Michelle Johnston is an emergency physician and an author, whose author profile online ends with the line: ‘she is occupied searching for the beauty and awe in an often-brutal reality.’ Her new novel, Tiny Uncertain Miracles, indeed seems to be a product of that search.

Our protagonist, Marick, came to God late in life hoping to find answers. Marick lives in exile from his former life as a husband and father after a catastrophic health event involving his daughter Claudia, which is blamed solely on Marick’s perceived neglect of her care.

Despite pulling himself together after his inconceivable loss and beginning a new life, his attempts at the pulpit are deemed unsuccessful by his Deacon, and Marick finds himself in the role of Hospital Chaplain in the hospital across the road from his former church. Deep underground in the building, Marick meets Hugo, a scientist who believes he has miraculously found a way to get bacteria to produce gold. Alongside Hugo, we also meet a deeply original and believable cast of characters, each with their own tales of love, grief, loss and most remarkably, hope.

Johnston has delivered a compelling and skilfully constructed novel full to brimming with families, friendship, the intricacies of flawed human behaviour and the frailty of the human body. It will make you smile while breaking your heart. Johnston’s years of expertise as an emergency physician is evident not only in her realistic portrayal of scientific and medical procedures, but also her keen observation of the ways in which people behave on what can be the worst or best day of their lives. Fans of Hilde Hinton’s A Solitary Walk on the Moon and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine will find a home in their hearts for Tiny Uncertain Miracles.

Tye Cattanach is a schools and libraries specialist at Readings