The Undertaker's Gift

Torchwood #14

by Trevor Baxendale

The Hokrala Corp lawyers are back. They're suing planet Earth for mishandling the twenty-first century, and they won't tolerate any efforts to repel them. An assassin has been sent to remove Captain Jack Harkness.



It's been a busy week in Cardiff. The Hub's latest guest is a translucent, amber jelly carrying a lethal electrical charge. Record numbers of aliens have been coming through the Rift, and Torchwood could do without any more problems.



But there are reports of an extraordinary funeral cortege in the night-time city, with mysterious pallbearers guarding a rotting cadaver that simply doesn't want to be buried.



Torchwood should be ready for anything - but with Jack the target of an invisible killer, Gwen trapped in a forgotten crypt and Ianto Jones falling desperately ill, could a world of suffering be the Undertaker's gift to planet Earth?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Doctor Who, Ebooks, Media Tie In, Fantasy, Tv

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2009

About the author

Trevor Baxendale is a novelist who has penned several Doctor Who tie-in novels and audio dramas. He lives in Liverpool, England with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Emilija · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Torchwood novel, and this was pretty good to return to them with.
The characters felt like themselves, I liked the extra characters that were added for the storyline, the plot was pretty good and it was easy reading. At the end of each chapter, I didn’t want to finish. The only issue was the resolution, which happened in about three pages and was pretty naff. Come on, Trevor, that ending felt like you were either trying to keep within a word limit, or you weren’t entirely sure how to end the novel.

[Liam Crook-Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the more enjoyable Torchwood novels. Whilst I didn’t love the ending, the sense of danger equated to ‘TV episode’ levels, except the problem once again being you knew the main characters were never in any real danger as they’re really not going to kill them off in a spin off novel. Nevertheless, an enjoyable read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first time I've delved into the Torchwood fandom via the books and I have to say that the writer has done an excellent job of capturing the heart and soul of the characters.

The danger through out the book was nicely built upon right through the whole book until the final chapters and as a fan who enjoys a little "hurt" involving her favorite characters? This book delivered that in droves.

All in all, it was an excellent read with an engaging story and spot on characterization. Definitely worth reading if you enjoy Torchwood.

[Cynthia Panza · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY

I was on the edge of my chair thru the whole story. This one would have made an excellent episode if the series were still on tv. I would have loved to seen this one played out. It has everything. Someone trying to kill Jack (I know crazy), Ianto getting deathly sick, and Gwen disobeying orders as always, which may cost her, her life. This is a must read for all torchwood fans or any horror film lover. I wish I could give it more stars
* * * * * * * * * *. There 10 stars.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh! So disappointing. Aside from some pleasant Jack/Gwen/Ianto characterization, this is a story that didn't speak to me at all. In every respect, it's "Torchwood" by the numbers. It's also a particularly disappointing Baxendale novel...compared to the adrenaline-pumping action of "Prisoner of the Daleks" and the skin-crawling creepiness of "Eater of Wasps". Perhaps "Torchwood" simply isn't his bag...

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. State-sponsored time terrorists, basically. Took a different twist from the typical Torchwood, but a good one. Although from a strictly academic standpoint, the solution wasn't universal, which made me think about why.

[Ezekiel Thorp · Rating 2 out of 5]

An original novel based on the BBC's Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, this is one of the later efforts in the range set in a gap between series two and three, at a point when there were just three of the original Torchwood team members left. Although the cover centres John Barrowman's character of Captain Jack Harkness, the book actually centres Eve Myles' character Gwen Cooper and, sadly, is a bit of a mess.

The main problem is, there's just too much happening. Despite the cover suggesting a creepy tale set in a graveyard, this element of the plot is jettisoned quite early on, along with some decent supporting characters whose early disposal makes you wonder just why they'd been included in the first place.

As the book heads towards its finale, the plot becomes more concerned with telling a kind of end-of-the-world doomsday scenario, which seems to happen to Cardiff every other week in Torchwood land. With some very gratuitous cameos from Doctor Who characters, it's not entirely necessary, and not very engaging to read.

There's also a curiously irrelevant side-plot about Captain Jack, and a Blowfish who wants his revenge. This could, and probably should, have supported a novel in its own right. Their fight scenes when the captive breaks out of his cell were probably highlights of the book, and much more fascinating than the cliched teenage romance the book seemed to favour in its early pages.

Overall, it's not a great book. Worth £1 in a charity shop perhaps, but with dull writing, an unrewarding plot and some genuinely creepy characterisation (Jack admits Gwen is his sister and simultaneously says he wants to shag her), it's not a book I can highly recommend.

[Lasciel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story line - the end of the world - so a normal day for Torchwood. Some pretty dark themes running through which were well thought out. Jack's relationship with death being the biggest and most obvious component here, but there's also a few other touching subjects implied.

The pacing was good, action packed from start to end if a little too long in the build up. A few too many fore-warnings for my liking. I loved the conclusion in a sci-fi geek sense - very nice. However, in a story line sense I found it a little lacklustre. The solution was a touch too easy in my opinion, also the scientist in me is annoyed by lack of ingenuity on the part of the characters.

The combat and action sequences were good, well written and gripping. All in all a good story that I enjoyed reading.

[Yvonne Alf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit torn how to review this book. I loved the story, it was a real page turner. From the very beginning on you don't know what was going on and the ideas kept me excited through the whole book. Sadly the ending felt very rushed and a bit weak. While in general the characters felt very true to themselves, it was annoying that Jack seemed to have more feelings for Gwen than Ianto. Also in the later part of the strory Gwen got all squeamish for no other reason than to move the story along. Which felt very out of place. As so often Jack's and Ianto's relationship was handeled very odd. While it's mentioned they are together and it seems they are fond of each other, there is not even one kiss, even in the face of pretty certain death. It really brought the joy in reading down on more than one occassion.

[Michael T Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I feel I should have for the first half. Baxendale takes the interesting route of actually writing this as a horror novel - a BIT unusual for Torchwood, but certainly not something impossible to imagine - and it WORKS. Once the titular threat is explained, however, and the aliens from the future arrive, and all that ... it all becomes quite groan-worthy, BUT the first half is quite solid, and it kept me interested enough to finish the book. Though I haven't read the majority of the previous TW books, I was pleasantly surprised that this book references a lot of stuff that came earlier, rather than just existing in its own universe. The TW expanded universe actually feels a bit more cohesive than the TW TV universe.

[Kevin Hicks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Earth has mishandled the twenty-first century and the Hokrala Corp lawyers are suing them. But to make sure they encounter no problems they have sent an assassin to remove Captain Jack Harkness. With an extraordinary funeral cortege stalking late night Cardiff, mysterious pallbearers and a rotting cadaver that wont stay dead, those in Torchwood need to be ready for anything. But The Undertakers Gift lurks, with nobody knowing what it is. 


I am a huge fan of Doctor Who, but never really got into Torchwood. Because of this I found that I didn't really enjoy this book. Not being familiar with the characters except from Captain Jack made it hard to really follow what their motivations were. The Pallbearers added a menacing macabre element to the story but nothing to really increase my enjoyment. 

[Joshua Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult one to rate. My heart is telling me 3/5 but my gut won out! Despite the fact I don't find this novel particularly memorable, I think the feeling whilst reading it of being deeply unsettled and grossed out sticks.

It's also impressive considering Baxendale's work with Doctor Who novels is so much tamer than his work with Torchwood. Although this is to be expected with Torchwood being the "adult" Doctor Who, just the change in his tone and writing style is enough to make me as a sci-fi, Whovian, and English nerd to take more than normal notice of this novel.

[Sophie Swift · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the beginning, I really disliked this book. I hated how obsessed Jack seemed to be with Gwen as this didn't match up to the way I saw Jack and Gwen's relationship after season two but before Children of Earth. I also found the story quite ludicrous even for Torchwood but it did get better after I was halfway through, hence three starts instead of two. Mostly, I'm just grateful to have finished reading it.

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Torchwood novels, The Undertaker's Gift sees the Children of Earth team preventing the end of the world (or at the very least, preventing the destruction of Cardiff). With a great plot, ominous monsters and captivating twists, Baxendale truly captures the unique characters of Gwen, Ianto and Jack, providing for a fun, enjoyable read!

[C.W. Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last year, I read this book with a mix of curiosity. I've watched the first season of Torchwood, as well as a LOT of doctor who, so I thought it was a good time to read it. The start was mysterious and the beginning chapters were good, but I think around the middle, it became a bit of a drag.
Especially the bit when Gwen is killing the beetles in Yanto's stomach. Bleh!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the better books of the range - the characterization is good, especially the scene where Gwen and an injured Ianto waits for Jack to get back not knowing if he will or not, and there are some scenes described really well, such as the titular Undertaker's Gift. Only criticism I had is that the whole subplot involving the Blowfish felt slightly detached from the rest of the book.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nostalgic read for me. Remembering the days that Torchwood was the best thing on TV and I was always waiting for the next episode! This was a nice read, quick and easy and very much like a classic episode

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Torchwood novel. Jack and company save the world (again). Recommedned to sci fi fans or fans of Dr Who/Torchwood.

[Tony Pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the Torchwood series on TV, chances are you will enjoy being able to revisit the Torchwood universe introduced by the Dr. Who spinoff.

[Anna Pothecary · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a very fast paced book, i didn't expect what happened to happen it was a typical torchwood story and i did enjoy it a lot

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[owyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

not enough hurt/comfort janto

[Hannah Edmeades · Rating 3 out of 5]

the ending felt kinda rushed tbh but still tied up everything. still a decent book just not one of my favs out of the torchwood series

[Erika Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of the television series, it's hard for me to judge this book solely on its own merit. So I'm not even going to try. If you are debating about whether you're going to read this book, you've probably already watched the series. This book exists for expanded universe material and nothing else.

For me, this book defines average reading material. There's nothing in it that particularly strikes me as great, but there wasn't anything to make me want to pull my hair out either. The plot is what you would expect from Torchwood, complete with a reset button that the series overuses. Except for when you want them to use the reset button, that's when they forget about its existence. The added non-Torchwood characters were rather bland. I never cared about what happened to them, and they monopolized about half of the book space. The only thing this book has going for it is that it's not bad, which isn't saying much considering it's a tie-in novel.

The thing I really took away from this book, however, is how little Jack deserved Ianto. The book seemed to revel in this notion, or it was just trying to make us think Jack and Ianto were ill-suited for each other. Yet all I could see was Jack being an undeserving jackass who I was starting to despise by the end of the book. Run off on them again, Jack, nobody cares! Both of them are better off without you.

Basically, Ianto was dying and Jack was too obsessed to care. To be honest, it was worse than that. It was more like "You're dying anyway, so do you mind terribly if I use you as canon-fodder while I go rescue perfect, irreplaceable, gorgeous Gwen?" Meanwhile, poor Ianto is half-dead and so in love with Jack that he just decides to go along with it. Hence, Jack never deserved Ianto. At least in this incarnation.

[Eri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started dividing Torchwood books into two categories - possible re-read after some time and read once and that was enough and this certainly goes to the first category. On the other hand I might be sliiiiiightly sad that this is the last full story book with Ianto, as the next book is just collection of short stories.
Anyway.

I can imagine this to be the glorious two-episode ending of season 2.5. Undertaker's gift gives the reader bit of scare that it's not going to end up so well and leaves you reading as fast as you can to find out how do they survive this apocalypse (because they HAVE to survive, right?).

The world might be ending all the time, but sometime its not just about the world, but about the people too, and seriously if somebody gave this to me as an episode, I would want to choke them for braking my heart.

Spoilers!
The way Jack treats Ianto sometimes hurts me, but eventually when he finds out what's wrong with his boy, he goes all Jack for lack of better words - denying and supportive and 'nothing is wrong' cold. You will not be given much Janto in this book, but you will be given equally strong Jack and Ianto scenes/even chapters, if you look the right direction.
Blowfish hoodie. The thing about blowfishes is... they are pretty from afar and deserve their asses kicked. I like Weevils more.
Jack's focusing on Gwen a lot in this book. Gwen bashing people might want to skip certain parts I guess. I still believe it was good enough.

This book certainly lives up to any expectations. Definitely recommended to Woodies of all kinds.

[Tara Horak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torchwood – The Undertaker's Gift

This is the first Torchwood novel I have read in full so far and I have to say that I think it was a great one to start with.

This book is set after we have lost Tosh and Owen. You have the world under threat from something that seems unbeatable, and possibly would be if it wasn’t for the fact that we have Captain Jack Harkness on our side.

At the same time we have a group of people from another planet and another time that are out to get Jack personally. This is where this book really catered to what I love to watch and read. Their sneak attack on Jack misses their target and gets Ianto.

It's full of great hurt (for the Hurt inclined) and comfort as well. The Jack and Ianto moments are fantastic and I couldn’t have read it fast enough. In amongst the hurt and pain and stress over the world's impending doom is some great humour as well. Some of the dry one liners from Ianto were exactly what we have come to love about his character on the show.

Jack was written very much in character in this book that it was easy to hear his voice and his reactions and feelings on things that happen in the book to himself, the world or Ianto was right on for how I believe Jack would feel.

All in all, I loved this. From beginning to end it was exciting and thrilling. A great start into my reading of Torchwood novels.

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.

This is a book that is based on the television series. I would recommend readers to have seen some of the television show before reading this book. This book takes place after the tragic events of season two. The team is still reeling and there is a new threat to the world.

I enjoyed this offering from this universe. My first worry with media tie-in novels are the portrayal of the characters. That was quickly squashed as I had no problem envisioning Jack, Gwen, and Ianto. There are a couple of minor plots that go along with the main plot and I was interested in each one. The main plot had a little bit of horror mixed in with mystery and I was so invested in it. Then the finale came and this lowered my rating the half star. It works for this universe but I thought it was a little too convenient even for this show. It was a little bit of a let down.

Even though the conclusion wasn't the strongest this was still an enjoyable book. The ride to get to the conclusion was excellent and I do enjoy spending some more time with these beloved characters.

[melydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place between Series 2 and Children of Earth. I had a little trouble following the story, especially as the main baddies were written in such a way that I felt like I was supposed to already know who they were. And yet somehow I still spotted the secret weapon/solution to all problems a mile away. Basically, these aliens have decided that Jack and his team will screw up the 21st century, so they send some Big Bad to destroy the earth. Meanwhile, some college kids come upon a funeral procession made up of beasties described a bit like The Silence (but that might have just been the cover art influencing my mental picture). I suspect I would have enjoyed this more had I binge-watched the first two seasons immediately prior to reading it, so I had all the in-show history and characters and nuance fresh in my mind. This was a decent step back into the world of Torchwood, but not my favorite of the novels.

[Katie Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Torchwood. As it's been off the air for a while now and my TBR challenge this month was to read a book based on a TV show I decided to pick this up.

Being Torchwood there is some adult material but that doesn't distract from the plot. Long story short- an alien race are sending an assassin after Jack Hackness because they feel he cannot control the 21st century.

if you know Jack you know thats impossible.

What follows is dramatic, gruesome and apocalyptic.

The characters were written really well and it felt like I had only left the Torchwood universe for a second.

Definitely a novelisation where you could actually see it happening as an episode considering there were different viewpoints beyond the Torchwood trio of Jack, Gwen and Ianto.

Would thoroughly recommend.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my Favourite Torchwood Novels.

The book's storyline is pre-COE so for any Ianto Fans that is an added bonus. The plot was fast paced and thrilling and could have easily been used for an episode.

The Characters are so well written and truly stick to what is portrayed on screen with a few discrepancies. You can imagine the characters saying or doing the things written here.

There are some brilliant Jack and Ianto moments throughout.

Although not bothered by the gruesome scenes, be warned the descriptions can be seen as quite graphic.