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Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #9
Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket
Starfall - a world on the edge, where crooks and smugglers hide in the gloomy shadows and modern technology refuses to work. And that includes the TARDIS. The pioneers who used to be drawn by the hope of making a fortune from the mines can find easier picking elsewhere. But they still come for the romance of it, or old-fashioned organic mining. Or in the hope of finding the lost treasure of Hamlek Glint - scourge of the spaceways, privateer, adventurer, bandit.Will the TARDIS ever work again? Is Glint's lost treasure waiting to be found? And does the fabled Resurrection Casket, the key to eternal life, really exist? With the help of new friends, and to the horror of new enemies, the Doctor and Rose aim to find out. Featuring the Tenth Doctor and Rose as played by David Tennant and Billie Piper in the acclaimed Doctor Who series from BBC Television.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2006
54 people are currently reading
2839 people want to read
About the author
Justin Richards
330 books241 followersJustin Richards is a British writer. He has written many spin off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and he is Creative Director for the BBC Books range. He has also written for television, contributing to Five's soap opera Family Affairs. He is also the author of a series of crime novels for children about the Invisible Detective, and novels for older children. His Doctor Who novel The Burning was placed sixth in the Top 10 of SFX magazine's "Best SF/Fantasy novelisation or TV tie-in novel" category of 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
September 7, 2021
The Doctor and Rose arrive on a shadowy planet called Starfall, where no modern technology works. They soon become entangled in a quest for a lost treasure known as the Resurrection Casket.
It’s a fun pirate adventure set in space, plenty of action along with the intriguing mystery of the casket too.
It’s a fun pirate adventure set in space, plenty of action along with the intriguing mystery of the casket too.
August 20, 2020
I loved dr. Who the show the ones with DavidTennent and Billie piper were my favorite ones, so when I saw this on audible I just had to, but the one thing I didn’t like was the fact that it said in the description that it was narrated by David Tennent and Billie Piper but it was only David which I love but I was hoping that it would be like listening to an episode. All that aside it was entertaining I just miss Rose😕.
September 10, 2019
This is a book based on the television series and has David Tennant's Doctor and Rose as his companion. In this one, The Doctor and Rose end up on a planet that has been affected by the zeg. The zeg affects all electronics and now they are stranded because that also means the TARDIS has been affected. While there, they find themselves in a mystery of a space pirate and his missing treasure.
I am surprised I am giving this a three star rating as the genres in the book are not my favorite. I don't mean the Doctor Who part because I am a huge fan of the series. Pirates are really not my thing and also the part where this world is now a steampunk world because of the zeg. I just do not like the steampunk genre. That being said, the pirates and steampunk are not overdone so I could still enjoy this book. I did think the portrayal of The Doctor was a little generic and I never truly saw David Tennant. Rose was fine and the characters that were made up for this book were the standouts. There were a couple of twists that keep the reader interested.
This book has all the pieces to be a really good book. There are fleshed out characters with motives and twists to keep the pace moving. This is one of those cases where the problem is not the book but the reader (me). Just not my favorite genre but I believe other fans of this universe will enjoy it much more than I did.
I am surprised I am giving this a three star rating as the genres in the book are not my favorite. I don't mean the Doctor Who part because I am a huge fan of the series. Pirates are really not my thing and also the part where this world is now a steampunk world because of the zeg. I just do not like the steampunk genre. That being said, the pirates and steampunk are not overdone so I could still enjoy this book. I did think the portrayal of The Doctor was a little generic and I never truly saw David Tennant. Rose was fine and the characters that were made up for this book were the standouts. There were a couple of twists that keep the reader interested.
This book has all the pieces to be a really good book. There are fleshed out characters with motives and twists to keep the pace moving. This is one of those cases where the problem is not the book but the reader (me). Just not my favorite genre but I believe other fans of this universe will enjoy it much more than I did.
August 12, 2015
pirates yes but not of the carribean
February 13, 2014
It's kind of hit-and-miss with some of these New Series "Doctor Who" tie-in novels - but I really enjoyed this one! The whole story is full of fun little twists leading up to the REALLY BIG twist at the end. The main characters are memorable and fun - so much so that I wish this could have been an episode on TV. I found the audiobook read by David Tennant and his narration was really good. If you're a Tenth Doctor fan still missing your Doctor (it happens), it's worth your time to track down the audio. And if you're a Whovian languishing with the long wait until Peter Capaldi takes over the TARDIS, this isn't a bad way to pass the time.
November 27, 2015
My third DW book from BBC, and my favorite yet. Steam-powered-space-pirates. Hell yes.
October 30, 2022
Very influenced by Treasure Island and just a really fun read with pirates in space.
December 25, 2008
My favourite of all the ten/Rose books... actually, come to think of it, my favourite of all the DW books in this series, matched only by Sting of the Zygons. Also I loved the audio r\b David Tennant. Rose was little more than useless in some parts, but I liked the Doctor/Drel sparring. Jimm was also interesting. Is it me or do they use 11/12 year olds quite a lot in this range? Ali in Black Island, Jude in Wooden Heart, Ian in Sting of the Zygons... yet another detail which shows that these books have been written with kids in mind. Sometimes this limits them, sometimes it refreshes them. But anyway. Can I just mention Kevin? Best. Novel. Character. Ever. He could have been a companion. I love him.
May 7, 2024
Plot twist after plot twist
April 17, 2017
Sometimes the kid in me just wants to read something fun and whats not to like about Doctor Who. Besides Ten is my favorite.
July 11, 2019
At the time of writing this review, this’ll be the third Justin Richards book I have read (not counting Shadow in the Glass as he co-wrote that) and I have to say this is probably my favourite of his I’ve read so far.
The story itself has a really good setting. It feels like it’s trying to be a gritty cyber-punk pirate space adventure filled with humans and robots. While the first 110 pages are pretty slow, once the story gets past this point the story starts to get into gear. I have found that while reading JR books, they take a while to get going. However that said, while I did enjoy a lot of The Resurrection Casket, there were times where it was quite predictable and the ending felt a little rushed.
One of the things I didn’t expect about the story and was an aspect of it I quite liked, was that we have a monster who is actually known as the apologetic monster, who’s name is Kevin which I thought was quite different from what we’ve seen before. If you’ve watched the Matt Smith story The Curse of the Black Spot, a similar idea is here in this story, where if your found with a mark you, Kevin comes out to kill you unwillingly and apologises before tearing you down.
In regards to characterisation for our two main regulars, I.e those being The Tenth Doctor and Rose, they are written fairly well. Despite these two not being my favourite TARDIS team, I can still hear their voices while reading their dialogue. Although this is a Tenth Doctor story, I can imagine this being a Twelfth Doctor story, probably in his first series, series 8.
Overall The Resurrection Casket is an okay read. It has some good moments and an interesting mystery to it but it does suffer from being a bit of a slow burner and being a bit predictable.
The story itself has a really good setting. It feels like it’s trying to be a gritty cyber-punk pirate space adventure filled with humans and robots. While the first 110 pages are pretty slow, once the story gets past this point the story starts to get into gear. I have found that while reading JR books, they take a while to get going. However that said, while I did enjoy a lot of The Resurrection Casket, there were times where it was quite predictable and the ending felt a little rushed.
One of the things I didn’t expect about the story and was an aspect of it I quite liked, was that we have a monster who is actually known as the apologetic monster, who’s name is Kevin which I thought was quite different from what we’ve seen before. If you’ve watched the Matt Smith story The Curse of the Black Spot, a similar idea is here in this story, where if your found with a mark you, Kevin comes out to kill you unwillingly and apologises before tearing you down.
In regards to characterisation for our two main regulars, I.e those being The Tenth Doctor and Rose, they are written fairly well. Despite these two not being my favourite TARDIS team, I can still hear their voices while reading their dialogue. Although this is a Tenth Doctor story, I can imagine this being a Twelfth Doctor story, probably in his first series, series 8.
Overall The Resurrection Casket is an okay read. It has some good moments and an interesting mystery to it but it does suffer from being a bit of a slow burner and being a bit predictable.
November 29, 2020
Loved, loved the audiobook! Good plot and great performance. Tennant is a great narrator, he manages to give an unique voice to each character (also who can voice the Doctor better than the Doctor himself? LOL).
If only most narrators were as good as him...
If only most narrators were as good as him...
September 26, 2023
A Doctor Who and Treasure Island steampunk mash-up? Yes, please! I really enjoyed this one! I do feel like the voice of The Doctor and Rose was slightly off in this book. Not quite enough of Tennant's quirkiness and not enough of Rose's heart. Still, overall, an enjoyable read.
November 28, 2019
Eh. It was ok. I have read better ones by Justin Richards. This one was just missing something.
March 20, 2025
2021 52 Book Challenge - October Mini Challenge - 3) Ghosts, Witches And Pirates, Oh My!
This had a decent story and the ending was alright, even if it was predictable. The middle part of the book is so slow though, and I stalled for a while because I kinda just didn't want to slog through the middle 100 pages.
However, this is the third or fourth Doctor Who book across different Doctors that I've read that has used everlasting matches. What is the obsession?
This had a decent story and the ending was alright, even if it was predictable. The middle part of the book is so slow though, and I stalled for a while because I kinda just didn't want to slog through the middle 100 pages.
However, this is the third or fourth Doctor Who book across different Doctors that I've read that has used everlasting matches. What is the obsession?
December 29, 2021
This is a great one. I saw the plot twist coming a mile away but the other aspects of this book kept me hooked till the end. They introduced great, well-rounded characters; which a lot of Doctor Who novels fail to do. Definitely gonna read the book as well as listen to the audio book again.
September 30, 2017
A fairly dull Doctor Who adventure. Characterization varies wildly and the plot is fairly predictable.
September 26, 2025
Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket by Justin Richards is a swashbuckling, steampunk-inspired adventure that feels like Doctor Who meets Treasure Island. Set on the mysterious planet Starfall, where modern technology (including the TARDIS!) doesn’t work due to an electromagnetic field called the Zeg, the story follows the Tenth Doctor and Rose as they get tangled up in a hunt for Hamlek Glint’s legendary lost treasure. And at the heart of it all? The Resurrection Casket a mysterious artifact said to grant eternal life.
The book nails the adventurous and quirky tone of the show. The Doctor is his usual brilliant, witty self, and Richards captures David Tennant’s energy perfectly. Rose brings her usual mix of sass and heart, making her a great foil for the Doctor as they navigate this eerie, pirate-infested world. The supporting characters are colorful and fun, like Silver Sally, a half-robot bartender, and Drel McCavity, a shady collector with his own hidden motives.
The steampunk vibes are a standout, with steam-powered spaceships, robotic pirates, and a creepy treasure hunt that keeps the tension high. Richards does a great job creating an atmospheric world that feels both dangerous and whimsical. The plot is packed with twists, danger, and plenty of Doctor-style cleverness, though some of the twists are a bit predictable if you’re a seasoned Doctor Who fan.
The only downside? The pacing can feel uneven at times, with slower moments that drag between the big action set pieces. Also, while the mystery of the Resurrection Casket is intriguing, the payoff might feel underwhelming for readers expecting something truly mind-blowing.
The Resurrection Casket is a fun, fast-paced read that blends steampunk, pirates, and classic Doctor Who charm. If you love the Tenth Doctor and Rose or just enjoy a whimsical sci-fi adventure, this one’s worth checking out!
The book nails the adventurous and quirky tone of the show. The Doctor is his usual brilliant, witty self, and Richards captures David Tennant’s energy perfectly. Rose brings her usual mix of sass and heart, making her a great foil for the Doctor as they navigate this eerie, pirate-infested world. The supporting characters are colorful and fun, like Silver Sally, a half-robot bartender, and Drel McCavity, a shady collector with his own hidden motives.
The steampunk vibes are a standout, with steam-powered spaceships, robotic pirates, and a creepy treasure hunt that keeps the tension high. Richards does a great job creating an atmospheric world that feels both dangerous and whimsical. The plot is packed with twists, danger, and plenty of Doctor-style cleverness, though some of the twists are a bit predictable if you’re a seasoned Doctor Who fan.
The only downside? The pacing can feel uneven at times, with slower moments that drag between the big action set pieces. Also, while the mystery of the Resurrection Casket is intriguing, the payoff might feel underwhelming for readers expecting something truly mind-blowing.
The Resurrection Casket is a fun, fast-paced read that blends steampunk, pirates, and classic Doctor Who charm. If you love the Tenth Doctor and Rose or just enjoy a whimsical sci-fi adventure, this one’s worth checking out!
October 1, 2023
(Synopsis) - Starfall - a world on the edge, where crooks and smugglers hide in the gloomy shadows and modern technology refuses to work. And that includes the TARDIS. The pioneers who used to be drawn by the hope of making a fortune from the mines can find easier picking elsewhere. But they still come for the romance of it, or old-fashioned organic mining. Or in the hope of finding the lost treasure of Hamlek Glint - scourge of the spaceways, privateer, adventurer, bandit.
(Review) - This book is heavily inspired by Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island but with more of a science fiction take on things think more Treasure planet but instead of advanced technology it's more steampunky! And with all that added in well your in for one hell of an adventure that is filled with fun and laughs and mystery as the doctor and rose are stuck and must solve this mystery by finding a lost treasure so they can get back inside the TARDIS and go home! Which is definitely needed after the feast of the damed, the book before this one was quite dark and creepy, this book will bring you back up. I found myself loving this book more than I thought as it is slow to get going that lot more talking then things going on BUT! It is the characters that kepted me interested like Kevin a trans-demential being who is hunting the doctor down but is also a joly decent bloke incredibly apologetic and is only killing people because he has to! He's a monster whose not really a monster, it's the ones that control him who are the monsters. So to wrap up you have adventures aplenty, pirates and there booty and enough twists and turns and interesting characters to keep you entertained for 246 pages! Overall I'd say a pretty decent adventure in this chapter of 10 and rose! I can't recommend it enough.
4/5 Stars GoodReads ⭐⭐⭐⭐
95/100 GingerPoints 🔥
(Review) - This book is heavily inspired by Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island but with more of a science fiction take on things think more Treasure planet but instead of advanced technology it's more steampunky! And with all that added in well your in for one hell of an adventure that is filled with fun and laughs and mystery as the doctor and rose are stuck and must solve this mystery by finding a lost treasure so they can get back inside the TARDIS and go home! Which is definitely needed after the feast of the damed, the book before this one was quite dark and creepy, this book will bring you back up. I found myself loving this book more than I thought as it is slow to get going that lot more talking then things going on BUT! It is the characters that kepted me interested like Kevin a trans-demential being who is hunting the doctor down but is also a joly decent bloke incredibly apologetic and is only killing people because he has to! He's a monster whose not really a monster, it's the ones that control him who are the monsters. So to wrap up you have adventures aplenty, pirates and there booty and enough twists and turns and interesting characters to keep you entertained for 246 pages! Overall I'd say a pretty decent adventure in this chapter of 10 and rose! I can't recommend it enough.
4/5 Stars GoodReads ⭐⭐⭐⭐
95/100 GingerPoints 🔥
December 7, 2020
I had to grab something to read that would fit into my handbook, and this one leaped off the shelf! A quick, fun read that didn't blow your mind but was entertaining enough. Some of the 'in' jokes did make me smile and I really enjoyed the character of Kevin. Slightly surprised that the TARDIS couldn't function without electrics, I would of thought it was far too sophisticated for that, but it was a good enough reason to get the Doctor and Rose involved.
May 20, 2023
I have the physical book of this somewhere, but when I saw David Tennant was narrating the audio, I immediately checked it out from my library. Of course, this was amazing just because David Tennant was narrating. Making this book all the better. I enjoyed the story and I love The Doctor and Rose. Rose has always been one of my favorite companions, so this was perfect. I'm so excited to listen to more books from this series, especially since I no longer watch TV.
July 16, 2017
a nice riff off Treasure Island (the author admits so himself in the interview) in space :) Rose is a bit neglected, but it's not too noticeable.
July 19, 2023
I finished this audio book yesterday and I've already forgotten everything.
January 29, 2024
I thought I knew where it was going then it turned out I was totally wrong
February 28, 2025
Another great adventure in the Dr Who books.
April 17, 2017
5/5 stars!
I know my reviews of these are getting repetitive, but this was just like an episode of Doctor Who! David Tennant is (yet again) a FANTASTIC narrator. The plot of this was interesting as well, and a lot of things clicked in the end, making me go "ahhh". Saying too much would give away a lot, so let me just say that this is about space pirates. If space pirates and David Tennant aren't enough to get you to pick up this audio book, then I don't know what is!
I know my reviews of these are getting repetitive, but this was just like an episode of Doctor Who! David Tennant is (yet again) a FANTASTIC narrator. The plot of this was interesting as well, and a lot of things clicked in the end, making me go "ahhh". Saying too much would give away a lot, so let me just say that this is about space pirates. If space pirates and David Tennant aren't enough to get you to pick up this audio book, then I don't know what is!
July 15, 2016
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
This was a lot of fun and a fantastic adventure. Doctor Who meets space pirates - nothing better, right? I'd seriously love to see this one televised and I adored all of the characters in it, especially Kevin and Jimm! And ooh, that sneaky plot twist was fantastic.
The Resurrection Casket
I really enjoyed this one! This is definitely one of the better Doctor Who novels that I’ve read. I so, so, so enjoy the stories with David Tennant in them (not just because he is gorgeous) because he’s such a complete idiot as a Doctor.
There are so many silly moments in this one and Rose takes them gracefully in her stride - impressive given how many times she is almost killed! It’s a nice easy read and filled with all those wonderful “technical” terms (that are mostly just gibberish) that make you guffaw at the silliness of the Doctor.
One of the best things about this book is that there are so many seriously loveable characters who I wish we could drag into other stories. The excitable little boy, Jimm, is such a sweetheart and I’d love to see his reaction if he ever got to fly in the TARDIS. But Bobb and Kevin were also fantastic, funny, witty, and clever. This book definitely has some enjoyable and fun characters, that’s for sure.
Space Pirates!
This is obviously very important. Space pirates are a serious and awesome business. If you love your space-y-ness then you really get your dose of it here. In this story the Doctor and Rose get stuck on the planet Starfall after entering the “zeg” - an atmospheric thing that stops any sort of technology working.
On this planet, everything runs by steam engines (etc) and calls from some really quite impressive space ships and semi-robotic people (obviously). BUT of course there’s also some trouble. The Doctor finds that people are getting curse marks put on them and get visited by a particularly hairy and apologetic monster called Kevin and being ripped to pieces, *gasp*. But don't worry, it's not too scary because the Doctor is there with Rose to giggle and laugh at everything along the way and make it alright.
Rose and the Doctor spend this adventure trying to work out why people are dying, who everyone really is, and ultimately hoping to find the missing treasure on a long-lost pirate ship that was captained by a man named Glint. If you’re looking for a Doctor Who novel to keep you guessing then this is it.
Sneaky Plot Twists
The thing that I super duper loved about this story was the plot twists at the end!! Things do head towards a slightly confusing area but thankfully we get a full low down on everything that went on so you won’t be left in a muddle by the end of it. Everything is explained and it twists your head completely around and you will almost definitely go OH! And that’s what makes a good Whovian story, yes? IN FACT! If you do watch the series and you enjoyed The Curse of the Black Spot then be sure to check out this one, mostly because they both have pirates in them (wasn't that a fantastic episode, though?).
Summary
The one thing I’d like to say about this one is that I’d love to see it on TV. I know that won’t happen (obviously because the cast has moved on now) but it really could be quite an epic one to televise. So if you’re a fan of Rose and Ten then definitely pick this one up! I mean, SPACE PIRATES guys. So I think that’s enough said - if you like Doctor Who, you like pirates, and you like space, then I’m sure you’ll love this.
Happy reading!
This was a lot of fun and a fantastic adventure. Doctor Who meets space pirates - nothing better, right? I'd seriously love to see this one televised and I adored all of the characters in it, especially Kevin and Jimm! And ooh, that sneaky plot twist was fantastic.
The Resurrection Casket
I really enjoyed this one! This is definitely one of the better Doctor Who novels that I’ve read. I so, so, so enjoy the stories with David Tennant in them (not just because he is gorgeous) because he’s such a complete idiot as a Doctor.
There are so many silly moments in this one and Rose takes them gracefully in her stride - impressive given how many times she is almost killed! It’s a nice easy read and filled with all those wonderful “technical” terms (that are mostly just gibberish) that make you guffaw at the silliness of the Doctor.
"'Let's just get on with it, shall we?' he said, not unkindly. 'Everything on. Turn every switch, push every lever, press every button and ford every stream. Follow every rainbow until . . .' He stopped, frowned, and said apologetically, 'Sorry, got a bit confused there.'"
One of the best things about this book is that there are so many seriously loveable characters who I wish we could drag into other stories. The excitable little boy, Jimm, is such a sweetheart and I’d love to see his reaction if he ever got to fly in the TARDIS. But Bobb and Kevin were also fantastic, funny, witty, and clever. This book definitely has some enjoyable and fun characters, that’s for sure.
Space Pirates!
This is obviously very important. Space pirates are a serious and awesome business. If you love your space-y-ness then you really get your dose of it here. In this story the Doctor and Rose get stuck on the planet Starfall after entering the “zeg” - an atmospheric thing that stops any sort of technology working.
On this planet, everything runs by steam engines (etc) and calls from some really quite impressive space ships and semi-robotic people (obviously). BUT of course there’s also some trouble. The Doctor finds that people are getting curse marks put on them and get visited by a particularly hairy and apologetic monster called Kevin and being ripped to pieces, *gasp*. But don't worry, it's not too scary because the Doctor is there with Rose to giggle and laugh at everything along the way and make it alright.
Rose and the Doctor spend this adventure trying to work out why people are dying, who everyone really is, and ultimately hoping to find the missing treasure on a long-lost pirate ship that was captained by a man named Glint. If you’re looking for a Doctor Who novel to keep you guessing then this is it.
Sneaky Plot Twists
The thing that I super duper loved about this story was the plot twists at the end!! Things do head towards a slightly confusing area but thankfully we get a full low down on everything that went on so you won’t be left in a muddle by the end of it. Everything is explained and it twists your head completely around and you will almost definitely go OH! And that’s what makes a good Whovian story, yes? IN FACT! If you do watch the series and you enjoyed The Curse of the Black Spot then be sure to check out this one, mostly because they both have pirates in them (wasn't that a fantastic episode, though?).
Summary
The one thing I’d like to say about this one is that I’d love to see it on TV. I know that won’t happen (obviously because the cast has moved on now) but it really could be quite an epic one to televise. So if you’re a fan of Rose and Ten then definitely pick this one up! I mean, SPACE PIRATES guys. So I think that’s enough said - if you like Doctor Who, you like pirates, and you like space, then I’m sure you’ll love this.
Happy reading!
October 11, 2025
i love doctor who. i love space. i love pirates.
April 10, 2019
3.5 stars!
David Tennant reading Doctor Who audiobooks is always a fun time but it’s even BETTER when it’s a Ten and Rose adventure 💜
David Tennant reading Doctor Who audiobooks is always a fun time but it’s even BETTER when it’s a Ten and Rose adventure 💜
December 8, 2019
Rating: 3.5 Stars.
It took me a while to get into this Doctor Who novel, & for some reason it felt like it was a very long story, but I really enjoyed the second half & loved how clever the writing was. The Doctor & Rose’s representation was okay, it didn’t scream Ten at me, but Rose was definitely present. I’m annoyed at myself that this is the only Doctor Who novel from the past that I’ve read this year... hopefully I can fit some more in before the year is out!
⚠️ Violence & death ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-33q
It took me a while to get into this Doctor Who novel, & for some reason it felt like it was a very long story, but I really enjoyed the second half & loved how clever the writing was. The Doctor & Rose’s representation was okay, it didn’t scream Ten at me, but Rose was definitely present. I’m annoyed at myself that this is the only Doctor Who novel from the past that I’ve read this year... hopefully I can fit some more in before the year is out!
⚠️ Violence & death ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-33q
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