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The Cure: The chilling, powerful new speculative thriller from the author of ONE
Living forever can be lethal...
Ruth is a law-abiding elder, working out her national service, but she has secrets.
Her tireless research into the disease that killed her young daughter had an unexpected the discovery of a vaccine against old age. Just one jab a year wards off age-related diseases, guaranteeing long, healthy life.
But Ruth' s cure was hijacked by her colleague, Erik Grundleger, and his elderly billionaire backer, who hunger for immortality, and SuperJuve – a premium upgrade – was created, driving human lifespan to a new high. The wealthy elite who take it are the Supers, and the population begins to rocket.
Then, a perilous side-effect of SuperJuve emerges, with catastrophic consequences, and as the planet is threatened, the population rebels, and laws are passed to restore life ends at 120. Supers are tracked down by Omnicide investigators like Mara, and executed.
Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers, and she forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth to find Grundleger.
But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical and is one step ahead, with a deadly surprise in store for both of them...
Ruth is a law-abiding elder, working out her national service, but she has secrets.
Her tireless research into the disease that killed her young daughter had an unexpected the discovery of a vaccine against old age. Just one jab a year wards off age-related diseases, guaranteeing long, healthy life.
But Ruth' s cure was hijacked by her colleague, Erik Grundleger, and his elderly billionaire backer, who hunger for immortality, and SuperJuve – a premium upgrade – was created, driving human lifespan to a new high. The wealthy elite who take it are the Supers, and the population begins to rocket.
Then, a perilous side-effect of SuperJuve emerges, with catastrophic consequences, and as the planet is threatened, the population rebels, and laws are passed to restore life ends at 120. Supers are tracked down by Omnicide investigators like Mara, and executed.
Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers, and she forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth to find Grundleger.
But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical and is one step ahead, with a deadly surprise in store for both of them...
300 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2025
35 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Eve Smith
4 books121 followersEve writes speculative fiction, mainly about the things that scare her.
Longlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as "an exciting new voice in crime fiction", Eve Smith’s debut novel The Waiting Rooms, set during a global antibiotic crisis was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was a Guardian book of the month.
Her second thriller, Off Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children has become routine, was a pick of the month in The Times, who described it as: "an astute, well-researched and convincing novel of ideas".
Her third thriller, ONE, set in a one-child policy Britain ravaged by the climate crisis was longlisted for Best Novel in the British Science Fiction Association Awards and was a New Scientist and SciFiNow pick.
Her latest novel, THE CURE, out in April, explores the catastrophic consequences of a cure for ageing which is hijacked by immortalist obsessives.
Eve 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 and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues.
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, attempting to organise herself and her family or off exploring somewhere new.
Follow Eve: @evecsmith on X www.evesmithauthor.com
evesmithauthor on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, Facebook
Longlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as "an exciting new voice in crime fiction", Eve Smith’s debut novel The Waiting Rooms, set during a global antibiotic crisis was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was a Guardian book of the month.
Her second thriller, Off Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children has become routine, was a pick of the month in The Times, who described it as: "an astute, well-researched and convincing novel of ideas".
Her third thriller, ONE, set in a one-child policy Britain ravaged by the climate crisis was longlisted for Best Novel in the British Science Fiction Association Awards and was a New Scientist and SciFiNow pick.
Her latest novel, THE CURE, out in April, explores the catastrophic consequences of a cure for ageing which is hijacked by immortalist obsessives.
Eve 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 and news, she believes storytelling is more important than ever to engage people in real life issues.
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, attempting to organise herself and her family or off exploring somewhere new.
Follow Eve: @evecsmith on X www.evesmithauthor.com
evesmithauthor on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 20, 2025
Another powerful, terrifying, thought provoking read by Eve smith! Really enjoyed this & think it would make a brilliant book club book!
Thank you for the arc 😘
Thank you for the arc 😘
April 25, 2025
What I love about Eve’s writing is the way she makes the fantastical sound so realistic and terrifyingly believable. This story centres around ‘ReJuve’, an anti-ageing vaccine discovered by accident when scientist Ruth is searching for treatments for future sufferers following the death of her young daughter from a premature ageing disease. Unfortunately her findings have been hijacked by an unscrupulous colleague, Erik Grundleger, who has turned it into a ‘SuperJuve’ – where instead of an annual top up jab, leading to a definitive end of life date, known as Transcendence Day, SuperJuve has no life end date. One jab gives everlasting life.
The effects of this on the world are horrendous. Without death, the population explodes and life changes drastically for everyone. There is insufficient housing, any green space is turned into a concrete jungle, not enough food and additional laws and controls have to be applied. There is also an unexpected dangerous side effect of the Super jab which is why those affected are being hunted down.
The story is told through two POV – one being Ruth, both in the present and past and the other from Omnicide Investigator Mara. Mara and her colleagues are on a mission to hunt down Supers, as they are known and to lawfully execute them. However these people will do anything to hide their tracks and trying to trace them is a dangerous task.
Ruth and Mara have completely different personalities. As both backstories are revealed, I had so much sympathy for Ruth. Her withdrawal from her life’s work was understandable however her hatred and contempt for Grundleger is her fire and although Mara is not at all keen on the idea of working with her, their opposite personalties work together. Ruth has a softer, compassionate side whilst Mara is all logic and hard edges, determined to succeed in her hunt for those trying to evade the end of life.
The Cure encompasses science fiction together with a speculative thriller plot. It’s a thought provoking story with themes including greed and the moral aspect of only the very wealthy having access to eternal life, genetics, together with the devastating effect of over population on the planet. Whilst this all sounds totally unbelievable, The Cure is nevertheless a chilling and quite disturbing concept. Because with future progress…who knows. As ever with this author, a recommended read.
The effects of this on the world are horrendous. Without death, the population explodes and life changes drastically for everyone. There is insufficient housing, any green space is turned into a concrete jungle, not enough food and additional laws and controls have to be applied. There is also an unexpected dangerous side effect of the Super jab which is why those affected are being hunted down.
The story is told through two POV – one being Ruth, both in the present and past and the other from Omnicide Investigator Mara. Mara and her colleagues are on a mission to hunt down Supers, as they are known and to lawfully execute them. However these people will do anything to hide their tracks and trying to trace them is a dangerous task.
Ruth and Mara have completely different personalities. As both backstories are revealed, I had so much sympathy for Ruth. Her withdrawal from her life’s work was understandable however her hatred and contempt for Grundleger is her fire and although Mara is not at all keen on the idea of working with her, their opposite personalties work together. Ruth has a softer, compassionate side whilst Mara is all logic and hard edges, determined to succeed in her hunt for those trying to evade the end of life.
The Cure encompasses science fiction together with a speculative thriller plot. It’s a thought provoking story with themes including greed and the moral aspect of only the very wealthy having access to eternal life, genetics, together with the devastating effect of over population on the planet. Whilst this all sounds totally unbelievable, The Cure is nevertheless a chilling and quite disturbing concept. Because with future progress…who knows. As ever with this author, a recommended read.
May 27, 2025
What I love about every @evesmithauthor book is the chilling reality that this could possibly happen in the future. The fine line between the dystopian speculative fiction and a terrifying reality is something she is a master at creating. In this book, we get faced with a cure for ageing. As good as this sounds, Eve sets the scene to show what this would realistically entail, and it is scary! The palpable sense of dread that starts at the beginning of this book and keeps growing till the very last word is intoxicating, and I still can't stop thinking about it. Her books leave you with an array of existential questions to ponder, which, in my eyes, is the highest form of praise to any author. I would highly recommend this to just about everyone - this is one of the best books I've read this year.
Tiffany's Tales Book Club book of the month - May 2025
Tiffany's Tales Book Club book of the month - May 2025
February 22, 2025
I’ve had a weakness for dystopian literature for as long as I can remember, it’s no wonder I adore Eve Smith’s unique brand of thrillers, a fact proven once more by my excellent reading experience with The Cure!
The Cure is told from the perspectives of Ruth and Mara and is set in a future world that is scarily realistic and terrifyingly plausible. As with her earlier books, Eve Smith escalates current technology and medicine and makes her readers wonder: what if.
In this case, scientist Ruth develops a cure for Progeria, an illness she lost her daughter to, and unwittingly develops a cure for old age. Ruth may have had the best intentions but one of her colleagues is blinded by greed (for money, fame and immortality), taking her invention and running with it, and essentially ruining the planet which was bursting at the seams as it was.
You guys, I had such a great time with The Cure! If life had allowed me to, I would have binged it in a day! As it was, life and its obligations got in the way, but it was always such a pleasure to return to this world, even if it was a really scary place to be in and I would not want to live in this future for anything in the world. Who wants to live to 120 anyway, let alone even longer! (Although, realistically, that’s probably about how long I should live to read all the books I want to read 😬)
The Cure is an engrossing slice of thought-provoking dystopian literature, as well as a twisty thriller, and it has everything you could possibly hope to find in a story: protagonists to feel for and to root for, antagonists to loathe and get angry at, a riveting plot, human interest and a few shocking reveals along the way. Highly recommended.
Massive thanks to Orenda Books for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
The Cure is told from the perspectives of Ruth and Mara and is set in a future world that is scarily realistic and terrifyingly plausible. As with her earlier books, Eve Smith escalates current technology and medicine and makes her readers wonder: what if.
In this case, scientist Ruth develops a cure for Progeria, an illness she lost her daughter to, and unwittingly develops a cure for old age. Ruth may have had the best intentions but one of her colleagues is blinded by greed (for money, fame and immortality), taking her invention and running with it, and essentially ruining the planet which was bursting at the seams as it was.
You guys, I had such a great time with The Cure! If life had allowed me to, I would have binged it in a day! As it was, life and its obligations got in the way, but it was always such a pleasure to return to this world, even if it was a really scary place to be in and I would not want to live in this future for anything in the world. Who wants to live to 120 anyway, let alone even longer! (Although, realistically, that’s probably about how long I should live to read all the books I want to read 😬)
The Cure is an engrossing slice of thought-provoking dystopian literature, as well as a twisty thriller, and it has everything you could possibly hope to find in a story: protagonists to feel for and to root for, antagonists to loathe and get angry at, a riveting plot, human interest and a few shocking reveals along the way. Highly recommended.
Massive thanks to Orenda Books for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 12, 2025
Once again this author has absolutely nailed her latest book. The Cure is a delve into a society that has access to living a longer life.
When Dr Ruth Hammond is looking for a cure for her daughter's life-limiting disease, a side effect of this drug is that it can prolong life. Ruth doesn't want anything to do with side effects but others do and the project takes a turn she does not expect. While she works on her project she sees the other one taking the world by storm. Initially, it is limited to those who can afford it so Rejuve is born, and the NHS takes it on for those who are prepared to live a fit and healthy lifestyle.
The next form of Rejuve is something that adds years to someone's life, this is something that is definitely for the super-rich. with this increase in life expectancy then the world becomes overpopulated and something has to be done. An age limit is imposed.
I do adore dystopian and speculative fiction and this author does it so very well. While we like to imagine life is not like is in her novels, there is something that does make you stop and think. This novel is no different as the author delves into genetics, disease and illness, life expectancy and what happens with an increasingly older population. She definitely explores many avenues in this book and some took me by surprise as she takes a step further. This turns the story into a darker and more profound book as dilemmas are put on the table and adds a psychological side to it.
There are a few characters in this book, but each has an essential role, one of the main ones alongside Ruth is Mara, an officer who tracks down those who are exceeding their years. Many of the other characters are part of the story whether in the past or the present and there are some that are in both settings.
I do like how the author builds a picture of a landscape that becomes unrecognisable, with more housing there is less green space. Some megacities have evolved as towns, villages, suburbs and other cities have joined and become vast. The population has to be fed so there are mentions of food supplies, the emphasis the governments place on keeping yourself healthy, working ages and so many other things that would cause an impact on society as we know it.
The thing with this book is the way the author takes the situations we are already experiencing and then takes them to a natural future. I know these thoughts, as much as we would like to to be impossible, could become an actuality, and it makes you stop and think about where we are going in the future as far as genetics, population growth, climate changes and all the other things that are explored in this book. I think this is a book that creates more talking points, so would be brilliant for Book Clubs to discuss.
Another brilliant story from this author and one for those who like speculative fiction and dystopian novels but also thrillers, crime and psychological thrillers. It is one I would definitely recommend.
When Dr Ruth Hammond is looking for a cure for her daughter's life-limiting disease, a side effect of this drug is that it can prolong life. Ruth doesn't want anything to do with side effects but others do and the project takes a turn she does not expect. While she works on her project she sees the other one taking the world by storm. Initially, it is limited to those who can afford it so Rejuve is born, and the NHS takes it on for those who are prepared to live a fit and healthy lifestyle.
The next form of Rejuve is something that adds years to someone's life, this is something that is definitely for the super-rich. with this increase in life expectancy then the world becomes overpopulated and something has to be done. An age limit is imposed.
I do adore dystopian and speculative fiction and this author does it so very well. While we like to imagine life is not like is in her novels, there is something that does make you stop and think. This novel is no different as the author delves into genetics, disease and illness, life expectancy and what happens with an increasingly older population. She definitely explores many avenues in this book and some took me by surprise as she takes a step further. This turns the story into a darker and more profound book as dilemmas are put on the table and adds a psychological side to it.
There are a few characters in this book, but each has an essential role, one of the main ones alongside Ruth is Mara, an officer who tracks down those who are exceeding their years. Many of the other characters are part of the story whether in the past or the present and there are some that are in both settings.
I do like how the author builds a picture of a landscape that becomes unrecognisable, with more housing there is less green space. Some megacities have evolved as towns, villages, suburbs and other cities have joined and become vast. The population has to be fed so there are mentions of food supplies, the emphasis the governments place on keeping yourself healthy, working ages and so many other things that would cause an impact on society as we know it.
The thing with this book is the way the author takes the situations we are already experiencing and then takes them to a natural future. I know these thoughts, as much as we would like to to be impossible, could become an actuality, and it makes you stop and think about where we are going in the future as far as genetics, population growth, climate changes and all the other things that are explored in this book. I think this is a book that creates more talking points, so would be brilliant for Book Clubs to discuss.
Another brilliant story from this author and one for those who like speculative fiction and dystopian novels but also thrillers, crime and psychological thrillers. It is one I would definitely recommend.
December 12, 2025
I am out of the habit of reviewing things but this book needs more attention and reviews!
What and incredibly thought provoking story, imagine if they developed a gene thereby that could cure aging. What would happen??? The fall out in this story is plausible, terrifying and complicated. I’m the twists and turns the plot takes took me by surprise and I was really engaged throughout.
I would say a couple of trigger warnings - ivf does feature as well as general discussions about mortality.
What and incredibly thought provoking story, imagine if they developed a gene thereby that could cure aging. What would happen??? The fall out in this story is plausible, terrifying and complicated. I’m the twists and turns the plot takes took me by surprise and I was really engaged throughout.
I would say a couple of trigger warnings - ivf does feature as well as general discussions about mortality.
February 14, 2025
Hauntingly prescient, THE CURE is a book I raced through at the speed of light. Utterly compulsive and electrifying, it cements Smith's reputation as the empress of speculative thrillers. A veritable powerhouse of talent!
April 13, 2025
My first taste of Eve Smith and my goodness what a read, will definitely by looking at more of her books.
A vaccine is discovered to counteract the symptoms of old age, no more chronic pain, heart disease etc a quite chilling story of how the world could look if such a vaccine became available.
It’s very thought provoking and the more I think back to the book the more plausible things like this in the future could happen, scarily realistic!
A vaccine is discovered to counteract the symptoms of old age, no more chronic pain, heart disease etc a quite chilling story of how the world could look if such a vaccine became available.
It’s very thought provoking and the more I think back to the book the more plausible things like this in the future could happen, scarily realistic!
April 25, 2025
Imagine a world where we all live a long, healthy life free from the complications of ageing. No more dementia, heart diseases, chronic pain or other ageing related conditions. Just a long life in our prime. It sounds like paradise. But would it be?
An incredible discovery means that people now live to 120 thanks to an annual anti-ageing injection. In this dystopian future, 115-year-old Ruth is an elder quietly working her mandatory national service and anticipating her transition day. But behind the unassuming facade are dark secrets she has hidden for decades. Years ago while she was trying to find a cure for the devastating illness that killed her young daughter, Ruth made a discovery that changed the world and led to the creation of ReJuve, the annual anti-ageing injection now widely used. But Ruth’s research was hijacked by her partner Erik Grundleger, a ruthless man on a quest for immortality who used it to create SuperJuve, a once in a lifetime injection for the wealthy elite, nicknamed Supers, who want to live forever. But that injection was outlawed when it was discovered that it led to psychosis.
Mara is an investigator with Omnicide, a team who track down Supers and try to contain the catastrophic consequences of the side-effects. Known as The Blade, Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers. And when an arrest leads to discovery that Grundleger, who has long been believed dead, may be alive, Mara forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth that leads the pair on a dangerous race against the clock to try and track down the man who started it all.
Eve Smith has done it again. It’s been two weeks since I finished this book and I’m still reeling. Outstanding, original, though-provoking and terrifying, The Cure, is a riveting thriller that also serves as a cautionary tale, showing how in the wrong hands, something wonderful can be turned into a nightmare. I’ve been a huge fan of Eve’s books ever since her fantastic debut and this is her best yet. Masterfully written, meticulously researched, fast-paced, and full of surprising twists, Eve spins a chillingly believable tale that wrenched me out of my own reality and into the one she created. She also makes you think, forcing me to ponder important questions that I’d never considered before as she examines the problems of an ageing population, dwindling resources, the dilemma of lifespan versus healthspan, social healthcare and privilege.
The two women at the centre of this story are fascinating characters and I loved reading them. They are very different but also quite similar, both of them being fierce and strong in their own way. Moving between narrators and timelines, we see their heart-rending backstories unfold and I was inspired by the way they have taken their pain and turned it into what motivates them in their chosen field. I enjoyed watching them learn to work together and get to know each other and would love to see them reprise their investigative duo in another book. And we can’t talk about the characters without talking about the villain, Erik Grundleger. Brilliantly written, this odious and reprehensible man made my skin crawl and made me angry every time he was on the page.
Addictive, clever, suspenseful and unsettling, Eve had me hooked from start to finish with this magnificent thriller. It’s one not to be missed and I can’t wait for whatever she writes next.
An incredible discovery means that people now live to 120 thanks to an annual anti-ageing injection. In this dystopian future, 115-year-old Ruth is an elder quietly working her mandatory national service and anticipating her transition day. But behind the unassuming facade are dark secrets she has hidden for decades. Years ago while she was trying to find a cure for the devastating illness that killed her young daughter, Ruth made a discovery that changed the world and led to the creation of ReJuve, the annual anti-ageing injection now widely used. But Ruth’s research was hijacked by her partner Erik Grundleger, a ruthless man on a quest for immortality who used it to create SuperJuve, a once in a lifetime injection for the wealthy elite, nicknamed Supers, who want to live forever. But that injection was outlawed when it was discovered that it led to psychosis.
Mara is an investigator with Omnicide, a team who track down Supers and try to contain the catastrophic consequences of the side-effects. Known as The Blade, Mara has her own reasons for hunting Supers. And when an arrest leads to discovery that Grundleger, who has long been believed dead, may be alive, Mara forms an unlikely alliance with Ruth that leads the pair on a dangerous race against the clock to try and track down the man who started it all.
Eve Smith has done it again. It’s been two weeks since I finished this book and I’m still reeling. Outstanding, original, though-provoking and terrifying, The Cure, is a riveting thriller that also serves as a cautionary tale, showing how in the wrong hands, something wonderful can be turned into a nightmare. I’ve been a huge fan of Eve’s books ever since her fantastic debut and this is her best yet. Masterfully written, meticulously researched, fast-paced, and full of surprising twists, Eve spins a chillingly believable tale that wrenched me out of my own reality and into the one she created. She also makes you think, forcing me to ponder important questions that I’d never considered before as she examines the problems of an ageing population, dwindling resources, the dilemma of lifespan versus healthspan, social healthcare and privilege.
The two women at the centre of this story are fascinating characters and I loved reading them. They are very different but also quite similar, both of them being fierce and strong in their own way. Moving between narrators and timelines, we see their heart-rending backstories unfold and I was inspired by the way they have taken their pain and turned it into what motivates them in their chosen field. I enjoyed watching them learn to work together and get to know each other and would love to see them reprise their investigative duo in another book. And we can’t talk about the characters without talking about the villain, Erik Grundleger. Brilliantly written, this odious and reprehensible man made my skin crawl and made me angry every time he was on the page.
Addictive, clever, suspenseful and unsettling, Eve had me hooked from start to finish with this magnificent thriller. It’s one not to be missed and I can’t wait for whatever she writes next.
April 7, 2025
Imagine living in a world where you had the vaccine against the old age and diseases that come with it. Diseases such as dementia, cancer, Parkinson’s, are a thing of the past. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
This is what Ruth accidentally invented while working on a cure for progeria, the disease that prematurely ages a person. Ruth’s daughter, Lettie, suffered from it and died aged ten.
Ruth’s ReJuve therapy was taken further by Erik Grundleger, a man with no scruples, who invented the SuperJuve, a vaccine which could extend your lifespan. Imagine living longer with no diseases – sounds even more wonderful, doesn’t it?
However, six decades on, and the world isn’t such a wonderful place. Due to people living longer, overcrowding is prevalent and the housing crisis is rife. If you have a spare room, you are bound by law to rent it out to a lodger. There are no parks and no greenery – all the green spaces have been turned into concrete block apartments. Everywhere you look it’s just grey, grey and more grey. A concrete jungle.
This is Mara’s reality. She is 25-years old and doesn’t remember a world with trees and meadows. She was born into the concrete.
Mara is an Omnicide Investigator and her job is to catch the Supers, people who injected themselves with the SuperJuve vaccine. SuperJuve has been banned in the UK, but many people travelled abroad to take it.
When Erik Grundleger invented the SuperJuve, he didn’t predict one thing: the side effects. One of the side effects of the SuperJuve is psychosis.
Now, Ruth receives information that Erik Grundleger is alive and has been in hiding for many years. She must work with Mara to find him and bring him to justice.
What a BOOK! No one writes a dystopian thriller like Eve Smith.
Her books often portray scary things, but those are the things that can happen. They are a possibility and not a far fetched idea.
The Western society is doing everything in its power to cheat and defy death: just walk into your local Boots/ Superdrug store and look around at all the serums and anti-wrinkle creams. So many more people are doing Botox and fillers to make them look younger.
Scientists are working to find cures for incurable diseases – what if what Eve Smith portrays in the book actually comes true?
This book gave me the chills!
There are a couple of jaw dropping twists towards the end.
I definitely recommend it.
This is what Ruth accidentally invented while working on a cure for progeria, the disease that prematurely ages a person. Ruth’s daughter, Lettie, suffered from it and died aged ten.
Ruth’s ReJuve therapy was taken further by Erik Grundleger, a man with no scruples, who invented the SuperJuve, a vaccine which could extend your lifespan. Imagine living longer with no diseases – sounds even more wonderful, doesn’t it?
However, six decades on, and the world isn’t such a wonderful place. Due to people living longer, overcrowding is prevalent and the housing crisis is rife. If you have a spare room, you are bound by law to rent it out to a lodger. There are no parks and no greenery – all the green spaces have been turned into concrete block apartments. Everywhere you look it’s just grey, grey and more grey. A concrete jungle.
This is Mara’s reality. She is 25-years old and doesn’t remember a world with trees and meadows. She was born into the concrete.
Mara is an Omnicide Investigator and her job is to catch the Supers, people who injected themselves with the SuperJuve vaccine. SuperJuve has been banned in the UK, but many people travelled abroad to take it.
When Erik Grundleger invented the SuperJuve, he didn’t predict one thing: the side effects. One of the side effects of the SuperJuve is psychosis.
Now, Ruth receives information that Erik Grundleger is alive and has been in hiding for many years. She must work with Mara to find him and bring him to justice.
What a BOOK! No one writes a dystopian thriller like Eve Smith.
Her books often portray scary things, but those are the things that can happen. They are a possibility and not a far fetched idea.
The Western society is doing everything in its power to cheat and defy death: just walk into your local Boots/ Superdrug store and look around at all the serums and anti-wrinkle creams. So many more people are doing Botox and fillers to make them look younger.
Scientists are working to find cures for incurable diseases – what if what Eve Smith portrays in the book actually comes true?
This book gave me the chills!
There are a couple of jaw dropping twists towards the end.
I definitely recommend it.
June 27, 2025
This is a chilling speculative fiction thriller that kept my attention riveted till the end.
The premise is based around the invention of a vaccine for anti-aging and what that would entail for the future of our world.
In trying to find a cure for the rare illness that claimed her daughter too early, scientist Ruth Hammond discovers a gene combination that will suppress aging and reverse its effects. Before she knows it, her invention is out of her hands and put to use in a way that spirals out of control. Mara is an investigator trying to pin down the man responsible for unleashing this disaster on humanity.
Alternating between Ruth and Mara as well as the present and the years in which Ruth developed what has inadvertently become the cure, the story depicts the many downsides of living forever. The psychological and emotional effect of everyone living way beyond the expected lifespan and the toll it takes on the resources of an already overburdened planet are scary to contemplate! With everything becoming virtual and humans aching for human connection and nature becoming a victim of the sheer number of people it has to support, the scenario painted here is truly something we need to fear because it seems just a few steps away!
The dangers of science being misused for corporate greed with horrible consequences are also explored.
This is set in a dystopian world but given everything that's happening around us already, there is every possibility of something like it actually happening!
The premise is based around the invention of a vaccine for anti-aging and what that would entail for the future of our world.
In trying to find a cure for the rare illness that claimed her daughter too early, scientist Ruth Hammond discovers a gene combination that will suppress aging and reverse its effects. Before she knows it, her invention is out of her hands and put to use in a way that spirals out of control. Mara is an investigator trying to pin down the man responsible for unleashing this disaster on humanity.
Alternating between Ruth and Mara as well as the present and the years in which Ruth developed what has inadvertently become the cure, the story depicts the many downsides of living forever. The psychological and emotional effect of everyone living way beyond the expected lifespan and the toll it takes on the resources of an already overburdened planet are scary to contemplate! With everything becoming virtual and humans aching for human connection and nature becoming a victim of the sheer number of people it has to support, the scenario painted here is truly something we need to fear because it seems just a few steps away!
The dangers of science being misused for corporate greed with horrible consequences are also explored.
This is set in a dystopian world but given everything that's happening around us already, there is every possibility of something like it actually happening!
February 10, 2025
‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.’
What if this principle were no longer true? What if humanity discovered a way of reversing and terminating the ageing process, delivering on a promise of practical immortality?
Eve Smith imagines such a future, and the result is terrifying. True sustainability is only possible through the maintenance of equilibrium. As we are already seeing in the terrible damage humanity has wrought upon the Earth’s climactic systems, when we push nature too far and too fast the consequences can be catastrophic.
In ‘The Cure’, Eve Smith introduces the ReJuve vaccine, the means by which old-age can be indefinitely postponed, into a future that is all too recognisable. A future characterised by extreme inequality, a future dominated largely by wealthy white men who will stop at nothing to secure, maintain and prolong their immense wealth and power. The consequences are terrifying and, as with the author’s previous works, the reader is confronted with a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. ‘The Cure’ is exceptionally well written, exemplifying the novel’s power to challenge and move as well as entertain.
I read ‘The Cure’ over a few short days, but I know it will stay with me for the weeks and months to come. I was reminded of Jack London’s words:
‘The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.’
I believe this to be one of Eve Smith’s messages. Rather than extend the duration of life for its own sake, we should focus on making the most of all that we have, acting as stewards rather than owners. Imagine that future.
We are fortunate indeed that we have authors like Eve Smith, who challenge us to imagine, to dare to do what each of us can do, to make the world we have now a better place.
What if this principle were no longer true? What if humanity discovered a way of reversing and terminating the ageing process, delivering on a promise of practical immortality?
Eve Smith imagines such a future, and the result is terrifying. True sustainability is only possible through the maintenance of equilibrium. As we are already seeing in the terrible damage humanity has wrought upon the Earth’s climactic systems, when we push nature too far and too fast the consequences can be catastrophic.
In ‘The Cure’, Eve Smith introduces the ReJuve vaccine, the means by which old-age can be indefinitely postponed, into a future that is all too recognisable. A future characterised by extreme inequality, a future dominated largely by wealthy white men who will stop at nothing to secure, maintain and prolong their immense wealth and power. The consequences are terrifying and, as with the author’s previous works, the reader is confronted with a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. ‘The Cure’ is exceptionally well written, exemplifying the novel’s power to challenge and move as well as entertain.
I read ‘The Cure’ over a few short days, but I know it will stay with me for the weeks and months to come. I was reminded of Jack London’s words:
‘The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.’
I believe this to be one of Eve Smith’s messages. Rather than extend the duration of life for its own sake, we should focus on making the most of all that we have, acting as stewards rather than owners. Imagine that future.
We are fortunate indeed that we have authors like Eve Smith, who challenge us to imagine, to dare to do what each of us can do, to make the world we have now a better place.
April 12, 2025
Fantastic
Great book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 22, 2025
What I’ve always loved about Eve Smith’s books is how she creates an unsettling, but realistic world, that doesn’t feel too far out of reach. It’s part of what makes her books so terrifying as well. She explores an intriguing idea in her latest book, The Cure, where scientists, in this version of reality, have discovered how to halt the ageing process, and turn back the biological clock with a new vaccine. This is a really fast-paced novel and it is filled with characters with rich backgrounds and drive that propels the story.
Eve Smith tells the story partly in the modern day and also, seventy years in the past, back when this new science was first discovered. The story is told from the points of view of Mara and Ruth and I felt really immersed in their lives as Eve Smith brings them to life. Ruth was pivotal in the discovery of the vaccine seventy years ago, when she was trying to find a cure for another disease that killed her daughter. This added real depth, I thought, to Ruth’s character, and it made me connect to her, especially when a man, Erik Grundleger appeared to brush off the disease her daughter died from altogether, as he focuses on the new vaccine she discovers. I could really sense the anger in Ruth here and this made her feel human.
Erik Grundleger is a really chilling character in this book. He is determined to become immortal and he becomes a target for Mara, who is pursuing people, like Erik, known as Supers, who have abused Ruth’s discovery and caused untold damage. You can really see what his goals are, even more so in the final act of the story, which really does make for gripping reading. He is definitely one of the most intriguing villains I’ve come across recently and this is what made the book all the more gripping. There are some really intense scenes towards the end, which I loved and they kept my eyes glued to the page. It made it feel really high concept and I really liked how Eve Smith deepened Ruth and Mara’s relationship.
The Cure is a compelling, chilling and an utterly original novel that is my favourite by Eve Smith to date. I’m certain it’s going to be in my top ten reads of the year.
Eve Smith tells the story partly in the modern day and also, seventy years in the past, back when this new science was first discovered. The story is told from the points of view of Mara and Ruth and I felt really immersed in their lives as Eve Smith brings them to life. Ruth was pivotal in the discovery of the vaccine seventy years ago, when she was trying to find a cure for another disease that killed her daughter. This added real depth, I thought, to Ruth’s character, and it made me connect to her, especially when a man, Erik Grundleger appeared to brush off the disease her daughter died from altogether, as he focuses on the new vaccine she discovers. I could really sense the anger in Ruth here and this made her feel human.
Erik Grundleger is a really chilling character in this book. He is determined to become immortal and he becomes a target for Mara, who is pursuing people, like Erik, known as Supers, who have abused Ruth’s discovery and caused untold damage. You can really see what his goals are, even more so in the final act of the story, which really does make for gripping reading. He is definitely one of the most intriguing villains I’ve come across recently and this is what made the book all the more gripping. There are some really intense scenes towards the end, which I loved and they kept my eyes glued to the page. It made it feel really high concept and I really liked how Eve Smith deepened Ruth and Mara’s relationship.
The Cure is a compelling, chilling and an utterly original novel that is my favourite by Eve Smith to date. I’m certain it’s going to be in my top ten reads of the year.
March 15, 2025
Well, there we go. Eve Smith has done it again. Broken my brain and made me fearful for the future. Whilst in One she had created a nightmare dystopian future in which the world was subject to a one child rule to try and counter the chronic overpopulation issue, with The Cure, she has taken this issue and spun it on it's head. Yes, the world is suffering the consequences of overcrowding. Of humanity taking over the planet in a way the devastates ecosystems, and sees many of the worlds creatures driven to extinction to make way for more of a concrete jungle. And yet there is still a housing crisis, and devastating poverty. Tent cities on one side, activism on the other. The root cause? Well, imagine a world full of immortals, but not the Christopher Lambert/Sean Connery/Clancy Brown kind of which there can be only one. No. This is the 'we have found a cure for ageing' kind of problem that needs a whole new kind of management to ensure that the world is not overrun any more that it already is. Each person is given a deadline, a date at which they will effectively be 'terminated' to make room for the 'younger' generations. Their Transcendence day.
The story follows two characters, Ruth, a woman who is trying to live an almost reclusive existence and is just waiting for her day, and Mara, who works for the Omnicide team, seeking out people who try to cheat their 'death' by taking a super boosted version of the 'Rejuve' jab that led to the population crisis. Theoretically those who took the 'Superjuve' are pretty much immortal and, without intervention, will never 'transcend'. That may sound perfect, but that luxury was reserved for the super rich and came with a nasty sting in the tail, the very reason that Mara is so determined to track down each and every 'Super'. There is a very key reason why Ruth and Mara's lives intersect and, when they do, it is a game changer.
As much as this is an exploration of the scientific and perhaps humanistic 'what ifs' of developing a 'cure' for ageing, this is also a keen and pacy thriller, with a core of mystery and suspense. Shady characters from Ruth's past crawling out of the woodwork. People thought long dead showing up in harrowing circumstances, the like of which brings Mara to our attention and is quite headline grabbing right at the start of the novel. It is a bit of a cat and mouse tale, and whilst Mara makes a fierce hunter, Eve Smith really does keep us on our toes. I actually found I quite like Mara and Ruth, even though both have their faults. Ruth, I could have empathy for. It is clear that she never intended to be in the position she finds herself in, and although she is very much a catalyst for what comes to pass, her intentions had been pure enough, and her hesitation well founded. Mara is harder to get to know, to find a kinship with, but the more we learn of her past, the easier she is to understand. She may never make the perfect gal-pal - very dedicated to her work and completely driven - but she does have some redeeming qualities, and her focus comes from a past trauma, and is quite understandable.
Eve Smith drip feeds the history of this science to us throughout the book, interspersing scenes from Ruth's, and to a lesser degree Mara's, pasts either as whole scenes, or memories unearthed during conversations with other characters. Nothing is as simple as it seems in this thriller and the author uses her brilliant skills to throw in various revelations that turn Mara's investigation on its head. Towards the end of the book, the pace kicks up a notch, the sense of threat and tension really ramping in a way that had me turning the pages at speed. There is a scene nearer the end which some readers might find a little hard to take. It's not gratuitous, it is more the fact of what is happening that turns the stomach. The acknowledgment that one of the antagonists would go to such abhorrent lengths to make the perfect, immortal, human being. I can't help but think that the choice of certain character names may have been inspired by people who give off the impression that, to them, this creation of near invincibility, would be perfectly acceptable.
This book really is thought provoking. The intention when the vaccine was first created was to cure a previously incurable illness which had led to the premature death of the scientist's daughter. But this is where it really does make the mind whir. There are so many benefits that you can imagine from an inoculation that can effectively prevent body cells from ageing, effectively eliminating age related illnesses at the same time. but, if you were offered such a jab, would you take it? I have to be honest, I'm not so sure. Eve Smith explores the pros of such a situation, such as the reduced burden on the Health Service. Good stuff. The end of needless suffering, for both sufferer and their family, from degenerative diseases such as dementia. Who could say no to that?
But there are perhaps many more cons. We are already seeing urban growth that is destroying the natural world now due to the growth in birth rates and the fact that people are just living longer now than they used to. So how to fund that? I'm not sure my pension could last me thirty years beyond retirement, let alone fifty or sixty. Kids expecting a bit of a windfall to set them up for their new lives? Not gonna happen. The bank of Mum and Dad still need it to fund their own, thank you very much. And imagine a scenario where the rich and powerful remain so for eternity. Where the influence of one generation overtakes the needs of another. The division and enmity that this would create. All of this, and more, becomes a focus of the book, the fact that increased lifespan does not equal harmony - far from it.
Another absolutely brilliant, if a little disturbing, read from Eve Smith. If you want to take a glimpse into a very worrying dystopian future, then I would say that Eve Smith is one of my go to authors. Her books stand as cautionary tales, a call for us to stop and think long and hard about what we want out future to look like, and the consequences of pursuing self over community. Is this future science-fiction thinking? Maybe, maybe not. The way in which the world and science are advancing, I'd say never-say-never. A touch worrying, but definitely recommended.
The story follows two characters, Ruth, a woman who is trying to live an almost reclusive existence and is just waiting for her day, and Mara, who works for the Omnicide team, seeking out people who try to cheat their 'death' by taking a super boosted version of the 'Rejuve' jab that led to the population crisis. Theoretically those who took the 'Superjuve' are pretty much immortal and, without intervention, will never 'transcend'. That may sound perfect, but that luxury was reserved for the super rich and came with a nasty sting in the tail, the very reason that Mara is so determined to track down each and every 'Super'. There is a very key reason why Ruth and Mara's lives intersect and, when they do, it is a game changer.
As much as this is an exploration of the scientific and perhaps humanistic 'what ifs' of developing a 'cure' for ageing, this is also a keen and pacy thriller, with a core of mystery and suspense. Shady characters from Ruth's past crawling out of the woodwork. People thought long dead showing up in harrowing circumstances, the like of which brings Mara to our attention and is quite headline grabbing right at the start of the novel. It is a bit of a cat and mouse tale, and whilst Mara makes a fierce hunter, Eve Smith really does keep us on our toes. I actually found I quite like Mara and Ruth, even though both have their faults. Ruth, I could have empathy for. It is clear that she never intended to be in the position she finds herself in, and although she is very much a catalyst for what comes to pass, her intentions had been pure enough, and her hesitation well founded. Mara is harder to get to know, to find a kinship with, but the more we learn of her past, the easier she is to understand. She may never make the perfect gal-pal - very dedicated to her work and completely driven - but she does have some redeeming qualities, and her focus comes from a past trauma, and is quite understandable.
Eve Smith drip feeds the history of this science to us throughout the book, interspersing scenes from Ruth's, and to a lesser degree Mara's, pasts either as whole scenes, or memories unearthed during conversations with other characters. Nothing is as simple as it seems in this thriller and the author uses her brilliant skills to throw in various revelations that turn Mara's investigation on its head. Towards the end of the book, the pace kicks up a notch, the sense of threat and tension really ramping in a way that had me turning the pages at speed. There is a scene nearer the end which some readers might find a little hard to take. It's not gratuitous, it is more the fact of what is happening that turns the stomach. The acknowledgment that one of the antagonists would go to such abhorrent lengths to make the perfect, immortal, human being. I can't help but think that the choice of certain character names may have been inspired by people who give off the impression that, to them, this creation of near invincibility, would be perfectly acceptable.
This book really is thought provoking. The intention when the vaccine was first created was to cure a previously incurable illness which had led to the premature death of the scientist's daughter. But this is where it really does make the mind whir. There are so many benefits that you can imagine from an inoculation that can effectively prevent body cells from ageing, effectively eliminating age related illnesses at the same time. but, if you were offered such a jab, would you take it? I have to be honest, I'm not so sure. Eve Smith explores the pros of such a situation, such as the reduced burden on the Health Service. Good stuff. The end of needless suffering, for both sufferer and their family, from degenerative diseases such as dementia. Who could say no to that?
But there are perhaps many more cons. We are already seeing urban growth that is destroying the natural world now due to the growth in birth rates and the fact that people are just living longer now than they used to. So how to fund that? I'm not sure my pension could last me thirty years beyond retirement, let alone fifty or sixty. Kids expecting a bit of a windfall to set them up for their new lives? Not gonna happen. The bank of Mum and Dad still need it to fund their own, thank you very much. And imagine a scenario where the rich and powerful remain so for eternity. Where the influence of one generation overtakes the needs of another. The division and enmity that this would create. All of this, and more, becomes a focus of the book, the fact that increased lifespan does not equal harmony - far from it.
Another absolutely brilliant, if a little disturbing, read from Eve Smith. If you want to take a glimpse into a very worrying dystopian future, then I would say that Eve Smith is one of my go to authors. Her books stand as cautionary tales, a call for us to stop and think long and hard about what we want out future to look like, and the consequences of pursuing self over community. Is this future science-fiction thinking? Maybe, maybe not. The way in which the world and science are advancing, I'd say never-say-never. A touch worrying, but definitely recommended.
April 28, 2025
I’m so out of my comfort zone here. Firstly, I don’t usually read speculative fiction, sci-fi or dystopian future novels. And secondly, I don’t think this is entirely fiction, which is terrifying.
I remember reading some time ago (may have been Sir David Attenborough) that seven billion was the tipping point for our population. We’ve already passed that and those of us with half a brain know the earth is in trouble. But then we have another issue. We want to eradicate the diseases that mostly come with ageing, like cancer, heart disease and dementia. That would enable people to live to a ripe old age, and not merely ‘exist’. Because no-one wants to die, much less in pain and confusion. Much of this has to do with the demise of religion in the west, as we no longer believe we are going to a better place up there (hopefully up not down).
Sixty years ago, Ruth’s daughter Lettie suffered from a rare, progressive genetic disorder called Progeria syndrome. It starts when the sufferers are toddlers and they are unlikely to live past their teens. They visibly age rapidly and there is no cure. When Lettie dies age ten, Ruth is trying to develop a vaccine that can stop the ageing process.
Too late for Lettie, but eventually she succeeds. Only it has an unexpected outcome – it can reverse the ageing process in adults. Now everyone can be healthy and happy into their 80s, 90s, even 100s. Well whoopy do! Who wouldn’t want that? We’d all want it. One simple injection a year and we’d never get sick and look thirty-five at 90. But the population would explode, and the old would outstrip the young. We’d need more housing, there would be no green spaces, no wildlife, just concrete.
Look to now, (or in the future in this case), and that’s exactly what has happened. Ruth’s ex-colleague Erik Grundleger wants to live forever. He’s hi-jacked her research and created a SuperJuve vaccine which keeps you young for decades. It’s very expensive – of course – so only available to the super rich who become known as Supers.
Twenty-five-year-old Mara is an investigator for Omnicide. She is sharp and as hard as nails, and seeks out Supers for extermination. Those of us old enough will remember the film Logan’s Run. Everyone has to die at a set age – in this case 30 (in The Cure it’s 120!) – by going to ‘Carousel’ to be exterminated. Logan is a ‘Sandman’, who hunts down escapees in order to execute them (but he’s nearly 30 and we can guess the rest).
Mara is determined to find Grundleger and his mates including Jeff Busk (I love the name – think about it) and others. In order to do so she finds herself thrown together with Ruth – now 115 and close to her ‘transcendence’ where you peacefully end your own life, your way, at your own funeral (not good for Pure Cremation). And it’s compulsory.
I’m waffling on now – you must be getting bored of me – so read the book. It’s absolutely brilliant and horrifying. But the answer – well I really don’t know.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
I remember reading some time ago (may have been Sir David Attenborough) that seven billion was the tipping point for our population. We’ve already passed that and those of us with half a brain know the earth is in trouble. But then we have another issue. We want to eradicate the diseases that mostly come with ageing, like cancer, heart disease and dementia. That would enable people to live to a ripe old age, and not merely ‘exist’. Because no-one wants to die, much less in pain and confusion. Much of this has to do with the demise of religion in the west, as we no longer believe we are going to a better place up there (hopefully up not down).
Sixty years ago, Ruth’s daughter Lettie suffered from a rare, progressive genetic disorder called Progeria syndrome. It starts when the sufferers are toddlers and they are unlikely to live past their teens. They visibly age rapidly and there is no cure. When Lettie dies age ten, Ruth is trying to develop a vaccine that can stop the ageing process.
Too late for Lettie, but eventually she succeeds. Only it has an unexpected outcome – it can reverse the ageing process in adults. Now everyone can be healthy and happy into their 80s, 90s, even 100s. Well whoopy do! Who wouldn’t want that? We’d all want it. One simple injection a year and we’d never get sick and look thirty-five at 90. But the population would explode, and the old would outstrip the young. We’d need more housing, there would be no green spaces, no wildlife, just concrete.
Look to now, (or in the future in this case), and that’s exactly what has happened. Ruth’s ex-colleague Erik Grundleger wants to live forever. He’s hi-jacked her research and created a SuperJuve vaccine which keeps you young for decades. It’s very expensive – of course – so only available to the super rich who become known as Supers.
Twenty-five-year-old Mara is an investigator for Omnicide. She is sharp and as hard as nails, and seeks out Supers for extermination. Those of us old enough will remember the film Logan’s Run. Everyone has to die at a set age – in this case 30 (in The Cure it’s 120!) – by going to ‘Carousel’ to be exterminated. Logan is a ‘Sandman’, who hunts down escapees in order to execute them (but he’s nearly 30 and we can guess the rest).
Mara is determined to find Grundleger and his mates including Jeff Busk (I love the name – think about it) and others. In order to do so she finds herself thrown together with Ruth – now 115 and close to her ‘transcendence’ where you peacefully end your own life, your way, at your own funeral (not good for Pure Cremation). And it’s compulsory.
I’m waffling on now – you must be getting bored of me – so read the book. It’s absolutely brilliant and horrifying. But the answer – well I really don’t know.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
April 8, 2025
‘The Cure’ by Eve Smith is an utterly compelling read, a blistering thriller but it is also an essay on the future of medical advances and the repercussions they may have on the world. It is no secret that I love Eve’s books so I was thoroughly looking forward to receiving this one and it didn't disappoint! Her work has the rare quality of being thought-provoking but also being highly entertaining at the same time.
The world is overpopulated and overwhelmed. In what could be a near future dystopian tale ‘The Cure’ explores the idea of immortality and its effects on society and nature. It follows the stories of two women - Ruth and Mara. Ruth is basically a reclusive, lives in a shared housing complex and works in a local health clinic. Mara is a lot younger than Ruth and works for the ‘Omnicide’ department, as an investigator.
Nearly a century earlier scientists found a cure for ageing and the majority of the population receive a ‘rejuve’ injection on the stipulation that they ‘transcend’ at the age of 120. However, there is also a ‘superjuve’ which was a luxury only the super rich could afford. With one injection it basically makes a person immortal. It is these people that Mara investigate and hunt down in order to serve justice for their crimes against society.
Ruth and Mara whilst being each flawed in their own way were characters I ended up rooting for! They ended up finding out that they had more in common than they both initially thought. They are strong women who have faced adversity in their lives and the more you learn about their pasts the more empathy you have for them.
This was a brilliant read from Eve Smith and her ability to weave a complex tale is outstanding. It was a cautionary tale as its themes and topics don't seem unfeasible. In fact they seem actually quite achievable as science progrosses by leaps and bounds. I can't wait to see what she does next!
May 19, 2025
My thoughts
Eve Smith has become one of my favourite authors in the last few years. Her speculative thrillers are always thought provoking and real page turners. I always think one more chapter, and then find I’m almost finished because she makes me need to know. I care about the characters who are so richly drawn. Whether you agree with their actions and motivations you always care. I have frequently rethought how I felt on something after reading her stories.
This is a fast paced, gritty thriller set as her stories are in the near future. Some things are similar but not quite the same. Certain smells and activities are different to some within living memory. Which is saying a lot in this world.
One thing Eve Smith is exceptional at is taking a nugget of possibility, or something that is currently being looked at or tested and then looking at the what if results these things could have. If you’re afraid that a thing might happen she will have written about it. She not only tackles these with understandable characters, but you have the opportunity to think about them from both sides. I never feel preached at. I always feel I’ve been pushed to think more deeply and am frequently shocked. I have never walked away from her writing without wanting to learn more about what she discusses in such a thoughtful, considered way. All of her topics are so current that looking at them becomes extremely critical for us all.
I like the multi timeline aspect which explains why some of the characters have changed in the way they have and got them to the point they’re at currently.
This is another example of her looking at science and reality and asking questions that we need to think about now.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
Eve Smith has become one of my favourite authors in the last few years. Her speculative thrillers are always thought provoking and real page turners. I always think one more chapter, and then find I’m almost finished because she makes me need to know. I care about the characters who are so richly drawn. Whether you agree with their actions and motivations you always care. I have frequently rethought how I felt on something after reading her stories.
This is a fast paced, gritty thriller set as her stories are in the near future. Some things are similar but not quite the same. Certain smells and activities are different to some within living memory. Which is saying a lot in this world.
One thing Eve Smith is exceptional at is taking a nugget of possibility, or something that is currently being looked at or tested and then looking at the what if results these things could have. If you’re afraid that a thing might happen she will have written about it. She not only tackles these with understandable characters, but you have the opportunity to think about them from both sides. I never feel preached at. I always feel I’ve been pushed to think more deeply and am frequently shocked. I have never walked away from her writing without wanting to learn more about what she discusses in such a thoughtful, considered way. All of her topics are so current that looking at them becomes extremely critical for us all.
I like the multi timeline aspect which explains why some of the characters have changed in the way they have and got them to the point they’re at currently.
This is another example of her looking at science and reality and asking questions that we need to think about now.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
May 2, 2025
I always get shivers reading Smith's work and The Cure is no exception, especially since we appear to have stepped into a parallel dystopian world in so many ways this year; there's little scarier than something that could be true.
In The Cure, we are thrown into a world where a vaccine against old age is the norm, but there are inevitably people who want to test the limits of what science can do, so while the approved ReJuve jab extends a person's healthy normal lifespan and banishes the diseases associated with ageing, some hunger for SuperJuve, a souped-up version that essentially offers eternal youth. It was banned almost immediately after it was created, in part due to disturbing side-effects, but clandestine labs pump out knock-off versions to fulfil that desire - and of course make tonnes of money.
There's a neat scene filling in the backstory of how the world got to this point, and what the fallout of extra long life looks like: overcrowded megacities where people must share their home with others, like it or not; no green spaces and no birdsong; food shortages; climate change and destruction of the planet due to severe over-population. The state's solution? Forced "transcendence", ie euthanasia, when you hit the age of 120. Yikes.
Omnicide officer Mara is investigating a death at a clandestine lab that has hugely troubling implications. Meanwhile, Ruth is filling the last decades of her long life with enforced national service, and dealing with memories of her early career and the daughter she lost tragically young.
We switch between viewpoints and times, slowly revealing the big picture as Mara's investigation gets more complex and we learn of Ruth's past as a medical researcher. The two reluctantly team up to investigate a facility which is taking that original ReJuve research to new and terrifying extremes. The tension ratchets up slowly throughout the book until my nerves were screaming - then there's a great release as Ruth and Mara force a satisfying result, and a darkly delightful final kick.
The Cure is a gripping page-turner with superbly relatable characters that deals with issues you can't stop thinking about long after you've closed the covers. And the subject is meticulously researched, using where we are today with extrapolations of what could be next in scenarios that are all too plausible. The here and now can be a scary place, but if you want to see what might happen if we don't change our behaviour, then get yourself a copy of The Cure.
In The Cure, we are thrown into a world where a vaccine against old age is the norm, but there are inevitably people who want to test the limits of what science can do, so while the approved ReJuve jab extends a person's healthy normal lifespan and banishes the diseases associated with ageing, some hunger for SuperJuve, a souped-up version that essentially offers eternal youth. It was banned almost immediately after it was created, in part due to disturbing side-effects, but clandestine labs pump out knock-off versions to fulfil that desire - and of course make tonnes of money.
There's a neat scene filling in the backstory of how the world got to this point, and what the fallout of extra long life looks like: overcrowded megacities where people must share their home with others, like it or not; no green spaces and no birdsong; food shortages; climate change and destruction of the planet due to severe over-population. The state's solution? Forced "transcendence", ie euthanasia, when you hit the age of 120. Yikes.
Omnicide officer Mara is investigating a death at a clandestine lab that has hugely troubling implications. Meanwhile, Ruth is filling the last decades of her long life with enforced national service, and dealing with memories of her early career and the daughter she lost tragically young.
We switch between viewpoints and times, slowly revealing the big picture as Mara's investigation gets more complex and we learn of Ruth's past as a medical researcher. The two reluctantly team up to investigate a facility which is taking that original ReJuve research to new and terrifying extremes. The tension ratchets up slowly throughout the book until my nerves were screaming - then there's a great release as Ruth and Mara force a satisfying result, and a darkly delightful final kick.
The Cure is a gripping page-turner with superbly relatable characters that deals with issues you can't stop thinking about long after you've closed the covers. And the subject is meticulously researched, using where we are today with extrapolations of what could be next in scenarios that are all too plausible. The here and now can be a scary place, but if you want to see what might happen if we don't change our behaviour, then get yourself a copy of The Cure.
April 4, 2025
Well this is a creepy all too real look at what the future may bring.
What would happen if the cure to aging was found? Eve explores this very idea when a scientist accidentally does exactly this when trying to find a cure to the disease that killed her ten year old daughter.
When you bring ambitious scientists together with people that still have some ethics, it creates a volatile and explosive mix.
Some of the ideas regarding overpopulation, lack of food and housing felt all too relevant currently.
This had the potential to be science heavy and not be accessible for the average person but that absolutely wasn't the case.
There are some scientific terms mentioned and although they aren't explicitly explained, you get gist.
This builds up to an explosive conclusion and its very clever. I dont know Eve managed to think up the original storyline, let alone the avenues she took it down, but its simply brilliant.
Couldn't read it quick enough. I must go and read more of her books even if I will continue to have a very real sense of disquiet at what is possible in our future.
What would happen if the cure to aging was found? Eve explores this very idea when a scientist accidentally does exactly this when trying to find a cure to the disease that killed her ten year old daughter.
When you bring ambitious scientists together with people that still have some ethics, it creates a volatile and explosive mix.
Some of the ideas regarding overpopulation, lack of food and housing felt all too relevant currently.
This had the potential to be science heavy and not be accessible for the average person but that absolutely wasn't the case.
There are some scientific terms mentioned and although they aren't explicitly explained, you get gist.
This builds up to an explosive conclusion and its very clever. I dont know Eve managed to think up the original storyline, let alone the avenues she took it down, but its simply brilliant.
Couldn't read it quick enough. I must go and read more of her books even if I will continue to have a very real sense of disquiet at what is possible in our future.
April 11, 2025
Wow, this book is a terrifying journey into a future that feels uncomfortably possible. In The Cure, Eve Smith turns her gaze on the race for increased lifespan and improved health, and brings haunting potential consequences to life.
Ruth, a medical researcher, was trying to cure the rare illness that killed her own child at the age of ten. She wasn’t looking to solve aging, but when her colleagues publicise the unintended discovery thrown up by her research, the world is changed.
Many years later, Mara, an investigator is hunting down billionaires who have taken the SuperJuve, the enhanced version of the vaccine against old age that offers immortality but also brings disastrous consequences.
When they meet many years later with a shared goal, they are taken on a dive deep into a world of obsession, excess wealth and the eradication of consequences that makes them face up to an unimaginable future and puts them on a collision path that has the potential to be catastrophic.
Eve Smith says she writes about the things that scare her, and here she has created an incredible, fast moving and emotionally evocative thriller that delivers deep layers of warning brought to life in technicolour. The Cure is exciting, horrifying, sad and threatening. Read it if you dare.
Ruth, a medical researcher, was trying to cure the rare illness that killed her own child at the age of ten. She wasn’t looking to solve aging, but when her colleagues publicise the unintended discovery thrown up by her research, the world is changed.
Many years later, Mara, an investigator is hunting down billionaires who have taken the SuperJuve, the enhanced version of the vaccine against old age that offers immortality but also brings disastrous consequences.
When they meet many years later with a shared goal, they are taken on a dive deep into a world of obsession, excess wealth and the eradication of consequences that makes them face up to an unimaginable future and puts them on a collision path that has the potential to be catastrophic.
Eve Smith says she writes about the things that scare her, and here she has created an incredible, fast moving and emotionally evocative thriller that delivers deep layers of warning brought to life in technicolour. The Cure is exciting, horrifying, sad and threatening. Read it if you dare.
April 1, 2025
The Cure by Eve Smith was a step outside my usual genre, but I was completely hooked. The concept of a vaccine that halts aging is both fascinating and unsettling, especially as the story explores the consequences of a society where only the wealthy can afford to live far beyond their natural years. The ethical dilemmas, power struggles, and personal stakes make for a gripping read.
I loved how the book balanced a fast-paced thriller with deeper themes about privilege, mortality, and the dangers of scientific advancements falling into the wrong hands. Ruth and Mara’s unlikely alliance kept me engaged, and the tension built brilliantly as they unraveled the truth behind SuperJuve. The story was full of twists and surprises, and I found it refreshingly original.
I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Eve Smith
January 8, 2026
The Cure is a thought provoking dystopian thriller focusing on genetic manipulation that allows people to live longer healthier lives with the caveat being voluntary euthanasia at 120 but of course for some 120 years is not long enough.
The story focuses on 2 main characters Ruth, a retired scientist, who’s grief drives her to develop the anti aging treatment and Mara a government investigator tasked with hunting down ‘supers’ (the people who believes 120 years is not long enough). As the story comes together we learn about the origins of the treatment and how this has had a devastating impact on the world.
All in this is an excellent thought provoking book that I would recommend, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The story focuses on 2 main characters Ruth, a retired scientist, who’s grief drives her to develop the anti aging treatment and Mara a government investigator tasked with hunting down ‘supers’ (the people who believes 120 years is not long enough). As the story comes together we learn about the origins of the treatment and how this has had a devastating impact on the world.
All in this is an excellent thought provoking book that I would recommend, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
April 3, 2025
This is the fourth Eve Smith book that I have read and I have enjoyed every single one. I really like dystopian literature even though it scares me to think/speculate about what the future may hold. I enjoyed the twists and turns in Eve’s writing and the story line was very believable when you take into account research into genetics/how to increase life expectancy etc.
I would definitely recommend this book and can’t wait for Eve to realise her next one. I really wish there was the option to give it 4.5 stars as felt it really deserved that.
I would definitely recommend this book and can’t wait for Eve to realise her next one. I really wish there was the option to give it 4.5 stars as felt it really deserved that.
July 1, 2025
Oh my goodness Eve you have done it again!!
What an absolute genius you are.
I was, absolutely gripped from the very first paragraph to the very last word!
Whenever I pick up one of Eves books I feel a mix of excitement and fear. Her insight into how our future could unfold due to medical advances is chilling. As a species are obsessed with living longer, making our DNA indestructible and wiping out all diseases. But to what end? What would the consequences of living forever be??
Thank you Eve for this book. To be inside your head must be thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. I can't wait for the next book x
What an absolute genius you are.
I was, absolutely gripped from the very first paragraph to the very last word!
Whenever I pick up one of Eves books I feel a mix of excitement and fear. Her insight into how our future could unfold due to medical advances is chilling. As a species are obsessed with living longer, making our DNA indestructible and wiping out all diseases. But to what end? What would the consequences of living forever be??
Thank you Eve for this book. To be inside your head must be thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. I can't wait for the next book x
April 20, 2025
Another page turner by this incredible author. How would you like to live forever? Well with the right rejuve maybe you can. A truly terrifying thriller that is gripping from the first page to the last. Set in the not too distant future it's told by two people, Ruth who is a scientist and Mara who is an Omnicide investigator. Brought together they have to face evil in its worst form . This author just gets better and better.
March 28, 2025
Oh my goodness! What a fabulous read this was.
Coincidentally, as I started this book, Queen was singing 'Who wants to live forever?'. It was played at one of my cousins funeral and I was already emotional before delving into The Cure.
Halfway through and I had to to play 'Montego Bay' to lift me from the awful thought of extended life.
Such a well-written and thought-provoking tale. Human hubris to the extreme. I don't hold out much hope for this staying a fantasy.
Brilliant.
Coincidentally, as I started this book, Queen was singing 'Who wants to live forever?'. It was played at one of my cousins funeral and I was already emotional before delving into The Cure.
Halfway through and I had to to play 'Montego Bay' to lift me from the awful thought of extended life.
Such a well-written and thought-provoking tale. Human hubris to the extreme. I don't hold out much hope for this staying a fantasy.
Brilliant.
May 12, 2025
What an interesting read . What if you could slow down ageing with a simple injection given regularly to allow you to live longer and still stay young .. but at what price and what if it goes too far ?
I read this book in the midst of grieve with the passing of my dad therefore there were a lots of emotions and thoughts and some part were difficult for me but taking that aside I really enjoyed this book and his thought provoking it is . Thanks to tbc reviewers for the chance to read
I read this book in the midst of grieve with the passing of my dad therefore there were a lots of emotions and thoughts and some part were difficult for me but taking that aside I really enjoyed this book and his thought provoking it is . Thanks to tbc reviewers for the chance to read
May 23, 2025
Eve Smith knows how to make you think - and this certainly does that. Dystopian thrillers are not necessarily a go to genre for me - but Smith makes it all too believable and oh so compelling as a result.
Ruth Hammond seeks a cure for the rare syndrome that killed her ten year old daughter - but her success in doing so proves to have a surprising benefit when it also delays the ageing process in adults. And when it gets exploited by less than scrupulous individuals, and for the rich there is an even more extreme option - the superjuve that offers immortality - the backlash begins as the impact of an elderly-heavy population on an increasingly challenged planet become clear.
With a rule brought in limiting life span to 120, Mara Black is a detective for Omnicide, which tracks down those who try and evade the rule. She and Ruth come together to try and track down Erik Grundleger, the scientist who stole Ruth’s discovery and continues to exploit scientific progress in some terrifying ways.
Told from the points of view of both Mara and Ruth, it moves between past and present - and the tension ramps up as the pair race against time to track down Grundleger, adding a real thriller vibe to the story.
This is such a clever story - it’s terrifying but all too plausible. It’s a compelling combination of great characters, a plot full of tension and a story of greed, ambition and corruption that leaves the reader with plenty to ponder on.
Ruth Hammond seeks a cure for the rare syndrome that killed her ten year old daughter - but her success in doing so proves to have a surprising benefit when it also delays the ageing process in adults. And when it gets exploited by less than scrupulous individuals, and for the rich there is an even more extreme option - the superjuve that offers immortality - the backlash begins as the impact of an elderly-heavy population on an increasingly challenged planet become clear.
With a rule brought in limiting life span to 120, Mara Black is a detective for Omnicide, which tracks down those who try and evade the rule. She and Ruth come together to try and track down Erik Grundleger, the scientist who stole Ruth’s discovery and continues to exploit scientific progress in some terrifying ways.
Told from the points of view of both Mara and Ruth, it moves between past and present - and the tension ramps up as the pair race against time to track down Grundleger, adding a real thriller vibe to the story.
This is such a clever story - it’s terrifying but all too plausible. It’s a compelling combination of great characters, a plot full of tension and a story of greed, ambition and corruption that leaves the reader with plenty to ponder on.
June 4, 2025
Eve Smith’s The Cure is a gripping dystopian thriller that shines with brilliance. In a near-future Britain, a vaccine against aging—created by scientist Ruth Hammond to save her daughter—sparks chaos when exploited by greed. The dual perspectives of Ruth, a 115-year-old haunted by her invention, and Mara, an Omnicide investigator hunting immortal “Supers,” deliver relentless suspense and emotional depth. Smith’s vivid world-building, sharp prose, and ethical dilemmas make this unputdownable. A stunning, thought-provoking masterpiece that’s speculative fiction at its best. Five stars!
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