A great debut novel of war, religion, first contact and ecology – reminiscent of Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow – from a talented new voice in science fiction.

The mission should have been an easy one – send eight scientists, six Royal Marines, and a disgraced anti–terrorism officer 25 light years from Earth to determine the status of the missing Constantine colony, take scientific samples and data from the potentially rich planet, and return to Earth to forthcoming professional and financial reward.

But what no–one knows is that Cavanaugh's Star is a territory disputed by three alien races – and the mission's landed right in the middle of the demilitarised zone. The reclusive religious human colony that has somehow miraculously survived isn't pleased to see them, either. And the planet has its own secrets, in the form of an enigmatic alien named Aras.

Nothing in her tough police training can prepare Shan Frankland for keeping the peace between alien and human or even human and human as the conflicts escalate into outright violence, especially once a disastrous accident finds her carrying the secret of Constantine's survival – one that will make her the most hunted human in four worlds.