled detective stories than the previous Melody Malone outing. There was a great part 11 pages in where she was eating a giant breakfast. Compared with Moffatt who had River go and weigh herself as soon as she regenerated. Sometimes you really can tell when it's a woman writer. The story was fun and twisty and turny. The ending was very sentimental and sweet. There was a lot of attitude and badassness. I am definitely going to need to listen to the audio book version.
October 13, 2025
Loved it, River Song my beloved
June 6, 2021
3.5 stars. Quite fun and enjoyable.
August 13, 2021
Avere Alex Kingston che scrive di River Song che scrive di Melody Malone credo sia il massimo che potevamo chiedere.
Non sempre l'interprete di un personaggio è in grado di scriverne le storie, ma devo ammettere che la Kingston è riuscita perfettamente nell'intento.
La storia è intricata e su vari piani temporali, con gueststars di eccellenza e qualche sorpresa che non fa altro che aumentare il gradimento.
Parlare della trama, oltre a quella citata nella quarta di copertina, potrebbe essere rischioso. Gli spoilers!, come sappiamo, si nascondono dietro ogni angolo.
Basti sapere che sarete trascinati in una corsa attraverso lo spazio e il tempo, senza troppo tempo per prendere fiato e riordinare le idee prima di essere catapultati altrove.
L'autrice, in questa versione audio, è perfettamente in parte... e come potrebbe essere altrimenti!
Credo che nessuno si lamenterebbe di un bis.
Non sempre l'interprete di un personaggio è in grado di scriverne le storie, ma devo ammettere che la Kingston è riuscita perfettamente nell'intento.
La storia è intricata e su vari piani temporali, con gueststars di eccellenza e qualche sorpresa che non fa altro che aumentare il gradimento.
Parlare della trama, oltre a quella citata nella quarta di copertina, potrebbe essere rischioso. Gli spoilers!, come sappiamo, si nascondono dietro ogni angolo.
Basti sapere che sarete trascinati in una corsa attraverso lo spazio e il tempo, senza troppo tempo per prendere fiato e riordinare le idee prima di essere catapultati altrove.
L'autrice, in questa versione audio, è perfettamente in parte... e come potrebbe essere altrimenti!
Credo che nessuno si lamenterebbe di un bis.
October 26, 2021
I was a bit nervous about this one as I love the character of River Song and wasn’t sure this would quite live up to the TV series/hype especially as Doctor Who audiobooks can be a bit hit or miss. However IT WAS AMAZING! Good plot, the characters were spot on and lots of Easter eggs, references and even an appearance from Captain Jack Harkness. All in all a brilliant read for any Whovian. Also the audiobook narrated (or more accurately acted) by Alex Kingston was so well done that I think all audiobook narrations are going to sound a little bit boring for a while.
August 17, 2021
I loved this book! River Song is one of my favourite Doctor who characters and references to my most favourite/saddest episode “Angels take Manhattan” makes me love this book even more.
There characters are well written and and the story line and plot were easy to follow even with the forwards and backwards through time. I’m a huge fan of ancient Egypt so this book was right up my alley!
Alex Kingston I congratulate you on a fantastic book and I hope you write more!
There characters are well written and and the story line and plot were easy to follow even with the forwards and backwards through time. I’m a huge fan of ancient Egypt so this book was right up my alley!
Alex Kingston I congratulate you on a fantastic book and I hope you write more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2021
Ce livre est génial dans le principe même qu’il offre au lecteur : avoir un livre dans un livre (River qui écrit un cosy mystery avec Melody Malone), avoir les intrigues qui se rejoignent (la malédiction du ruby), et que le livre dans le livre devienne le livre qu’on a dans les mains (spoilers) 😁 non non c’est pas du tout compliqué 🤣
Tout fan de Doctor Who va adorer, tout fan de River Song va couiner grave huhu.
Tout fan de Doctor Who va adorer, tout fan de River Song va couiner grave huhu.
December 26, 2021
4 ⭐️‘s (Great).
January 29, 2022
SPOILERS ( not really ) IT WAS FANTASTIC!
River Song has always been my favorite character on Doctor Who . Her journey and her story was phenomenal, insane , beautiful, and heart wrenching all in one . I’d always wished they had done a spin off show of her adventures.
But alas - even if we don’t have the show . We have this and it is wonderfully delicious !
Reading this book written by the glamorous and outstanding Alex Kingston was such a joy ! I love the twists in the mystery , the incorporations of both melody and River. I loved how the book read as if River truly had written it . The whole moments when River mentions her love ones just melted my heart. There was so much to love about the books and there was never a dull moment . The book kept me guessing .
And of course I was always curious if a Special someone would pop up, making me pay close attention to each word . I wish there was more books . Seriously it ended perfectly but too soon. If Alex ever feels like she can continue the story, she has my full support . It really is a great read !
River Song has always been my favorite character on Doctor Who . Her journey and her story was phenomenal, insane , beautiful, and heart wrenching all in one . I’d always wished they had done a spin off show of her adventures.
But alas - even if we don’t have the show . We have this and it is wonderfully delicious !
Reading this book written by the glamorous and outstanding Alex Kingston was such a joy ! I love the twists in the mystery , the incorporations of both melody and River. I loved how the book read as if River truly had written it . The whole moments when River mentions her love ones just melted my heart. There was so much to love about the books and there was never a dull moment . The book kept me guessing .
And of course I was always curious if a Special someone would pop up, making me pay close attention to each word . I wish there was more books . Seriously it ended perfectly but too soon. If Alex ever feels like she can continue the story, she has my full support . It really is a great read !
December 27, 2021
I had been tracking this book since 2020, and eagerly awaited it’s publication in May 2021. As multiple people have already stated, if you love River Song, you’ll probably love this book. I did think that there would be more of Spoilers, sweetie.
It was also wordy. There were parts that weren't smooth and didn't flow well. Perhaps if it had gone through one more revision.
Especially towards the end. I was just kind of waiting for this big climax and I don't feel like I got it.
The beginning had me hooked, the middle left me excited for more, and by the end I was just waiting for it to be over.
It was also wordy. There were parts that weren't smooth and didn't flow well. Perhaps if it had gone through one more revision.
Especially towards the end. I was just kind of waiting for this big climax and I don't feel like I got it.
The beginning had me hooked, the middle left me excited for more, and by the end I was just waiting for it to be over.
October 28, 2024
I’m surprised this has as high of a rating as it does. I love Doctor who, a lot. I love River, a lot. A story should be quite good and well written to extend into a book. This was not. It also had strong inconsistencies with River Song’s character. The one that stuck out to me was that criminal River song…was a cop lover… hello… I suppose that’s Alex Kingston or whoever else contributed coming through to try not to step on toes, but she’s fiction?? And I really do not believe in a River that would love or be chummy with cops. I had other writing issues and plot issues, but truly not my favorite and not dazzling. Rather disappointing.
September 25, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3771569.html
Great piece of spinoff writing, with Alex Kingston's name on the cover but Jac Rayner's on the inside, and very true to the spirit of the character of River Song; lots of side notes to the TV stories, but also a reasonably standalone plot which follows several timelines and parallel versions of River Song and her alter ego Melody Malone simultaneously, and manages to keep them all in balance. Lots of action and snappy dialogue. Fun stuff.
Great piece of spinoff writing, with Alex Kingston's name on the cover but Jac Rayner's on the inside, and very true to the spirit of the character of River Song; lots of side notes to the TV stories, but also a reasonably standalone plot which follows several timelines and parallel versions of River Song and her alter ego Melody Malone simultaneously, and manages to keep them all in balance. Lots of action and snappy dialogue. Fun stuff.
February 23, 2023
The Ruby's Curse is really fun. Alex Kingston does a fantastic job of capturing both River's and Melody's voice as well as a few other well known Doctor Who characters that appear. By the way, River meets one that I really wish she had the chance to meet in the tv series. I also highly recommend listening to this on audiobook as Alex Kingston, River herself, reads her own work.
April 27, 2022
Old Time glamorous New York, A boat, A Ruby, Egyptian pyramids and a murder! What more could you want? Maybe a story that was a bit easier to follow. The ideas are there and there's lots of DW Easter eggs along the way. Probably be a 4 of it wasn't for the talking cat 🐈 😂
June 6, 2022
I missed River, and this was a good bandaid! It's fast-paced and appropriately cheesy when it needs to be, pleasantly self-referential without going overboard and Cleopatra is in it, so what more do I want?
The audiobook, read by Kingston herself, was a treat.
The audiobook, read by Kingston herself, was a treat.
July 27, 2024
Not for the first time, I thought: I don't have a home. I just have places where I live.
-
I reached out with my mind, and I touched another mind. I knew its feel, but I did not know it's shape. It was my home.
My home was not a place, but a person.
-
Oh, poor River never truly having a proper home, just a place to stay.
This was an enjoyable read. I've always liked River Song as a character, and I enjoy her range of stories from big finish. I still need to pick up the other River Song book, but this was an enjoyable and quick read. I also loved seeing more Amy and Rory moments and then getting adjusted to living in the past.
Interesting idea and concept. It got lost a little in the middle, but honestly I've read worse books.
The writing was engaging and fast paced. I loved the flip between Melody Malone and River Song and the clever use of fonts between the two stories and how they merged.
I also love a good fourth wall and the Land of Fiction stories in Doctor Who.
-
I reached out with my mind, and I touched another mind. I knew its feel, but I did not know it's shape. It was my home.
My home was not a place, but a person.
-
Oh, poor River never truly having a proper home, just a place to stay.
This was an enjoyable read. I've always liked River Song as a character, and I enjoy her range of stories from big finish. I still need to pick up the other River Song book, but this was an enjoyable and quick read. I also loved seeing more Amy and Rory moments and then getting adjusted to living in the past.
Interesting idea and concept. It got lost a little in the middle, but honestly I've read worse books.
The writing was engaging and fast paced. I loved the flip between Melody Malone and River Song and the clever use of fonts between the two stories and how they merged.
I also love a good fourth wall and the Land of Fiction stories in Doctor Who.
June 27, 2023
4 stars
Funny, sometimes chaotic and filled with Wibbly Wobbly timey Whimey stuff; The Ruby's curse is a wonderful action packed mystery, with a hint of historical fiction and some fun but never too heavy references to the main Doctor Who Story.
From the very first moment she walked onto Doctor Who, River Song has been one of my absolute favourites of the show. She is funny, badass and just all around awesome. So when I found another book focusing on her story, I had to have it.
The ruby's curse combines River's own life with that of Melody Malone, the fictional detective she made up on the show, as they both set out to find an object many others are after as well.
The writing is well done, balancing well between River's own life and the fictional 1939 New York. It interweaves the similar elements well, but in the end the combined stories do become somewhat chaotic. We get more insight into River as a person and get a bunch of fun references to the Whoniverse, without laying it on to thick. This results in a book which even somewhat casual viewers of the show could possibly enjoy as well.
Funny, sometimes chaotic and filled with Wibbly Wobbly timey Whimey stuff; The Ruby's curse is a wonderful action packed mystery, with a hint of historical fiction and some fun but never too heavy references to the main Doctor Who Story.
From the very first moment she walked onto Doctor Who, River Song has been one of my absolute favourites of the show. She is funny, badass and just all around awesome. So when I found another book focusing on her story, I had to have it.
The ruby's curse combines River's own life with that of Melody Malone, the fictional detective she made up on the show, as they both set out to find an object many others are after as well.
The writing is well done, balancing well between River's own life and the fictional 1939 New York. It interweaves the similar elements well, but in the end the combined stories do become somewhat chaotic. We get more insight into River as a person and get a bunch of fun references to the Whoniverse, without laying it on to thick. This results in a book which even somewhat casual viewers of the show could possibly enjoy as well.
February 18, 2023
Rating: 4 stars
It is so hard to read this book without a chuckle or at least a quirk of the lips every couple of pages. Alex Kingston seems to have written the entire book with a permanent smirk on her face and, I mean, would River Song realistically do any less?
It is so hard to read this book without a chuckle or at least a quirk of the lips every couple of pages. Alex Kingston seems to have written the entire book with a permanent smirk on her face and, I mean, would River Song realistically do any less?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews