Erica Sparks, GNN anchor, is at the top of her game — with even bigger professional dreams. She wants to create a new “Spotlight” program, where she’ll be at the forefront of a new form of American journalism, one that’s fearless and follows the story wherever it leads, highlighting one topic at a time.
In Lis Wiehl’s “The Separatists,” Erica follows that new fearless form of journalism to cover the story of secessionism within the United States — particularly in North Dakota, where Sturges and Mary Bellamy are set to challenge the governor in a recall election and “take back the Homeland.”
What follows is an intense, high-energy story filled with twists and turns — and bombings, kidnapping and murders. The action never stops in “The Separatists” as Erica tries to determine the meaning and purpose behind the Bellamys’ attempt to take over North Dakota and leave the union.
Wiehl’s novel is an extremely timely novel, reflecting the dissension and feelings of hopelessness and anger that exists at the moment in the U.S. Secessionist movements are a very real thing right now, and her plot definitely seems in the realm of possibility. It’s an eye-opening reminder to be ever vigilant to protect our rights and freedoms.
Besides being a political thriller, “The Separatists” does delve into some other issues — overcoming one’s past, no matter how toxic it was; family dynamics and determining the value and importance of family versus one’s career; learning who one can trust; and finding worth in one’s self.
Some negatives: at times Wiehl’s writing can get a little intellectual, with odd verb tenses at times and sprinkled with vocabulary like “meritocracy” and “insouciance.” And it does feature alcohol and drug use, as well as several references to sexual situations — but never in a gratuitous manner.
But overall, “The Separatists” is a great political thriller, ripped right from today’s potential headlines.
Four and a half stars out of five.
Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“The Separatists” (Newsmakers series, #3) by Lis Wiehl with Sebastian Stuart