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Out Now from Candy Jar Books: The Analysis Bureau — Roseblood

After the series launch last year, The Analysis Bureau continues with Roseblood, a “quick read” sequel written by series creator, Tom Dexter.

Set immediately after the climactic end of the first volume, this new book sees Orson Welles heading for England to stop production of a horror parody of Citizen Kane being filmed, only to find that his past starts to haunt him in a very startling way. The Analysis Bureau step in to not only try to save his live, but also figure out what the connection is to the planet Mars.

Tom says:

“The reaction we’ve had about the first book centred on the fact that it featured a strong female lead character, who our readers seem to have wholeheartedly embraced, working alongside classic Doctor Who characters such as Professor Travers and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The latest short story takes a new twist, and brings the iconic film actor and director, Orson Welles into the mix.

“There’s a famous Spitting Image sketch from years ago, where they basically said that Orson Welles lived his career in reverse, starting with the remarkable success of Citizen Kane and ending with financing being more than scarce for anything he wanted to direct.”

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar says:

“The Analysis Bureau did exactly what we wanted, launching a spin-off title from our Lethbridge-Stewart books, and has created a team of characters who not only exists in their own universe, but also embrace characters, both human and otherwise from the worlds of Doctor Who, who we have under license. It was only natural to bring them back as soon as we could.”

The book’s cover is by Lee Sullivan who enthuses:

“It’s lovely to be asked back for another cover in the range, and it was great fun trying to capture the air of mystery Orson Welles always seemed to have about him in the art.”

This new quick read story acts as a bridge between the first volume, and a second book of short stories to be released later this year.

Here’s the blurb:

The Analysis Bureau does not exist. Ask any questions about it, and the same answers always greet you. There’s no trace of any department matching that name in any branch of Government, only speculation and wild rumours.

May 1967, Puppet on a String is high in the charts, and people are wearing flowers in their hair as the ‘Summer of Love’ begins. However, in the backstreets of Whitechapel, near one of the last variety theatres to survive the Blitz, a ghost has been spotted. A ghost who seems to be screaming in terror.

At the Analysis Bureau, in the aftermath of Incident Three, Mr Quebec is ordered to investigate. He sends Flower on a solo mission, but how does this lead her to encounter the legendary movie star, Orson Welles? And what does the word Roseblood mean to him?

When Professor Travers tries to save a figure who seems to have fallen through a breach between dimensions, Flower ends up underground in the worst way imaginable…

The Analysis Bureau: Roseblood is out now from Candy Jar Books.

Philip Bates

Editor and co-founder of the Doctor Who Companion. When he’s not watching television, reading books ‘n’ Marvel comics, listening to The Killers, and obsessing over script ideas, Philip Bates pretends to be a freelance writer. He enjoys collecting everything. Writer of The Black Archive: The Pandorica Opens/ The Big Bang, The Silver Archive: The Stone Tape, and 100 Objects of Doctor Who.

Out Now from Candy Jar Books: The Analysis Bureau — Roseblood

by Philip Bates time to read: 2 min
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