Scotland. When Lennox (16, from a care-home) is threatened in the park by Blair and his gang, a bright light appears. When Ava (29), the wife of rich Michael Cross can't cope with his over-possessiveness any more, she sneaks away, 8 months pregnant. A bright light appears. Heather (50) has terminal cancer. Her daughter Rosie (who would have been Lennox's age now) was on chemo then died. She tries to drown herself at the beach. Underwater there's a bright light. A mysterious 5-tentacled creature is washed up on the beach.
Lennox wakes in a ward with Ava, Heather and Blair. All 4 had the same type of stroke. All except Blair have already fully recovered. The rest of Blair's gang all died. Ava's husband collects her. Lennox helps her escape from her home. She used to be his teacher. The 2 of them go to Heather's home. They go to the beach. Lennox and Ava mind-merge with the cephalopod. They nickname the creature Sandy. The creature needs help (others like it are further North). Lennox and Ava carry it to Heather's campervan.
Ewan McKinnon (50, a journalist) is put on the case. When Michael (who has friends in high places) comes to drag Ava away, Ewan sees Sandy stunning him. They disappear to Ava's lesbian sister Freya (I'm unsure why she's in the book). Ewan is questioned by police and by someone called Fellowes, who knows about Sandy and has armed helpers. Ewan keeps in touch with Heather.
We learn that Lennox has had 2 foster families and 6 care homes. Ava had a controlling father. 3 months after he died, she met Michael. Sandy inserts something into Lennox's ear so that they can mind-merge better. Sandy comes from a Saturn moon.
They stop at Urquhart Castle - the campervan is broken. Heather calls her ex Paul for help (after their daughter's death they had to start their lives again, apart. They've not been in contact for 3 years). Sandy swims in Loch Ness. When they have the van mended by the local garage, they (inexplicably - what's wrong with the Loch?) hide Sandy in it. The van disappears. They think it's been impounded and taken to Inverness. Paul, Ewan and Lennox go there. There's tension between Ewan and Paul because of Heather. Ava and Heather stay with Paul's new wife, Iona (c.40). Iona's pregnant. Ava's bleeding but daren't go to hospital. The men find Sandy. Sandy's fellow beings are in Ullapool. The men return to the house. Now only Iona is unaware of Sandy. The local police bring Paul in for questioning.
Ewan and Iona stay. The rest leave. Fellowes arrives. He's MI7. He takes wounded Ewan with him to Ullapool. Ava, Lennox and Sandy mind-merge. At Ullapool Lennox and Sandy swim, meeting the giant Xander. Lennox learns that Sandy's race fled because of invaders. Ava's mother arrives, and Michael. Sandy cures Heather. They escape again. Fellowes chases, with Ewan in the car. Ewan attacks the driver and the chasing vehicles crash. Ewan dies. Ava gives birth with the help of Lennox and Sandy. The aliens plan to stay.
It's fast paced, with a Young Adult feel. The themes of not belonging, and being unable to understand others' minds are sustained. Ava's mother and Michael are one-dimensional. The other characters aren't much more.
Other reviews
- emmasbibliotreasures
- thefictionfox (a thought provoking character-driven first-contact sci-fi novel that explores themes of connection, loneliness and language in the face of meeting a life-form who’s understanding of those things is completely alien from our own. ... I was immediately annoyed with the first few chapters of this novel, especially with the ridiculous depiction of the hospital-scenes ... The entire sequence reads incredibly amateurish on an exposition level)
- bookliterati
- Lisa Tuttle (it’s well told, with relatable characters and important themes making for an emotionally engaging read)
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