If you could test your son for a gene that predicts violence, would you do it? From the author of Curfew comes a suspenseful, heart-wrenching novel about the consequences of your answer.
Antonia and Bea are sisters and doting mothers to their sons. But that is where their similarities end. Antonia had her son tested to make sure he didn’t possess the “violent” M gene. Bea refuses to let her son take the test. She believes his life should not be determined by a positive or negative result.
These women will go to any length to protect their sons. But one of them is hiding a monster. And there will be fatal consequences for everybody…
About the Author
An avid reader and lifelong writer, Jayne Cowie also enjoys digging in her garden and making an excellent devil’s food cake. She lives near London with her family.
You can find her on Instagram as @CowieJayne.
What’s it about (in a nutshell):
One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie is a thought-provoking thriller about the fundamental debate of nature versus nurture, specifically regarding violent behavior.
My Reading Experience:
I was absolutely riveted during the whole read. I surprisingly finished this book in one day – granted, it was a weekend day – but still, I couldn’t pull myself away from the story until I found out how it all played out.
The story follows Jack and Simon from birth until the main event in the story (at which time Simon was 18 and Jack was 17). Soon before they were born, scientists discovered a violent gene that only affected males, and boys could be tested for it at birth. Bea refuses to have Simon tested, but her sister Antonia immediately has Jack tested. As the story progresses, identifying that gene and the social consequences of knowing if someone is positive for it takes on a whole scary life of its own that feels very authentic.
I love how thought-provoking this story is and can easily see it as a sci-fi thriller choice for book clubs and buddy reads. There’s much to talk about, especially considering today’s struggle to keep kids in schools safe and prevent other massive displays of violence that are very concerning.
I also loved getting both sides of the nature versus nurture argument through the two related families. It shows the fallacies and the benefits of both ways of thinking, which is paramount for any well-thought-out discussion. The genetic aspect is a fascinating topic and incredibly relevant today with the growth of the field and genetics testing that has become routine.
Characters, Narration & Pacing:
I’m combining these three sections for this review because of their interconnectedness. It’s only possible to discuss one by bringing up the other aspects. The story is told in first person through 4 different characters. Bea is the primary narrator, and her sister, nephew, and son also have occasional chapters.
Bea doesn’t believe in the testing and feels if she raises her son as she should, it doesn’t matter if he has the gene or not, so she is an interesting character to spend most of your time with. I also loved getting both boys’ viewpoints, if even briefly.
Antonia, Bea’s sister, is also an engaging narrator. She embraces everything that’s going on – so an opposite view to her sister Bea. All of the narration is varying degrees of unreliable, which I also loved.
The pacing is swift from start to finish, and it’s a tightly constructed thriller, which helps to keep that pace fast. The pacing and construction of the story get all the points from me.
Setting:
The story is set in the UK, but it could be anywhere, and that was a purposeful choice. The story is much more impactful if you can see it happening in your community no matter where in this big world you live.
So, even though I often ding a book when the setting isn’t utilized, it was an excellent choice to leave it open enough that readers can put it anywhere.
Read if you’re in the mood for:
- A dark, reflective, and tense sci-fi thriller
- A thought-provoking story that will create conversation
- A riveting thriller
My Rating: (4.67) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
| Originality | 8 |
| Writing Quality | 10 |
| Pace | 6 |
| Character Development | 8 |
| ‘Couldn’t Put It Down’-ness | 6 |
| Setting | 10 |
ONE OF THE BOYS
(Nonexclusive excerpt)
Bea glanced at her phone, saw the ten percent charge remaining, and reluctantly called Antonia. She kept it short. Yes, everything was fine. A boy. Nine pounds. Yes, that was big. She was tired. She had to go. Yes, she would send a picture. (She didn’t.)
Bea was more surprised than she should have been when, half an hour later, her brother-in-law tweaked back the curtain and stuck his head round. “Mind if I come in?”
That was Owen, always perfectly polite. He smiled at Bea, nodded at Alfie. Bea had finally managed to get Alfie to sit down, but he hadn’t taken his coat off, and there was a smear of yellow mustard on his chin. When she looked at Owen in his shirt and tie and white doctor’s coat, she felt a pang of shame.
“I heard you had a rough time,” he said as he stood next to the plastic box that they called a cot and looked down at her son, who was asleep, still in his Mother Teresa getup. One hand had managed to escape, and he was sucking his thumb, tiny fingers splayed across his face like a starfish.
“Do you mind if I . . .” Owen began, but he was already unwrapping the baby, so she didn’t bother to answer. What was the point? She watched as Owen examined him, touching his hands, his feet, his round little tummy with the blue stump of his surprisingly juicy umbilical cord in the middle of it, and she gritted her teeth as her son howled out his disapproval. Her gaze flicked to Alfie, and she realized that he, too, was watching. She wondered how he felt, seeing the ease with which Owen touched his son when he’d been too afraid to even pick him up.
“He seems healthy enough,” Owen said, wrapping him back up again. “You were lucky that nothing went wrong. Giving birth alone can be very dangerous.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!”
“At least you were in the right place,” Owen said, continuing as if she hadn’t said anything. “Quite the drama. It’s all anyone downstairs can talk about.”
He stroked the baby’s cheek and then, finally, he turned his attention to Bea. Her bed was next to the window, and the light outside was fading. What remained bathed Owen in soft shadow. Bea pulled the sheet up to her chin, a shield against him. All of a sudden, she felt very vulnerable and leaky and sore and afraid. Everyone knew in theory that you were allowed to tell a doctor you didn’t want them to touch you, but to actually do it was something else entirely. She didn’t want Owen to touch her, especially not in front of Alfie. She didn’t want him to put her in the position of having to stop him.
“Congratulations,” he said. “He’s a lovely little boy. Have you got a name for him yet?”
“Simon,” Alfie said. “After my dad.”
Bea looked at Alfie in disbelief. That hadn’t been on their list. He’d never even mentioned wanting to use it. And anyway, shouldn’t it be her decision, given that she was the one who’d done all the work? She opened her mouth to reply, but Owen got in there first.
He looked at Bea. “Are you going to have him tested?”
“Tested for what?” Alfie replied, although Bea knew that the question had been directed at her.
“For the M gene. It’s simple, completely painless.”
“I don’t know,” Alfie said, turning to Bea, looking for the answer.
Bea ignored him. “Why?” she asked Owen.
“Why what?”
“Why should I have him tested?”
“It’s important to know what you’re dealing with,” Owen said.
“I’m dealing with a baby,” Bea said, and she turned her face to the window, away from Owen, away from Alfie, away from her son. She hadn’t had any of the other tests while she was pregnant, and she had no intention of having this one. She didn’t understand why anyone did. The idea that you would want to classify a baby as right or wrong, good or bad, perfect or imperfect, was abhorrent to her. As far as she was concerned, you got what you were given and you made the best of it.
Excerpted from One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie Copyright © 2023 by Jayne Cowie. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
29 responses to “One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie #BookReview #Thriller #SciFy”
This sounds interesting and thought-provoking. I can’t believe how a kid might feel with such a test and how it impacts his/her whole life. Calling something in DNA is a bad thing when we have control over how we act and live. Amazing review!
It’s an issue with so many different ramifications that it’s almost mind-blowing.
I definitely want to read this one, especially as you raced through it! Fantastic review!
I did! I read every word and was done before dinner 🙂
Did you know it’s called I Did It For You in the UK? Definitely not as good as the US title.
I can see that as a title but I like the US one better.
Great review, Tessa! I had to add this one to my list.
It is definitely one that’s worth reading and discussing.
It sounds like it. I’ll be keeping my eye out for it. 😊
Adding this to my list, great review x
I will love to see your thoughts if you get to read it!
I loved Curfew and thjs one sounds just as good. Thanks for the review Tessa
It is very good! I love being made to think about issues like this.
It is confusing that it has a completely different title in the UK though 😳
They do weird things like that. I don’t think they needed to change it though. I like the US title better.
I think that I do too
Great review! I love when a book pulls you in and you read it all at once. 😂
Me too! It was so super compelling, fascinating and thrilling!
Okay, I’m using your word, but even me just reading the synopsis is riveting! 😆 Also, love your review – you’ve explained it so well, I love dual POVs so I’ll definitely be adding this to my TBR! Great review :))
It is quite the story! I’d love to see your thoughts if you get to read it.
I’ve been waiting for this review. I know I’d enjoy this one. Love the nature vs nurture angle.
I think you’d love it too, since we share a lot of the same interests in that regard. It’s so incredibly thought-provoking!
Wow, what a plot premise! I can see why you finished it one day. Sounds like an excellent read.
It really is! It hits so close to where we are as a society that it was completely riveting.
This sounds really different & thought provoking, I’ll have to add this to my list, great review 😊
It’s absolutely riveting because it hits so close to where we are as a society – not to mention genetic advancements
Going to check this one out. The thought of the test though is scary. Imagine labeling someone as good or bad when they are still a child. It could turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy situation.
That’s actually what the story explores to some extent.
Wow, this sounds very thought provoking, Tessa. I got a minor in psychology and that question is one that is often pondered. I believe it is both, but that is debatable. Fantastic review!