Richards captures Troughton extremely well and provides a strong plot that feels like a return to his strengths. I was quite surprised by this book. I wasn't really sure what to expect, which is always a nice way to go into a book. Unlike Richards' recent books, the story here is utterly focused and superb. This really feels like the epitome of the Justin Richards approach.
Characterisation is also a strong point.
The Doctor is incredibly over the top and ridiculous - and never once does this feel out of place. The Doctor is every inch Troughton, something I never thought I'd see in Past Doctor fiction. I'm still in shock. Indeed, one of my few complaints is that the energy level dipped a bit as the book went on. This isn't such a problem, really, as the early chapters really set the tone with a deceptively simple authority and subsequent chapters continue to ride on the crest of this wave.