In the latest offering from John Marrs, "The Family Experiment," readers are whisked away into a future that feels alarmingly within reach yet fervently hoped to remain in the realm of fiction. With his signature knack for crafting gripping narratives, Marrs delivers yet another compelling read, marrying short, punchy chapters with many intriguing hooks that ensure the pages almost turn themselves.
Set against the backdrop of a meticulously imagined future, the novel explores the complexities of human relationships through the lens of an experiment that challenges the very fabric of family dynamics. Marrs masterfully weaves together the stories of a diverse cast of characters, each richly developed and harbouring their own secrets and desires. It's this intricate portrayal of character depth that underscores Marrs's skill as a storyteller, making it impossible not to become invested in their journeys.
A standout character is undoubtedly Hudson, whose backstory not only adds layers to his already complex persona but also serves as a focal point for some of the novel's most poignant moments. Marrs has a unique ability to create characters that resonate deeply with readers, and Hudson exemplifies this talent, embodying both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.
As the narrative unfolds, Marrs masterfully builds tension, leading to a series of revelations that are as shocking as they are satisfying. It's a reflection of his storytelling prowess that these twists feel both unexpected and inevitable, a balancing act that few authors achieve as effectively.
"The Family Experiment" is more than just a riveting read; it's a thought-provoking exploration of potential futures. Marrs has an uncanny ability to tap into contemporary anxieties, projecting them into futures that are both fascinating and terrifying in their plausibility. This novel, like his others, sits on the precipice of imagination and reality, serving as a stark reminder of the paths humanity might tread if not cautious.
In conclusion, John Marrs's "The Family Experiment" is a masterful blend of suspense, emotion, and speculative fiction. It's a book that not only entertains but also invites reflection on the direction in which we're headed. For fans of Marrs's work and newcomers alike, this is a fantastic journey into a future that is hopefully confined to the pages of fiction. A truly exceptional read that reaffirms Marrs as a titan of the genre.

I literally finished this is like 9 hours. I physically couldn't out it down.

As a relative new reader into Marr's world it was engaging and it draws you in so much. It makes me desperate to continue reading into this world.

The easiest 5 stars of the year

I was really excited for this one, and it didn’t disappoint!! A really intriguing thriller, with a unique storyline. This was my first John Marrs book and I will defiantly seek out his others, I really enjoyed it!

I'm always excited for a new John Marrs, and I dove straight into this one after receiving the ARC.
The Family Experiment is a game show where couples compete to win money for IVF treatment. In order to win, they have to successfully take care of an AI baby for nine months. The audience can watch along with the parents' every move, and will decide on the winner after the nine months are over.
Again a John Marrs book full of twists.

I absolutely love these speculative fiction books by John Marrs - I think the best thing is that although it is obviously fiction, it all seems terrifyingly possible.

I enjoyed getting to know the families in the experiment and the drip feeding of information made the pacing perfect in my opinion. I think it's great that the author doesn't shy away from including shocking moments, his books definitely do not always go down the 'happy ever after' route, so you never know what to expect.

I would definitely recommend this, I found it exciting and a really interesting read.

Oh have I been missing out on so much not picking up a a John Marrs book sooner this was incredible. Completely unique like nothing I’ve ever read before !
I absolutely love it !! It’s so well written I could actually see it playing out.
So much imagination and creativeness has gone into this. I would definitely watch it as a film in fact I need it as a film. I can’t put into words how much I enjoy it, it really was brilliant.
I loved the characters I loved setting the plot everything was better than I could imagine.

In a world where population pressures and economic crises mean that people can no longer afford to have or raise children, the irresistible opportunity to cash in by using a reality television show is bound to be exploited.

The idea is to hook viewers into watching selected families try to raise a virtual child from zero to eighteen years in a condensed nine month period (any coincidence that they chose the length of an average pregnancy as the child rearing period?) members of the public will vote for the various families, and in the end the winners will get to choose: either keep their virtual child, or trade it in for the opportunity to have a real baby.

John Marrs continues to keep readers spellbound as we explore the unsetting world he has created in his previous books like The Passengers. This is a chilling read, but I suspect the scariest thing about it is the sneaking suspicion that - given the world we already live in - this is not entirely unthinkable as some version of the future.

He’s done it again.
This book is set in the same world as The One/The Passengers etc.

In a world that’s had a financial crash and people can’t afford housing or food let alone children here comes The Family Experiment!

A virtual game show you can raise a child from 0-18 years in 9 months (children grow quicker).. it’s live streamed and the public can react to how the contestants are getting on with parenting or vote for them to do the “monthly task”. At the end of the game the winner gets to choose to either keep the child in the virtual world OR take some cash to help them try for a “real world” baby… Sounds simple right?! Errrrr nope!!!!!

I’m not going to spoil it… I could not put this book down! The characters drew me in very quickly and their stories run and link in such an effortless way throughout the book. I felt this book had a slightly different “feel” about it to some of his others but my goodness it was a gem of a book!!! I am so pleased and feel very lucky to have been able to read and review it! I am angry at John Marrs for some of the twists and events that happened 🤣 some of the things I didn’t see coming and some things I thought would happen didn’t… BUT that’s why I adore him as a writer.

Thank you to John for his fabulous writing, the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved it so much! It is set in the same era as the one, the passengers and the marriage act and is just as good if not better. I felt so many emotions throughout the book and it really made me think about what I would do in those situations. How does John Marrs come up with these ideas?! Absolute genius he is. Easily my favourite dystopian book so far. Highly recommended. I wish I could give it 10 stars .

There are three things that concern me when I read a Marrs book, 1)that his mind goes where its gone 2)that's he's usually inspired by an article he's read 3) this could be the future.

Every time, he gets me. Situations that don't seem too far fetched, yet are crazy.
A varied cast of characters, nods to previous books, actual scenarios that make you wonder what WOULD you do, and more than a few surprises up his sleeve.
Another cracking read.

Just when you think John Marrs can't possibly come up with any more speculative fiction, he writes THE FAMILY EXPERIMENT!

Set again in the same world at The One, The Marriage Act and The Passengers, The Family Experiment looks at parenting in ways that any normal person wouldn't, but that's what we love about John Marrs - he is definitely NOT normal.

Imagine a world where people can no longer afford to start a family, cities are overcrowded and we are in the midst of an economic crisis (hang on.. I thought this was speculative fiction!). There is now another option... you can have a virtual child - all you have to do is take part in a reality show (Squid Games meets Big Brother), raise a child from birth to 18 in front of a live audience who will judge your parenting skills and then vote. The winning couple can either keep their virtual child or take the cash and try for their own real life baby. (If it were up to me, I'd take the cash and go travelling).

As in previous Marrs' books, there is a large cast of characters, each telling their own story throughout the book. Initially all the couples appear to have nothing in common, but the author has a skill of weaving them together seamlessly.

If you loved this author's previous books - then you will absolutely LOVE this one. Another clever, original and thought-provoking thriller which easily gets 5 stars from me.