ONE LAW
ONE CHILD
7 MILLION CRIMES
What if birth was a crime?
How far would you go to protect your family?
“Pleasingly terrifying”
New Scientist
“Sharp perception and intense images shine out of every page.
Eve Smith is a master storyteller for our troubled times.”
One Law. One Child. Seven Million Crimes.
A catastrophic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of ‘excess’ pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos.
Kai is a 25-year-old ‘baby reaper’, working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price.
Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. To protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out.
Kai’s hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a devastating discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart.
What reviews are saying…
“I love a good speculative thriller, and this one sounds pleasingly terrifying.”
“ONE is a chillingly-plausible tale of societal corruption and control, written with a brilliantly-realised world, great pacing and a storyline that is both thrilling and deeply moving.
Thought-provoking, moving and gripping, ONE proves Smith a top author in the speculative thriller genre.”
“As an illegal excess child who survived China’s One Child Policy, this incredibly gripping book made me relive the fear of being discovered and the tragedy of children being ripped away from their families.
It is a deeply unsettling and powerful reminder that no matter its justification, forced birth control is an abhorrent practice that should never be allowed to happen ever again.”
“A gripping tale of sacrifice, deceit and awakening in a climate-ravaged world.
Eve Smith’s unflinching narrative exposes the dark underbelly of a divided society, forcing us to question our own truths.”
“Loved this. Lots of meaty themes, but at its centre is a great thriller that makes you want to turn the pages. A gripping and pacy read set in an all too plausible and terrifying future.”
“With ONE, Eve Smith has created a terrifyingly plausible vision of the future. This is a page-turning thriller which raises troubling issues about the balance between saving the planet and our individual human rights.
A brilliant piece of speculative fiction!”
“Eve Smith has been building a reputation as the new Michael Crichton, with a brace of well-received techno-thrillers under her belt.
One is another solid, sci-fi conspiracy nailbiter... A pacy, plot-driven page-turner, which gives you a lot to think about and has plenty of twists. ”
Explore the World of
ONE
THE IDEA BEHIND ONE
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
TICKING TIMEBOMBS
CLIMATE JUSTICE