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Republic reviewed by Christine Speakman
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Republic 

Written by: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Reviewed by: Christine I Speakman

Publisher: Cincinnatus Press  www.cincinnatuspress.com 

Genre: Political Thriller/Fiction

ISBN-13: 978-09794114-2-7

ISBN-10: 0-9794141-2-4 

Pages: approx. 346

Price: $16.95

 

3 out of 4 roses

 

Could the United States of America ever see another civil war?

 

I find myself unable to write a normal---standard---review, here.  I need to give a personal statement before I start.  I’m Canadian; I live in Canada.  I have family who are born Americans and live in the States; I have family and friends who spend a great deal of time in the States.  We’ve discussed the political nature/situation currently in the States.  I have tried to keep all my own feelings out of this review and away from reading “Republic.”  I’ve tried.

 

I’m not normally a reader of political thrillers/fiction…leave that for the husband.  Said husband has read a few pages of “Republic” and stated, “Yeah, it’s about the same as other types I’ve read.”  So along with his opinion, I feel it is safe to say that “Republic” is right up there with others of the same genre.  And frankly, it’s a pretty good read.

 

In truth, Mr. Sheehan-Miles’ book “Republic” has left me emotionally torn up.  “Republic” scared me.  Had me questioning the current political state of affairs…all this from a book of fiction!  Just how much is fiction, though.

 

The story is about people.  About the choices a person makes while standing up for their Country; for what they believe in and believe their Country is all about.  Character Ken Murphy is a widower; a father of a dying son; his daughter is a Congress Aide; he’s an Iraq veteran and Lieutenant Colonel in the West Virginia National Guard.  He also works for Saturn Microsystems, the same company that has just closed its doors and is moving to Indonesia.  For his small town, this closure means a dying town.

 

So, what does that have to do with a civil war?  What makes this a political story?  A bumble of mistakes that leads to the people of the state of West Virginia wanting to secede from the United States.  The perceived view that the USA is turning into a police state.  That the Department of Homeland Security is over-stepping the civil liberties of the very citizens of the USA it was designed to protect.

 

Mostly this is a story of questions.  Questions we all need to address when living in a free society.

 

“Republic” is a living story.  “Republic” is a thinking story.  I came to care about the characters; I cried over the characters. 

 

Mr. Sheehan-Miles, I started “Republic” with some reservations, I have no reservations in stating “Republic” is one of my top reads this year.  

 

Christine Speakman - Muse Book Reviewer

 

      *GREAT RERose, LargeADRose, Large

Rose, Large 
 

 
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