📱 eBook en inglés THE SPACE BETWEEN US: THIS YEAR'S MOST LIFE-AFFIRMING, AWE-INSPIRING READ

When three people suffer strokes after seeing dazzling lights over Edinburgh, then awake completely recovered, theyre 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 Scotlands 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 authorDerek B Miller

If you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure its this oneNina Pottell, Prima

The main characters, their lives and their struggles, are portrayed very vividly. I was straight into this, just like a thrillerIvo 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 dont 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 arent the only ones with an interest in the alien … close behind are Avas husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandys arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine…

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All the makings of a film … such relatable charactersSunetra Sarker on Between the Covers

So readable and accessible … I was really rooting for the charactersAlan Davies on Between the Covers

A gateway book to SciFi … I loved itSara Cox on Between the Covers

A moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park againMark Billingham

A delicious, demanding departure from Doug JohnstoneVal McDermid

Prioritising pace, tension and high stakes … a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective … shot through with vivid characters and a sense of wonderHerald Scotland

An entertaining, fast-paced story of first contact … an emotionally engaging readGuardian

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 understandingRachelle Atalla

Pay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next filmMarnie Riches

Clever and unusual … I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixedSusi Holliday

A mesmerising tale of wonder and hopeMarion 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 a...