One: The breathtakingly tense, emotive new speculative thriller from the bestselling author of The Waiting Rooms (Paperback) - Eve Smith

In a world ravaged by climate change, a young woman's job of enforcing Britain's one-child policy is compromised when she discovers an illegal sibling on the ministry hit list, and that sibling is hers...

In a world ravaged by climate change, a young woman's job of enforcing Britain's one-child policy is compromised when she discovers an illegal sibling on the ministry hit list, and that sibling is hers...

`A tightly paced plot set in an all-too imaginable future ... a page-turning, thought-provoking read Jo Callaghan

'With echoes of V for Vendetta, ONE serves as a stark warning, challenging societal norms and individual sacrifices in the face of adversity' SciFi Now Book of the Month

'Pleasingly terrifying' New Scientist

`A terrifying vision of a global climate emergency, a jaw-dropping government conspiracy and some truly devastating twists ... one hell of a speculative thriller Tom Hindle

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One law. One child. Seven million crimes...

A cataclysmic 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. And 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 catastrophic discovery that could bring down the government ... and tear her family apart.

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`Eve Smith is a master storyteller for our troubled times Simon Conway

`Chillingly plausible ... both thrilling and deeply moving Philippa East

`All too convincing and scientifically plausible ... as much a warning as an entertainment Paul E. Hardisty

`Amazing, beautiful writing, jam-packed with clever ideas Helen Fitzgerald

`Gripping, frightening and deep ... a very brilliant, masterful book Sarah K. Jackson

`Simmering with great intelligence and insight that never fails to be terrifyingly and thrillingly plausible James Goodhand

`A visionary storyteller Awais Khan

`A gripping and pacy thriller set in an all too plausible and terrifying future David Beckler

`Meticulously crafted, no detail is overlooked ... so authentic it doesn't feel speculative at all Sarah Sultoon

`Raises troubling issues about the balance between saving the planet and our individual human rights ... brilliant! Guy Morpuss

`Pulse-pounding and heart-rending in equal measure, this book is a tour-de-force Louise Mumford

`A powerful warning and a gripping thriller Greg Mosse

`A chilling, poignant novel that holds a mirror up to our world ... sensational Vikki Patis

`Gripping and unsettling Shen Yang

`Compulsive and addictive Adam Simcox

`Another taut and terrifying thriller from Eve Smith Louise Swanson

`A terrifying, yet plausible read. Too scary to imagine in reality, and yet... Heather Fitt

`Horrifying and gripping in equal measure ... a jaw-dropping glimpse of the catastrophe around the corner ... Astonishing Lucy Martin

About the Author

Eve Smith writes speculative fiction, mainly about the things that scare her. She attributes her love of all things dark and dystopian to a childhood watching Tales of the Unexpected and black-and-white Edgar Allen Poe double bills. In this world of questionable facts, stats and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues. Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as "an exciting new voice in crime fiction", Eve's debut novel The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was selected as a Book of the Month by Eric Brown in The Guardian who compared her writing to Michael Crichton's. Eve's previous job as COO of an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. When she's not writing she's racing across fields after her dog, trying to organise herself and her family, or off exploring somewhere new. Follow Eve on Twitter @evecsmith & www.evesmithauthor.com Instagram: evesmithauthor Facebook: EveSmithAuthor