Obstetrix

by Naomi Kritzer

From the Hugo award-winning author Naomi Kritzer comes a tense portrait of a future we desperately hope to escape.

O Lord, deliver us.

Doctor Liz has just been acquitted for performing the last abortion in North Dakota when she's kidnapped.

They're not just any kidnappers, but a fundamentalist cult, deep in the rural west, without respect for law or decency, and in desperate need of an OB/GYN.

Guarded, isolated, without access to the outside world, Liz nevertheless is treated with respect as the only doctor on the compound, but she is very aware of what happened to the last obstetrician they kidnapped.

She must escape, and bring help to the girls trapped at the compound, if it's the last thing she does.

Genres: Horror, Adult, Novella, Fiction, Thriller, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Audible Audio

Expected publication June 9, 2026

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

A fast-moving feminist thriller, in which an obstetrician is kidnapped by a violently patriarchal extremist christian cult somewhere in nowhere USA and forced to provide midwifery and medical help for their (many) pregnant women. Great atmosphere of surveillance and fear, and a very realistic depiction of how a normal person would react in the circumstances, which is to say, if you are expecting the heroine to go Jackie Reacher on the cultists, you will be disappointed. Rather, it builds a horrifying high-tension picture of the heroine's helplessness and desperation to escape, along with her sense of obligation to her patients, and an awful feeling of not knowing who to trust or help. Compelling reading that feels all too plausible in the current climate.

I had an ARC from the publisher (which is also my publisher).

[Librariann · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received an advance digital copy from the publisher, because I am a librarian and librarians are awesome **

While the publisher bills this as near-future science fiction, the "science" aspect is that the narrator is a physician, and the "future" (where an OB/GYN is prosecuted for her role in terminating a viable pregnancy) basically feels like it could happen any second, so, yeah.

I found myself flying through the story, though, because it has many features that I like in a book, among them: natural childbirth, cults, and a premise ripped from true crime.

While the ending felt like it wrapped up too quickly, and absolutely nothing can compare to Candace Fleming's Death in the Jungle when it comes to capturing the insidious creep of a cult's control over its members (like falling in love John Green style - slowly, then all at once), the story was realistic enough and entertaining enough. This is a case of appreciating what it is, even if I probably would have enjoyed a novel-length version with rotating POVs even more for its ability to ratchet up the tension and stakes.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella/short book went by so fast I was left wanting so much more! I wish there had been a little more depth and character development, but the premise for the story was interesting and it’s hard to go very deep in a novella.

I really enjoyed the story overall though. It feels very timely and very likely to happen, if it isn’t already. I think fans of Neal Shusterman’s Unwind series would enjoy this book and I would recommend it to teens and young adults. This might also be a great book for adults who are learning to read since it has adult topics but isn’t too long.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Edelweiss for providing this advanced readers copy for free for review.

[Dori Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down. This was SO good. It is short but doesn’t feel short because so much happens, and it is incredibly well written.

An obstetrician in the not-too-distant-future lives in a world where OBs have left a number of states because of restriction on their professions when it comes to ending pregnancies. And yes, this feels predictive and terrifying.

Liz was put on trial for saving the life of a mother by terminating her pregnancy and though she was acquitted, she was without a job (she was the last remaining OB in North Dakota) despite moving to a state with more opportunities. That’s why she was receptive to a phone call inviting her to work for a midwife office as a backup OB.

I won’t summarize this here and you can read the description, but what follows is wild. The setting is so clearly described you can picture where she is and you can hear and see the people she is with and you feel her pain and fear and hopelessness. You also feel her hopefulness. And her despair.

And the moments of good, particularly the connection amongst those who might feel the way she does.

Half star deducted only because I felt like I needed more details about this near-future world where obstetricians left a number of states.

Thank you Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[MAB LongBeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long novella or very short novel, set in the very near future. (It's almost unnoticeable.) Dr. Elizabeth Gwinn is an obstetrician who was prosecuted--and acquitted--over a medically necessary abortion. She moved from North Dakota to Minnesota and is looking for a new job. A last-minute job interview leads to an abduction. She finds herself in an isolated cult compound...somewhere. The cult badly needs a doctor, specifically an obstetrician, and the last one didn't work out. As each day and week brings new horrifying realizations, she tries desperately to keep her sanity and find a way out.

Great characterizations and a gripping story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kritzer has a knack for extremely compelling stories that make me tear up a little. 5 minutes into the future, with all the haunting plausibility you should expect if you've read CatNet or Liberty's Daughter.

I started Obstetrix this morning at work. I finished it before I clocked out, and already told a friend I'd be reminding her to pick it up on release.

(and by sheer coincidence, I got home to write this up and this same day, an asshole (ICE) in Minnesota made the news. Hope you're safe, Naomi, and I know you'll be out protesting.)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I'm so glad I got to read this and give it a boost, so maybe more folks will pick it up. (be careful about content warnings, though; it may be short but it's not light.)

[Jenna Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, WOW. This was such a uniquely thrilling story! I especially appreciated this because of my medical background and of course being a mom. This tells the story of an OBGYN kidnapping and her being held hostage at a religious cult. The women in the cult are arranged to be married young and reproduction is highly encouraged, therefore the OBGYN Dr. Liz has her work cut out for her. You see the corruption within as well as the creation of an escape plan. The men keep a close eye on the members and Dr. Liz struggles to find someone to trust. She uses her skillset to deliver babies and keep the women as safe as possible all while trying to escape. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time!

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for providing this ARC for review purposes!

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story (I think it was only about 150 pages, maybe a little less). I finished it so quickly. I did it in two sittings, but I'm sure it could easily be done in one.

This really did feel like an episode of Criminal Minds!

This follows an OBGYN who gets abducted by a cult to help them deliver the bajillion babies they have.

I don't want to say anything else because that would lean into spoiler territory. Just know that I had a fun time with this! And it wouldn't surprise me if something like this has actually happened in real life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Jeffrey Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It’s a gripping thriller that touches on health care issues currently happening across the US. I actually wish that had been a more prominent issue in the book as it would have added to the drama. As it is, we have a likable main character put into a dangerous situation and we follow her through that. There is almost a sub-plot focusing on and pushing literature and being well read, but it falls short of the goal. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will give the author another read with her next book.

[lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

this fast-paced, not so far fetched novella was a treat!
an ob/gyn who was recently prosecuted for performing an abortion is kidnapped by cult members and taken to a remote location to be their new “in house” doctor. religious cult madness mixed with medical experiences combined with the anxiety of being kidnapped(!) made for a wild ride. i didn’t want to close my kindle until the book was done!

thank you to tor publishing group for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast paced thriller that where the tension and horror are amplified given the current state of American reproductive care. Compelling doctor heroine who is not a superhero (can the hot flashes be a secret weapon? fantastic idea, loved it!) but is realistically grappling with what is truly out of her control and how she can still help her patients.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - I was looking forward to reading this in the spring, but delighted to get it early!

[Katie Mauger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little thriller that I think will stick with me. The events of the story felt pretty plausible (unfortunately), with the exception of the resolution, which was a bit too perfect to be realistic. I like a tidy ending though, so I’m not complaining. This is the first Naomi Kritzer book I’ve read, though I’ve been following her blog on local elections for quite a while now. I think I’ll pick up Catfishing on Catnet next!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book not expecting much, but when this books was over I was left wanting more to the story. This book sucked me right in and I couldn’t put it down no matter how hard I tried. The tension is just the right amount making you sit right at the edge of your seat without making you completely uncomfortable. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian or feminist style books.

[Amanda Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 5 star read for me - it’s the perfect high paced thriller. Liz is an obstetrician that is kidnapped by a Christian fundamentalist cult because they need her skills on their compound. I was holding my breath as she was trying to figure out details of her surroundings and how to potentially escape. If you liked the Handmaid’s Tale, you should definitely pick this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing group for the ARC! I can’t wait to read more of Naomi Kritzer’s books.

[Emily Westerwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilead meets Waco-- An obstetrician is kidnapped by an off-the-grid Christian cult compound to provide maternity care to their members. Has timely commentary on reproductive rights, morality, and literacy. Pacing was just right for a novella. Really makes you feel the dread and uncertainty in a setting that could be entirely plausible today. Thanks to NetGalley and the author and the publisher for the ARC.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful novella perfect for 2026. I just wanted more! It was so good and had such a good premise I just needed to know what happened. And I wanted some more on the pre kidnapping. Recommend to jumpstart your reading goal as it’s 200 pages, to anyone who loves a cult story / waco or to anyone who’s just over all of this Trump shit.

[Chuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is well done, seems to be barely science fiction as in it could happen today or maybe next week. It's short and gets into the main character's head quite well and touches on a modern hot button issue. Has a bit of a thriller vibe to it but without quite as much tension as some of those books.

[rachel x]

this sounds frighteningly plausible 👀