Off-Target

When a one-night stand leads to a long-desired pregnancy, Susan will do anything to ensure her husband won't find out . including the unthinkable. But when something horrendous is unleashed around the globe, her secret isn't the only thing that is no longer safe. 'The first half is a high-concept thriller; the second edges into science fiction as a generation of genetically optimised children respond to the social pressures they are under . an astute, well-researched and convincing novel of ideas' The Times 'If you could create a "perfect" baby through genetic engineering, would you? A disturbing and interesting thriller, perfect for book club discussions' Nina Pottell, Prima 'A fantastic exploration of the ethics and allure of genetic engineering woven into a captivating, thought-provoking thriller. Provocative, pacy and scarily all-too-possible' Philippa East ------------ An unthinkable decision A deadly mistake In an all-too-possible near future, when genetic engineering has become the norm for humans, not just crops, 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. Bestselling author of The Waiting Rooms , Eve Smith returns with an authentic, startlingly thought-provoking, disturbing blockbuster of a thriller that provides a chilling glimpse of a future that's just one modification away. 'An effective thriller that will keep you hooked to the very end . more than that, it's a nuanced, believable examination of how human genetic engineering might play out...' SFX Magazine   'A brilliantly chilling work of speculative fiction - a disturbing but all-too-possible vision of the near future, where each of us gets to play God. Superb!' Guy Morpuss 'Sharp, intelligent, frightening and original' NB Magazine 'An eerily prophetic near-future viewed through a compassionately anchoring lens ... As tempting and tantalising a read as the vision of the future it presents' SciFi Now 'This is what speculative fiction should be - plausible, pacy, and with a story that packs real emotional punch' Louise Mumford 'When a writer's work is compared to Michael Crichton's, there's reason to sit up and pay attention . a cautionary tale that's full of thrills' LoveReading   'With jaw-dropping twists, high stakes and so much heart, this is a book that everyone will be talking about' Awais Khan 'Fast-paced, emotional, disturbing. Lovers of cleverly plotted speculative fiction should jump on this' Catherine McCarthy 'Eve Smith has done it again! A brilliant read' J.M. Hewitt 'One of the most exciting writers around . master of the high-concept thriller' Chris McDonald 'Eve Smith has crafted a world that feels not only lived-in, but utterly plausible' Russel McLean 'Captivating' Professor Joanna Verran 'Eve Smith is becoming the Jodi Picoult of speculative medical thrillers' The Reading Closet Praise for The Waiting Rooms ***** 'Combines the excitement of a medical thriller à la Michael Crichton with sensitive characterisation and social insight in a timely debut novel all the more remarkable for being conceived and written before the current pandemic' Guardian 'STUNNING and terrifying . The Waiting Rooms  wrenches your heart in every way possible' Miranda Dickinson 'Chillingly close to reality, this gripping thriller brims with authenticity . a captivating, accomplished and timely debut from an author to watch' Adam Hamdy 'Engrossing and eye-opening, with heart-stopping plot twists . a stunning medical thriller set in a terrifying possible future' Foreword Reviews   For fans of Emily St John Mandel, Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen and Louise Dought