In an all-too-possible near future, when genetic engineering has become the norm for humans, parents are prepared to take incalculable risks to ensure that their babies are perfect – altering genes that may cause illness, and more…
Susan has been trying for a baby for years, and when an impulsive one-night stand makes her dream come true, she’ll do anything to keep her daughter and ensure her husband doesn’t find out … including the unthinkable. She believes her secret is safe. For now.
But as governments embark on a perilous genetic arms race and children around the globe start experiencing a host of distressing symptoms – even taking their
own lives – something truly horrendous is unleashed. Because those children have only one thing in common, and people are starting to ask questions…
Eve Smith writes speculative fiction – mainly about the things that scare her – which she attributes to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and black-and-white Edgar Allen Poe double bills. Previously COO of an
environmental charity, she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. Twitter @evecsmith; Instagram: evesmithauthor; Facebook: EveSmithAuthor and http://www.evesmithauthor.com.
The Review
This dystopian thriller really is brilliant. I was drawn in to the story immediately and I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I put it down!
If you can ask yourself what you would do if you were desperate for a child of your own, where would you stop? This is set in a near future where anything is possible, or is it? Would you be a human Guinea pig in the quest for a perfect life and a perfect family? You might say no immediately but would you really? I could feel Susan’s desperation and although I wanted her to do the right thing, the sensible thing she didn’t always. And I wouldn’t have expected her to. The book would have been unbelievable had she done so. It’s a book where you can easily start off saying I would never do that. Then as things move on and the story moves apace you start to really sympathise and understand what drives Susan so badly. I felt deeply for her and where you could easily topple into judging her I actually thought but what if? Having some unseen disabilities myself, I was made to think what would happen if that had been me, and my parents were given ‘options’ to eradicate them. This is a brilliant book and I feel these sort of choices aren’t massively far away. I’m glad that Eve Smith unflinchingly addresses them and still writes a believable and very touching story. Bravo!
Eve Smith’s writing is sensitive and realistic, showing how easily we all can hide secrets and maybe even shield ourselves from them. I loved everything about this book and I was actually sad to turn the last page.
With thanks to Anne Cater, Orenda Books and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
Books’n’banter 