I do not read sci-fi. Just putting it out there. It’s not my preferred genre and whilst I have a very scientific mind, it’s just not a genre I’ve ever been engaged by. If there was one author I would be willing to make an exception for, then it is Doug Johnstone. I love his writing style and I know that he can be trusted to deliver a book which goes far beyond what the blurb may suggest. This is absolutely the case with The Space Between Us which, whilst having it’s roots – or perhaps tentacles – in science-fiction, goes far beyond a simple first contact story with a being from another planet, into a story which is an exquisite look at human nature, a need to find our place in life, and the trials and harsh tribulations we endure on our journey. Yes, Sandy – the alien life form in question – is an intrinsic part of this story, the reason that binds three very different people in one united quest, but they are not all this story is about. They are a conduit, a channel through which our focus and attention flies while we contemplate the much bigger picture. Loss, loneliness, and domestic violence all feature and inform the story combining to create a novel which I didn’t want to end. The story begins as our three main protagonists face very different twists in their fate. Lennox is a teenager living in care, faced with the wrath of some local bullies. Heavily pregnant Eva is trying to find a way to escape an abusive marriage. Heather is deep in grief, mourning the loss of her daughter and her own failing health. All of them have one thing in common – they are all outside when a mysterious light passes over Edinburgh, one which causes people to black out and to suffer from debilitating, if not fatal, strokes. The three make a miraculous recovery, and, drawn together by their experience, set out to find out just why they thrived where others did not. This brings them face to tentacle with ‘Sandy’, an octopus style creature which has washed up on a nearby shore. For me, the wonderful characters that Doug Johnstone has developed are what really drew me into the story. I could really feel Lennox’s defiance and his need to feel like he belongs. The bond he formed with Sandy, that closeness that surpasses anything that Ava or Heather feel, really enthralled me. The communication between them, the understanding, is reminiscent of the bond between a certain short legged, waddling alien with an obscenely long finger from a well loved 80’s movie, and his new friend Ell-ee-ot, but there is so much more to Sandy, a real cognisance which helps to develop our understanding of what is happening. It is a beautiful bond. As for Ava, her journey is as much emotional as it is a literal. Breaking free from a marriage marred by coercive control and a constant threat of violence, and reconnecting with family she though lost is truly moving, portrayed in a way which creates as much anger as it does sympathy. As for Heather, she created a mixture of emotions. At times she seems strong and fully in control, and yet the sense of loss emanates from her and her vulnerability and sadness is always there, just below the surface. Doug Johnstone is a master at manipulating our emotions and he does a brilliant job here. I felt myself willing them to succeed, not only in their quest to help Sandy, but in their personal journey. And the literal journey is fraught with danger, as they are persued not only by Ava’s husband but by people who want to take Sandy for their own fortunes. Sandy is an amazingly well imagined creature. I was actually really drawn to them, so much so I really think we need a line in Sandy plushies to accompany the book. But their journey is far more than just a bid to return home, They too are looking for a place to belong, a safe haven from violence which is very reminiscent of scenes far less galactic and much closer to home. There is a socio-political statement wrapped up in this book, subtle but effective. Its about displacement through invasion, the search for safe haven and, more importantly, finding a way to communicate even when the barriers are far more substantial than the lack of a Sandy-Scottish Duolingo course. I wish I could adequately convey how much I loved this book. I know I’ve made a horlicks of it so far. But if you are looking for beautifully lyrical writing, a heartwarming, fast paced, often tense look at friendships that surpass all boundaries, an exploration of the very basic need for connection and a place to belong, then this is the book for you. As I said before, I don’t read Sci-Fi, but I wouldn’t hesitate for one minute to recommend this book. It’s divine.

Read in the course of a few days, thoroughly enjoyed it

I love Doug Johnstone’s books but I knew this one was going in a different direction. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained. Yes, it is sci-fi (I don’t read sci-fi) but not as you know it - hang on, that sounds like a Star Trek line! A road trip like no other ensues when a meteor passes over Edinburgh causing multiple people to have a specific type of stroke. Some die but Lennox, Ava & Heather miraculously recover & feel drawn to each other as well as a telepathic octopus called Sandy. Yes, really. I can’t say much more without spoilers but I loved this book. Fast-paced but it also has an ethereal feel, especially when Sandy is involved. They are a fabulous character & unite our intrepid trio through their physical journey & that of their growing friendship. Pick it up with an open mind & enjoy this wonderful story.

In his new novel Doug Johnstone - whose most recent works include the Skelfs detective series set at an Edinburgh undertaker's - really doesn't hang about, plunging us right into a fantastical plot with three varied and intriguing protagonists. Told in short chapters with dramatic changes of view, we quickly learn who is who. Lennox is a lonely teenager living in a children's home. Ava is pregnant and trying to escape her coercive, in fact outright abusive, husband. Heather has lost her daughter and her husband, she has cancer and, when we first see her, is trying to end her own life. All are about to have their destinies and lives changed when they encounter first, a strange light in the sky which leaves them hospitalised then miraculously healed, and secondly, a peculiar octopus-like creature washed up on the Edinburgh shoreline and affectionately named Sandy by the three. In chapters told from their alternate perspectives, and those of a couple of other characters who are drawn in, we follow events during a frantic road trip across Scotland with several different but equally sinister authorities intent on capturing Sandy (I have tagged this review "Men in black") and a furious husband chasing down Ava. (An interesting juxtaposition). The different viewpoints make for a clever technique - Ava, Lennox and Heather have a lot to come to terms with, both their own variously troubled lives and Sandy's unique nature. Their developing relationships with each other complicate this, and plot shock about. Johnstone's approach allows him, though all this, to both reveal and, at times, to conceal, just what is happening, allowing the author sometimes to not describe things from the perspective of whoever has the clearest view, preserving ambiguity and building tension. That ambiguity is at the heart of the story - we know how the scared authorities will react to Sandy, we know that Ava's husband has no good intentions for her, but what we don't know is how the gang will ultimately process what's going, how they will assimilate the incredible moral challenge presented by Sandy's existence and his need. Nor how those on whom whey will depend for help will react. It all comes down to empathy, to the balance between their fears for their own future and their capacity for love, their ability to go on hoping. I don't want to over intellectualise this or make it sound over solemn, because its not. It's the very opposite. The Space Between Us is a thriller about human (and non human) nature, but it's a fun read, morally clear in that you can happily hiss at a couple of the characters and root for the others, (even if at times they do play fast and loose with legal niceties). As a science fiction adventure (that's not really a spoiler) the setup is by no means original - I could draw parallels with at least one well known film and a couple of other recent novels - but Johnstone brings to it his ability to create fresh and lively characters who quickly become very real to his readers. They are people you feel for - full of complexities and quirks and above all very very human. Additionally, the Scottish setting gives the whole thing an air of familiarity and localness which makes it all seem very plausible. And who doesn't love a good road trip? In summary, The Space Between Us is a fresh and enjoyable story which explores some fundamental themes about what it is to be connected - or not. Tears may well have been shed over it... definitely recommended!

Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy, I have read and enjoyed Doug's books previously but they were definitely not the same style as this one. This is most definitely Doug stepping or should we say leaping into a new genre. However, on the basis of his previous books I was prepared to at least give this new book a go. I found I was quite literally sucked into the book, unique story telling and highly addictive - which is quite a surprise because from the blurb it is something I would never have picked up in a book shop. Loved the characters, enjoyed the plot and the pace. I suspect a follow up book might occur... and I would be very happy to give that one a read too. Bizarre, addictive, unique - recommended.