When three people suffer strokes after seeing dazzling lights over Edinburgh, then awake completely recovered, they’ re convinced their ordeal is connected to the alien creature discovered on a nearby beach ? an adrenaline-soaked, deeply humane, life-affirming first-contact novel from one of Scotland’ s most revered authors?

**Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers 2023**

‘ All the drive, curiosity and wonder of his crime and mystery novels ? science fiction gains a new author’ Derek B Miller

If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure it’ s this one’ Nina Pottell, Prima

‘ The main characters, their lives and their struggles, are portrayed very vividly. I was straight into this, just like a thriller’ Ivo Graham on Between the Covers

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Connecting will change everything?

Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’ t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes…

…only to wake up the following day in hospital, miraculously recovered.

When news reaches them of an octopus-like creature washed up on the shore near where the meteor came to earth, Lennox senses that some extra-terrestrial force is at play. With the help of Ava, Heather and a journalist, Ewan, he rescues the creature they call ‘Sandy’ and goes on the run.

But they aren’ t the only ones with an interest in the alien ? close behind are Ava’ s husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandy’ s arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine?

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‘ All the makings of a film ? such relatable characters’ Sunetra Sarker on Between the Covers

‘ So readable and accessible ? I was really rooting for the characters’ Alan Davies on Between the Covers

‘ A gateway book to SciFi ? I loved it’ Sara Cox on Between the Covers

‘ A moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park again’ Mark Billingham

‘ A delicious, demanding departure from Doug Johnstone’ Val McDermid

‘ Prioritising pace, tension and high stakes ? a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective ? shot through with vivid characters and a sense of wonder’ Herald Scotland

‘ An entertaining, fast-paced story of first contact ? an emotionally engaging read’ Guardian

‘ A gloriously hopeful story and a perfect road trip movie just waiting to be made? ‘ James Oswald

‘ An adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understanding’ Rachelle Atalla

‘Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next film’ Marnie Riches

‘ Clever and unusual ? I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixed’ Susi Holliday

‘ A mesmerising tale of wonder and hope’ Marion Todd

What readers are saying

*****

‘ I wish I could adequately convey how much I loved this book’

‘ A beautiful story ? it brought me to tears’

‘ A masterpiece ? compassionate, full of love and hope’

‘ Riveting’

‘ High stakes, high adrenaline and somehow so gentle and moving’

‘ I don’ t think I’ ll ever forget these characters’