The Family Experiment: A dark twisty near future page-turner from the 'master of the speculative thriller'

· Pan Macmillan
4.8
10 reviews
Ebook
400
Pages
Eligible
Ratings and reviews aren’t verified  Learn More
25% price drop on Sep 26

About this ebook

'John Marrs is not to be missed.” Freida McFadden, bestselling author of The Housemaid

'The books of John Marrs have become a quiet phenomenon . . . Thoughtful, well written . . . and alarming' - Daily Mail

Some families are virtually perfect . . .

The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families let, alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen, but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their Virtual Child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby . . .

Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate 'tamagotchi' - a virtual baby.

'His best yet. Frighteningly plausible, gripping, dark, and so clever.' - Claire Douglas, author of The Woman Who Lied

'An unsettling and immersive roller coaster which hurtles towards a chilling denouement - a truly thought-provoking, single-sitting thriller. Loved it. ' - Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club

'Chilling, inventive, horribly plausible and brilliantly addictive.' - C. J. Tudor, author of The Gathering

Ratings and reviews

4.8
10 reviews
Jason Fowell
May 31, 2024
A good read. Very interesting concept set in the not too distant future. With twists I didn't see coming as the story unfolded.
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Julia L
June 22, 2024
Great book! Lots of heavy subjects explored, amazing plot twists as always. LOVE the ending. Thank you!
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mummy Collings
June 2, 2024
brilliant
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About the author

John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. He is the bestselling author of: The One, The Passengers, The Minders, The Marriage Act, What Lies Between and When You Disappeared.

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