DOUG JOHNSTONE

Struggling to come to terms with the suicide of her teenage son, Ellie lives in the shadows of the Forth Road Bridge, lingering on its footpaths and swimming in the waters below. One day she talks down another suicidal teenager, Sam, and sees for herself a shot at redemption, the chance to atone for her son's death. But even with the best intentions, she can't foresee the situation she's falling headlong into - a troubled family, with some very dark secrets of their own. This is from number 1 bestselling author of Gone Again, The Jump is a hugely moving contemporary thriller, and a stunning portrait of an unlikely heroine.

Your best mate just fell off a cliff in mysterious circumstances and you were the last person to see him alive, what do you do? Well, if you're David Lindsay from Arbroath, you get the hell out of there and don't return. Not for at least fifteen years. Until Nicola Cruickshank - yes, that Nicola, the girl you always fancied but never had the guts to approach - gets in touch and asks - no, demands - that you go back for a school reunion. To the place where it happened. The place you've been running from for fifteen years. Of course you go. Not to belatedly lay your mate to rest, but because you still fancy Nicola. The thing is, if you are David Lindsay, then returning to Arbroath isn't going to lay any ghosts to rest. And when someone else takes a dive off the cliffs - an act the locals have taken to calling 'tombstoning' - while David's there, he has a choice: run away again, or finally find out why people keep dying around him...

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 MillerIf you read one life-affirming book this year, make sure its this oneNina Pottell, PrimaThe main characters, their lives and their struggles, are portrayed very vividly. I was straight into this, just like a thrillerIvo Graham on Between the CoversConnecting will change everythingLennox 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 imagineAll the makings of a film such relatable charactersSunetra Sarker on Between the CoversSo readable and accessible I was really rooting for the charactersAlan Davies on Between the CoversA gateway book to SciFi I loved itSara Cox on Between the CoversA moving as it is magical and mysterious. Doug Johnstone has hit it out of the park againMark BillinghamA delicious, demanding departure from Doug JohnstoneVal McDermidPrioritising pace, tension and high stakes a plea for empathy, compassion and perspective shot through with vivid characters and a sense of wonderHerald ScotlandAn entertaining, fast-paced story of first contact an emotionally engaging readGuardianA gloriously hopeful story and a perfect road trip movie just waiting to be madeJames OswaldAn adrenaline-filled ride of a novel, laced with empathy and understandingRachelle AtallaPay attention, Steven Spielberg! This could be your next filmMarnie RichesClever and unusual I was on a journey with these characters, and completely transfixedSusi HollidayA mesmerising tale of wonder and hopeMarion ToddWhat readers are saying*****I wish I could adequately convey how much I loved this bookA beautiful story it brought me to tearsA masterpiece compassionate, full of love and hopeRivetingHigh stakes, high adrenaline and somehow so gentle and movingI dont think Ill ever forget these characters

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 'A sci-fi novel that is as 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 ------------------------------------------ Connecting will change everything... Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family.