Child Zero – Print

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In a Britain where the birth rate has collapsed, two women on opposite sides of the motherhood debate uncover a chilling medical deception at the heart of the government’s fight to rebuild the population… Queen of the Ethical Medical Thriller, Eve Smith, returns with a searing, explosive new speculative thriller…

‘Cements Smith’s position as the queen of the speculative crime thriller’ David Goodman

‘We should all be reading Eve’s cautionary tales’ Philippa East

‘Yet another piece of insightfully thrilling writing from the master of ethical science dystopia’ SciFi Now

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The birth rate is collapsing. Not because people can’t have children. Because they don’t want them.

In a Britain buckling under climate chaos, economic breakdown and growing unrest, the government is running out of time. Baby bonuses, motherhood medals, state adoption schemes – nothing is rebuilding a generation that has almost vanished.

Kit is a giraffe keeper at a local wildlife park, more at ease with animals than people. Part of a movement for voluntary human extinction, she believes the future depends on action, not words.

Ayla is a plant scientist at a prestigious biotech firm. Adopted by the state at birth, she was raised to believe motherhood is her duty. But no matter how hard she tries, she cannot carry a child to term.

Then Kit receives a message from an elusive whistleblower, claiming to have evidence that could bring down the government. As her path collides with Ayla’s, they uncover a deception more horrifying than either could have imagined.

One that will tear their lives – and the country – apart…

Queen of the ethical medical thriller, Eve Smith, returns with a provocative, unsettling speculative thriller about motherhood, choice and the dangerous line between protecting the future and controlling it … in a world running out of children…