A strange Alien presence has come to Cardiff (okay, maybe that sounds the norm for this series) and has taken up residence in Davey Morgan's allotment shed. And it's having a hell of an effect on the locals. A very typical plot for a Torchwood story you will think if you've seen the show.

Having watched the first two series of the newly relaunched Doctor Who I decided to read one of the Doctor Who tie-in novels. Now having watched the first of its adult-oriented spin-off series Torchwood I thought it might be worth trying one of the books based on this very Welsh sf TV series.

Well the book maintains the Welshness, and also the amateurishness feel of the series. It is one of the things I do rather like about the series. I find it rather odd that when you put people into an Earth vs. the Aliens situation, it is often assumed that people would very quickly "get into the swing of things" and seem as though they have been doing it their entire lives and have doctorate degrees in Alien technology and culture.

The members of Torchwood 3, however are so wonderfully haphazard and prone to screw-ups that they seem more realistic.

This feeling holds true in this novel. They still lurch from one near disaster to the next, putting everything on the line in defence of Earth. But the one difference between this and other Torchwood adventures is the team. The main part of the plot as described above is secondary to the fact that the Torchwood crew contains an extra member, James, and that no explanation is given up front and everyone acts as though he has been there forever.

This twist could have been an absolute disaster had it been handled badly, and given that this is a write-to-hire job hopes of excellent plotting are always fulfilled. In recent times though media tie-in novels have undergone something of a renaissance and this book is continuing the trend. Now this is not to say this is a great piece of literature. It isn't. But it is a decent read, and a way of getting the next Torchwood fix before the second series arrives.

Synopsis
'The twenty-first century is when it all changes, and you've got to be ready.' Separate from the government; outside the police, beyond the United Nations: Torchwood sets its own rules. A team of investigators uses alien technology to solve crime - both alien and human. This new British sci-fi crime thriller, created by Russell T Davies, sees them delve into the unknown. A group of people fight the impossible. A terror hides at the bottom of Cardiff Bay - waiting, feeding, controlling...this novel is a brand new Torchwood adventure.