Never the Bride by Paul Magrs


(3.8 stars; 3 reviews)

Never the Bride by Paul Magrs follows Brenda, the cheerful landlady of a modest B&B in a Victorian seaside town in the North East, who isn't quite what she seems. This blend of dark fantasy is filled with mysteries and irreverent one-liners, inviting listeners to spot horror genre references and enjoy witty comments.

Set in the quaint coastal resort of Whitby, the story introduces a cast of curious characters, including Mrs. Claus, the maniacal owner of the Christmas Hotel, and Mr. Danby, who runs the spookily named Deadly Boutique. As supernatural events unfold, Brenda and her friend Effie embark on a sleuthing adventure to uncover the truth behind the strange happenings in their town.


This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

Reviews

Love Brenda! Part of a very good fantasy series.


(4 stars)

While these three episodes are very good - with BBC production, etc. - they are not the best introduction to Brenda and Effie (perhaps Billie Joel will write a song about them?). The "Grandma Guignol" podcast shows are - to my taste - the better Brenda, and happen earlier in time. Many audio programs take a few episodes to find their footing - not Grandma Guignol. In fact, the first two episodes may be the best. I'm not really a cat person (or a fantasy fan) but the Crispy Cat is the best introduction to Brenda, and with their longer length, they are less hurried (and later in the series, funnier). And Anne Reid IS Brenda. There is a short - like a minute and half - montage of clips that give you the idea of the show's premise: https://archive.org/details/podcast_grandma-guignol_grandma-guignol-preview_1000403508745 Then there are 8 shows, starting with the Crispy Cat/Erl King: https://archive.org/details/podcast_grandma-guignol_11-the-woman-black-beehi_1000405229655 https://archive.org/details/podcast_grandma-guignol_12-effie-erl-king_1000405229656 If it hooks you like it did me, the rest of the podcast episodes are here: https://archive.org/details/podcast_grandma-guignol_1352407909