THIS has been a great year for stories that take liberties with genre and blur the boundaries between fantasy and reality.

Liminal by Bee Lewis (Salt) is an assured debut novel that explores the ways in which myth, dream and landscape affect our behaviour and perception. It’s also a gripping thriller concerning a damaged marriage, a pregnant amputee and the ambiguous motives of a menacing visitor.

[[{"fid":"9237","view_mode":"inlineright","fields":{"format":"inlineright","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Impressive: Julie C Day, author of Uncommon Miracles","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"inlineright","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Impressive: Julie C Day, author of Uncommon Miracles","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"alt":"Impressive: Julie C Day, author of Uncommon Miracles","class":"media-element file-inlineright","data-delta":"1"}}]]In it, Esther and Dan are trying to build a new life in the Scottish Highlands in the wake of tragedy and betrayal when the mysterious Mike walks into their lives.