A young woman lies in a hospital bed with just hours left to live. Next to her, a boy urges her to remember what has brought her there in a riveting novel that is as devastating as it is profound.

In one way Fever Dream is simply a conversation between the woman, Amanda, and the boy, David. But this powerful and at times deeply sinister tale is anything but straightforward. The two characters inhabit a world in which ecological disruptions have led to catastrophic effects on a rural Argentinian community, not least on its children. There are elements of the supernatural and witchcraft that infuse the story with a sense of horror and, at times, terror. Amanda is frantic to find out what’s happened to her daughter, Nina, and is preoccupied with the notion of “rescue distance” (the novel’s original title in Spanish) – how long it would take for her to reach Nina in an emergency. We also learn that Amanda has befriended David’s mother, Clara, who has relayed a story about David that is haunting and terrifying.

But to describe too much of the story would be to spoil what is an expertly plotted and paced novel.

This is Samanta Schweblin’s debut, for which she has been deservedly shortlisted for the Man Booker international prize. It has been skilfully translated by Megan McDowell with an economy that is both urgent and claustrophobic. As David prompts Amanda to recall events of the recent past, he repeatedly informs her “That is not important” or “This isn’t the exact moment. Let’s not waste time on this.”

Tension builds with the precision of virtuoso storytelling until the book’s fearful conclusion. It is a masterly novel that demands an immediate second reading: a novel about maternal love, sacrifice and the lengths we go to protect our children.

• Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin is published by Oneworld (£7.99). To order a copy for £6.79 go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99