Joyride, by Guy Adams
Second paragraph of third chapter:
"Of course it is, The biggest. The best."Set between episodes 2 and 3, this is a decent self-contained story of alien tech exploited by nasty humans - the "Joyride" of the title allows people to take over other people's bodies for a short time, and cause havoc with no consequences to themselves but plenty for their unwilling hosts. Guy Adams wrote a couple of Torchwood books as well (The House That Jack Built and The Men Who Sold The World) which both explored the background of the Torchwood universe in a bit more depth; he doesn't do that so much here, because the palette of present-day human depravity is background enough. Particularly good for Ram fans.
The Stone House, by A.K. Benedict
Second paragraph of third chapter:
If the rumours are true then kids have visited and gone missing, that others have died. You'd think that'd make it the perfect place for teenagers to dare and date each other but most stay away. Last time Tanya was here, she'd stepped inside the porch and felt so cold and alone that she ran out and didn't come back. Until now.A.K. Benedict is a new writer to me, with a couple of novels edging between fantasy and crime, and also a rather fun Torchwood audio, The Victorian Age. This is a straightforward haunted house story, very similar in fact to this year's Doctor Who episode Knock Knock, though with some good moments from Tanya and some great moments from Miss Quill, and with plotline involving a Syrian refugee, also trapped in the haunted house, for a contemporary feel. It's set between episodes 3 and 4. All in the present tense for some reason.
What She Does next Will Astound You, by James Goss
Second paragraph of third chapter:
Learning how to make his new leg work? Worth it.James Goss is one of the most consistently excellent writers in the Whoniverse right now, and he's pulled it off again here: this is a great book, both thrilling and funny, about social media, fake news, memes, and awful alien invasion from a parallel reality (and perhaps the former producer of the BBC's Cult TV website has been thinking about these themes for a while). He even manages to make April's character look interesting (and has some quite good Charlie/Matteusz exchanges). The three books are all pretty decent efforts, but this is the best of them. (Not sure when it is set, but I think also between episodes 3 and 4 is the most likely.)
Alas, there are unlikely to be more of these, but I'm glad we have what we have.
