Interest Age 11+ Reading Age 8+. With a gripping fictional narrative coupled with loads of fun facts, this book is a great way to get reluctant readers reading and may also then entice them into reading full-blown fiction too. With illustrations on virtually every page here in Killer Clone, the reader will learn lots about cloning and DNA as the story unravels to reveal the real killer from the 30 identical clones that could have undertaken the murder.
It's 2036. Cloned humans are used as slaves to do the jobs no one wants. There's been a brutal murder and there are 30 suspects, all with the same DNA. Zac Taylor, PI, has his work cut out ... Futuristic noir-style detective story investigating the politics of cloning and the science of crime detection.
Watch Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore giving their writing tips in this video:
Steve Barlow is not Steve Barlow's real name. His real name
is Steve Lowe, but he couldn't be Steve Lowe because playwright Stephen
Lowe is already Steve Lowe, though his real name is Stephen Wright, but
he couldn't be Wright because Steven Wright was already Steven Wright,
so Stephen Wright had to change his name to Stephen Lowe; so Steve Lowe
couldn't be Steve Lowe because Stephen Wright was already Stephen Lowe
because Steven Wright was Steven Wright so Steve Lowe changed his name
to Steve Barlow, all on account of Stephen Wright. Right?
Why Barlow? 'Cos it's his mum's maiden name. Aaaaah!
Steve
Barlow was born in Britain (in Crewe, in the county of Cheshire). He
went to Brierley Street School, which was like Bash Street only not as
sophisticated, then to Crewe County Grammar School for Boys (and what
kind of school feels the need, in its name, to remind its pupils what
gender they are? Hmmm?). He went on to study at Warwick University and
Nottingham University, and worked at various times as a teacher, actor,
stage manager and puppeteer. Then he went to teach in Botswana, where a
valid excuse for students not handing in their homework was 'A goat ate
it, sir!'. On his return to the UK he met Steve Skidmore, and the rest
is hysteria.
Steve Barlow lives in Somerset with his wife Cathy,
daughter Amy and son Robbie. He likes walking, sailing, reading,
listening to music and shouting at politicians on the telly.
Steve Skidmore is shorter than Steve Barlow and less hairy.
He was born in Birstall near Leicester in England. After managing to
pass some exams at school, he went on to Nottingham University to
supposedly read English, but spent most of his time playing sport and
doing a variety of summer jobs including counting pastry pie lids (yes,
really).
He trained as a teacher of Drama, English and Film studies, before teaming up with Steve Barlow to become a full time author.
He lives in Leicester and is a great rugby fan (he supports Leicester Tigers - "Come on you Tiiiiigeeeers!")
