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, Feminism, Science Fiction, Thriller, Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[rachel x]

this sounds frighteningly plausible 👀