NEVER in a million years would I have thought that I would willingly read anything by a chick-lit author, but in this case exceptions must be made as author J T Colgan is actually Jenny Colgan, the writer of 13 best-selling books.

The action takes place on an island off the northern tip of what will become Scotland at the time when Viking raids were popular (among the Vikings anyway).

The Eleventh Doctor, travelling alone, arrives at around the same time as a Viking ship carrying the princess Freydis to Iceland, runs into trouble when encountering a strange fire.

A fire that cannot be stopped by water.

The Doctor has to try and keep the peace between the islanders and Vikings – a problem that is exacerbated when another Viking ship runs into trouble.

Adding to his problems, the TARDIS is acting up and appears to be frightened of water!

Armed with his sonic screwdriver and his wits, the Doctor must keep the peace and try to contact the fire.

Saying no more about the plot….. spoilers.

A life-long Who fan, Jenny Colgan once won a competition to meet the Doctor; on meeting her, Peter Davison (the then Doctor) mistook her for a boy.

Her interest and liking for the show is apparent as she has got the character of the Doctor perfectly – with just a hint of the tenth Doctor in there.

These ‘adult’ novels can be a little hard-going at times, Michael Moorcock’s The Coming of the Terraphiles being a case-in-point, but this is not the case here.

Jenny – or should I say JT? – makes the action roll on pretty much like a TV episode and I have to say that it’s pretty much high-speed all the way through.

It was a cinch to visualise everything that was taking place on the pages in my mind’s eye, and this is definitely not a bad thing.

It could also help to introduce ‘younger’ readers to the more ‘grown-up’ kind of book.

Who-stuff aside, it is obvious that Jenny has also done a lot of research into the Vikings and Scottish tribes (in the days before they were clans.

So overall, a great story, told with flair and action to keep the fans glued to the pages.

Published on July 7 2012 by BBC Books.

ISBN 978-1-849-90456-8