"The Baby Merchant" by Kit Reed

This book hit a nerve because I suffered with infertility. I have long since reached acceptance, but I could identify with what the author describes as "the want" for something I could not have.

This fictional story is set in the future, where live births are becoming scarcer either due to environmental issues, couples postponing having children to advance their career goals (sounds a bit realistic, doesn't it?), and increasing failures in fertility sciences. Babies that are "wanted" are microchipped for security and governmental purposes.

The main character is Jack Starbird, a man who makes a career out of kidnapping "unwanted" infants that have not been microchipped and sells them to couples who can both afford his fee and who he believes (through a series of interviews or tests) will love the child and give them a better life.

I was horrified when I read about his methods of taking "the product" - the baby from "the supplier" - a mother with more children than she can handle. The act just seemed so realistic and yet so simple in my imagination as I read. He rationalizes that he is doing everyone a favor, especially the child, who most likely would end up abused or neglected.

He wants to close shop for good and disappear, but is blackmailed into doing one more job for a powerful couple. The husband an expose` reporter, and his distraught wife an attorney, who is kept in the dark about the transaction, but suspects foulplay.

The story takes a spin when the Baby Merchant unwillingly interacts with "the mark", aka "the supplier", a single woman who plans to give her baby up for adoption.

I'm not quite sure how to classify this book. I would say it's part thriller, and part wake up call. I do know that I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happens next!