The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone

Book Blurb
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…

My Review

Doug Johnstone is best known as a crime author, but with The Space Between Us he successfully moves to Sci-Fi. If you aren’t a sci-fi fan please don’t let this put you off as this is such a beautiful book that touched my heart and soul. Three very different characters, at different times in their life are brought together by Sandy, an octopus from another planet. This takes them on a road trip through the highlands of Scotland, as they try to save Sandy, a trip both physical and emotional that looks at the human condition and how we need others in our lives.

I loved the characters that Doug Johnstone has created, he really gets into their psyche making them relatable and people the reader care about. Lennox, Ava and Heather at first seem very different with no apparent connection apart from seeing lights in the sky and surviving a stroke. However,all three are at a difficult point in their lives; Lennox is sixteen, in a childrens home and being bullied, Ava is eight months pregnant and trying to escape her abusive husband and Heather is suicidal after the loss of her daughter and her diagnosis of terminal cancer. I loved following their stories, how they came together and put total trust in each other in their journey to save Sandy. The most endearing relationship however was between Lennox and Sandy. Sandy seems to understand Lennox and they form a close bond that is beautiful.

Doug Johnstone’s writing and storytelling is sublime. This wasn’t some corny sci-fi, this was a story of connection, friendship and family that is full of hope. I really enjoyed the adventure and fast pace of the road trip, as they try to out run the government. The prose was descriptive, capturing the stunning landscape of the Scottish Highlands, and there was plenty of acion on this adventure.

The Space Between Us is an amazing and life affirming book that I never wanted to end. The characters draw you into their story, and make you really care about what happened to them. Sandy was probably my favourite, they had more humanity than humans and it is through Sandy that we are reminded of the human need to belong, to have friends and family and be part of something. I adored this book, it is full of hope and really touched my heart and soul and I was genuinely sad when I finished it. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and is a must read for everyone.

I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Tours and Orenda Books for my copy of this book in return for my honest review.