The Intergalactic Interloper by Delas Heras #BookReview

When Ollie spots an alien on a nearby rooftop he knows right away that no one is going to believe him. Sure enough, his friends think he is losing it, and even his bandmate, Zara, is convinced he is seeing things. But she still offers to help him track down his cat, who has mysteriously vanished. Together, they follow a trail of clues that leads them inexorably upwards, towards the strange creature lurking on a rooftop overhead.

Title: The Intergalactic Interloper | Author: Delas Heras | Publisher: Double Six Books | Pub. Date: 11th August 2020 | Pages: 218 | ISBN: 9781735317519 | Genre: Science Fiction | Language: English | Starred Review: No | Source: I received a free copy from NetGalley

The Intergalactic Interloper Review

I picked up this novel because I was intrigued by the cover art and the back of the book description. I was looking for a palate cleanser after reading an intense psychological horror novel, and I hoped The Intergalactic Interloper would provide a bit of comedy and fun. In some ways, it delivered. I casually read this book in one sitting, amused by some of the character’s discussions and antics. In other ways, I think this story didn’t reach it’s full potential.

My main concern with this book lies in the plot. If this were a middle school or young adult novel, I think it would be a home run. The story starts with fun looking aliens landing in New York City to study not just humans but cats. Ollie’s cat has gone missing, but not because the aliens have abducted it. Unfortunately, the aliens have little to do with any of the characters until the final moments, which is a shame since they are the most interesting piece of the story. I would have loved for their role to play a larger part from the beginning. Without them, the book focuses on Ollie’s quest to find Pirate, his missing cat, with the help of his bandmate Zara.

This is when the story started to remind me of the Air Bud movie franchise. There’s an pet owner, a “not too evil but evil enough” villain who hates animals, and a bit of high jinks to rescue the creature in distress. As an adult, this type of story doesn’t hold my attention. Even when I look for wholesome reads, I still long for the content to rise to a certain level of adult humor. This is where the alien sub-plot could have been utilized. As written, the main story line works better for a younger audience.

You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on Goodreads (Buying direct from retailers is a good way to support indie authors); however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.