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Political Conspiracy #1
Sedition
NEWLY COPYEDITED WITH ADDITIONAL PAGES (September 2013)!!
NOW PUBLISHED BY POST HILL PRESS
The President of The United States is dead. There is no Vice President to take his place.
As the nation slips into a constitutional crisis, a small group of disenfranchised neo-patriots conspire to violently seize power.
They have the will. They already have someone on the inside. And they have the explosives.
Standing in their way is a woman who listens to conversations not meant for her to hear. She reads mail not intended for her to see. She knows their intention. But can she stop them in time?
SEDITION is a smart, fast-paced, modern day political novel woven in reality and based on the 1820 British plot, The Cato Street Conspiracy.
It navigates the thin line between good versus evil and patriot versus traitor, proving there’s always a reason behind treason
NOW PUBLISHED BY POST HILL PRESS
The President of The United States is dead. There is no Vice President to take his place.
As the nation slips into a constitutional crisis, a small group of disenfranchised neo-patriots conspire to violently seize power.
They have the will. They already have someone on the inside. And they have the explosives.
Standing in their way is a woman who listens to conversations not meant for her to hear. She reads mail not intended for her to see. She knows their intention. But can she stop them in time?
SEDITION is a smart, fast-paced, modern day political novel woven in reality and based on the 1820 British plot, The Cato Street Conspiracy.
It navigates the thin line between good versus evil and patriot versus traitor, proving there’s always a reason behind treason
325 pages, ebook
First published September 23, 2012
616 people are currently reading
765 people want to read
About the author
Tom Abrahams
71 books343 followersTom Abrahams is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award winning television journalist and member of International Thriller Writers.
He is also a Kindle Unlimited All-Star, an Audible 5 Star Favorite, and author of more than forty novels.
He writes in several genres including dystopian, sci-fi techno-thriller, post-apocalyptic, and political thrillers.
The dramatic rights for his "A Dark World" trilogy are optioned for television and film.
He's married with two children and lives in Southeast Texas.
He is also a Kindle Unlimited All-Star, an Audible 5 Star Favorite, and author of more than forty novels.
He writes in several genres including dystopian, sci-fi techno-thriller, post-apocalyptic, and political thrillers.
The dramatic rights for his "A Dark World" trilogy are optioned for television and film.
He's married with two children and lives in Southeast Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 4, 2016
Fun, fast paced, and full of lots of history, action and drama. Right up my alley!
This one is also a political story, taking place in a very near future, and references current history and political events, recent Presidents, the Tea Party movement. I enjoyed the constitutional lesson that was fluidly weaved into the story. It made me wonder "what if" some of these events did happen? What if the Vice-president died, and before his successor was sworn in the President also died of a totally unrelated cause?
This book was recommended to me by a friend who knows my reading tastes, and once again she was right. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author, since I blew right through this one!
This one is also a political story, taking place in a very near future, and references current history and political events, recent Presidents, the Tea Party movement. I enjoyed the constitutional lesson that was fluidly weaved into the story. It made me wonder "what if" some of these events did happen? What if the Vice-president died, and before his successor was sworn in the President also died of a totally unrelated cause?
This book was recommended to me by a friend who knows my reading tastes, and once again she was right. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author, since I blew right through this one!
December 2, 2012
I was hesitant to dive into this title being that we had just come out of another slander filled presidential race, and I was not honestly wanting to dive into a book with politics, and even presidential succession, being the main theme. This is my first delve into the "political thriller" genre, and I must say, I was impressed.
Sedition is face paced and exciting novel. The characters fleshed out just enough to feel real and not bogged down with unnecessary information, and the plot is very definitely a sign of our political climate. Most impressive is that this is the author's first work; I think he is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
It was obvious to me that the writer is well versed in current politics and its history as well. The arguments of all the players in the novel were so well worded that I would often wonder who I sided with. As for the ending of the novel, I'll just say it was faced paced and shocking. At one point it was made clear to me that I wasn't putting the book down until it was over, all good thrillers (political and otherwise) should be like that.
*Just a note to those who may pick up the ebook version (or the author or publisher if they should read this). I am not certain if the ebook version I was sent was a final copy or not, but there were quite a few small errors, mostly a missing word here or there, or a misspelling, that sort of thing, but that isn't factored into my rating as those kinds of things don't really bother me if they aren't everywhere.
**The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
Sedition is face paced and exciting novel. The characters fleshed out just enough to feel real and not bogged down with unnecessary information, and the plot is very definitely a sign of our political climate. Most impressive is that this is the author's first work; I think he is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
It was obvious to me that the writer is well versed in current politics and its history as well. The arguments of all the players in the novel were so well worded that I would often wonder who I sided with. As for the ending of the novel, I'll just say it was faced paced and shocking. At one point it was made clear to me that I wasn't putting the book down until it was over, all good thrillers (political and otherwise) should be like that.
*Just a note to those who may pick up the ebook version (or the author or publisher if they should read this). I am not certain if the ebook version I was sent was a final copy or not, but there were quite a few small errors, mostly a missing word here or there, or a misspelling, that sort of thing, but that isn't factored into my rating as those kinds of things don't really bother me if they aren't everywhere.
**The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
July 26, 2014
Sedition by Tom Abrahams is an entrancing political thriller filled with action. There are many twists and turns. President Foreman died in office. The Vice President had died in office. President Foreman had appointed Secretary of Defense as the new vice president but he hasn't been sworn in yet. According to law the Speaker of the House, Madam Jackson, should be the new President. There is a disagreement and it goes to the courts. Meanwhile there is a seditious group who plan on rebelling against the government. They are the Daturans. There are five and a secret 6th known only to Sir Spencer Thomas. Other members are Art Thistlewood, professor, George Edwards the artist, James Int, the bar owner, and Bill Davidson, the former Attorney General. Back in the world of spooks, Mattie works as a code breaker. Her boss wants her to handle an asset, who's been giving them information about the Daturans. The asset tells them the Daturans are going to use violence to achieve their means. She tells Mattie they all will be gathered at the opening of George Edward's art show at the gallery and suggests she attend. Mattie tells her boss their using semtex a highly explosive plastique. The government thinks they will use it at the presidential funeral at Arlington. Can Mattie tie the clues up to prevent an explosive ending?
December 18, 2016
Not really a fast paced book, but it was well researched.
Also, it seems to have been updated in the Kindle version. Book was originally written several years ago. But there are a few references to events much more current than the original publish date.
Also, it seems to have been updated in the Kindle version. Book was originally written several years ago. But there are a few references to events much more current than the original publish date.
October 25, 2012
Sedition is a Political Thriller that you will find yourself totally immersed in from the first page. The writing style is fast paced and engaging and the characters are drawn with a unique blend of realism and thoughtfulness.
President of the United States Dexter Foreman has succumbed to a brain aneurysm and died in office. Previously the Vice President had died from a long illness. Felicia Jackson, Speaker of the House, is next in line to take the oath of office but John Blackmon the nominated successor to the Vice President who has yet to be sworn in believes he should be the next in line. As this decision is taken to the courts to decide, a small group known as The Datura Group believing in a new world order has been operating in the background for some time. They are anti-government conspirators believing that this is the opportune time for the group to take action. The Datura group members put into motion a plan involving violence and destruction that will enable them to move forward if they succeed.
Matilda (Mattie) Harold works in the secure area of the NSA and is given a new assignment to be the primary contact for a certain person who has information about a scenario of the utmost importance. Mattie is a great character; she is smart, strong and determined to do the right thing no matter the consequences. She faces some immediate dangers and must make decisions that go against direct orders for the greater good. Mattie is the heroine of this story for she alone must determine her course of action and ultimately decide whether to follow her own instincts or be stifled by her boss.
All the characters in this book are well developed and bring their own sense of conflict and opinion to the story. The dialogue between the characters is crisp and thought provoking bringing a great dimension to the story. The main characters that you will encounter are Art Thistlewood an American Government Professor, George Edwards an artist, Sir Spencer Thomas, Attorney General Bill Davidson and Jimmy Ings a pub owner. These characters are multi-layered and bring a sense of urgency and drama to the story.
The tremendous amount of research that went into this book is evident throughout. The picturesque and detailed descriptions of the locations described are vivid and enable the reader to see them in their minds eye. The background and history is delivered with intelligence and the story itself is very thought provoking and absorbing. I highly recommend this book for its intensity, realism and overall sense of urgency. This is a book that you will not be able to put down!
Tom Abrahams has also provided a look at the background of Sedition at seditionbook.com. Here you are privy to all the art which is detailed in the book as well as a tour of the locations visited and documentation referenced. This is an extremely well developed and educational experience which is a great addition to compliment the book.
President of the United States Dexter Foreman has succumbed to a brain aneurysm and died in office. Previously the Vice President had died from a long illness. Felicia Jackson, Speaker of the House, is next in line to take the oath of office but John Blackmon the nominated successor to the Vice President who has yet to be sworn in believes he should be the next in line. As this decision is taken to the courts to decide, a small group known as The Datura Group believing in a new world order has been operating in the background for some time. They are anti-government conspirators believing that this is the opportune time for the group to take action. The Datura group members put into motion a plan involving violence and destruction that will enable them to move forward if they succeed.
Matilda (Mattie) Harold works in the secure area of the NSA and is given a new assignment to be the primary contact for a certain person who has information about a scenario of the utmost importance. Mattie is a great character; she is smart, strong and determined to do the right thing no matter the consequences. She faces some immediate dangers and must make decisions that go against direct orders for the greater good. Mattie is the heroine of this story for she alone must determine her course of action and ultimately decide whether to follow her own instincts or be stifled by her boss.
All the characters in this book are well developed and bring their own sense of conflict and opinion to the story. The dialogue between the characters is crisp and thought provoking bringing a great dimension to the story. The main characters that you will encounter are Art Thistlewood an American Government Professor, George Edwards an artist, Sir Spencer Thomas, Attorney General Bill Davidson and Jimmy Ings a pub owner. These characters are multi-layered and bring a sense of urgency and drama to the story.
The tremendous amount of research that went into this book is evident throughout. The picturesque and detailed descriptions of the locations described are vivid and enable the reader to see them in their minds eye. The background and history is delivered with intelligence and the story itself is very thought provoking and absorbing. I highly recommend this book for its intensity, realism and overall sense of urgency. This is a book that you will not be able to put down!
Tom Abrahams has also provided a look at the background of Sedition at seditionbook.com. Here you are privy to all the art which is detailed in the book as well as a tour of the locations visited and documentation referenced. This is an extremely well developed and educational experience which is a great addition to compliment the book.
November 16, 2012
Tom Abrahams delivers a tightly written, suspenseful thriller from start to finish. Drawing on the rich tapestry of U.S. politics, this timely conspiracy takes political maneuvering and secret cabals to a new level. Set in the hallowed halls of D.C.’s most ruthless powerbrokers, Abrahams draws on his rich experiences as a national political reporter to craft unforgettable scenes and shower the reader with “insider” details. In a rising sea of political conspiracy novels, Abrahams’ SEDITION stands out as one of best I’ve read in several years.
SEDITION is based loosely on a series of real historical events surrounding the Cato Street Conspiracy, in which a small group of radicals attempted to the British cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister in 1820. The new setting is modern-day Washington D.C., and Abrahams lends many of the historical names from the original conspiracy to the settings and characters in SEDITION. Taking a few moments online to research the original conspiracy adds another layer of enjoyment to the reading, but is in no way necessary to delve into Abrahams’ rollercoaster plot of twists and turns.
Abrahams’ strengths as a writer rise to the surface in character development, scene description and faithful plotting. SEDITION brings to life one of my new favorite characters. Sir Spencer Thomas. Cunningly ruthless, fiercely intelligent and arrogant to a flaw, I couldn’t get enough of his “received pronunciation” and dry wit. He is a scathingly hilarious and psychotic character that you will love to hate. The rest of the Abrahams’ characters are crafted with equal attention. Particularly, he pays close attention to the link between their motives and the “conspiracy,” which is important for the genre and this story in particular. One does not engage in SEDITION of the highest order, without the strongest personal motivations, which he captures for each conspirator.
The plot moves along swiftly and realistically. I detected no logic gaps or dreaded “leaps of faith.” The twists were well-timed and intensified the suspense, catching me by surprise a number of times, which is always rewarding. The final chapters were simply breathtaking. The sense of dread and urgency was palpable…I was reading as quickly as possible.
The final aspect I will mention is the exquisite detail. Tom Abrahams can paint an immersive picture with his words. From the artwork that adorns the Capitol Building’s walls to the feel of fabric in a character’s suit, he draws the reader in with remarkable detail and sets them loose in the scene without wasting pages.
In full disclosure, Tom Abrahams provided me with a copy of his novel, which I accepted with no preconceptions or conditions. From page one, I was absolutely hooked, and by page two, I knew the weekend would be lost. If you enjoy conspiracy-based thrillers, it doesn’t get any better than SEDITION. I look forward to further offerings from this author.
SEDITION is based loosely on a series of real historical events surrounding the Cato Street Conspiracy, in which a small group of radicals attempted to the British cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister in 1820. The new setting is modern-day Washington D.C., and Abrahams lends many of the historical names from the original conspiracy to the settings and characters in SEDITION. Taking a few moments online to research the original conspiracy adds another layer of enjoyment to the reading, but is in no way necessary to delve into Abrahams’ rollercoaster plot of twists and turns.
Abrahams’ strengths as a writer rise to the surface in character development, scene description and faithful plotting. SEDITION brings to life one of my new favorite characters. Sir Spencer Thomas. Cunningly ruthless, fiercely intelligent and arrogant to a flaw, I couldn’t get enough of his “received pronunciation” and dry wit. He is a scathingly hilarious and psychotic character that you will love to hate. The rest of the Abrahams’ characters are crafted with equal attention. Particularly, he pays close attention to the link between their motives and the “conspiracy,” which is important for the genre and this story in particular. One does not engage in SEDITION of the highest order, without the strongest personal motivations, which he captures for each conspirator.
The plot moves along swiftly and realistically. I detected no logic gaps or dreaded “leaps of faith.” The twists were well-timed and intensified the suspense, catching me by surprise a number of times, which is always rewarding. The final chapters were simply breathtaking. The sense of dread and urgency was palpable…I was reading as quickly as possible.
The final aspect I will mention is the exquisite detail. Tom Abrahams can paint an immersive picture with his words. From the artwork that adorns the Capitol Building’s walls to the feel of fabric in a character’s suit, he draws the reader in with remarkable detail and sets them loose in the scene without wasting pages.
In full disclosure, Tom Abrahams provided me with a copy of his novel, which I accepted with no preconceptions or conditions. From page one, I was absolutely hooked, and by page two, I knew the weekend would be lost. If you enjoy conspiracy-based thrillers, it doesn’t get any better than SEDITION. I look forward to further offerings from this author.
November 16, 2012
In the near future, the President of the United States dies of an aneurism. The line of succession is laid out clearly in the Constitution and certain Acts, but there is a problem: the Vice President had died, and while the President had nominated a new Vice President, he had yet to be sworn in. The author gives a clear outline of the issues (although as a non-US citizen, I am not able to verify whether the legal points are correct). The outcome of the legal position is clear: lawyers at twenty paces, and eventually, off to the Supreme Court! At this point, the story focuses on the positioning of the "maybe VP" and the Speaker, and the legal positioning. This part of the book brings up a very important issue: what is the law on succession in this situation?
The story then introduces each of a small group who call themselves Daturans, and they see that there is a simple answer to this succession problem: Semtex. Another major protagonist is Matti Harrold, a young NSA staff member who works at the desk, decoding. Suddenly, her supervisor sends her out into the field. At first Matti is thrilled, then she realizes that the information given to her is inadequate, the NSA generally does not do field work, and even if they did, they would not send in a young woman with absolutely no training. Something is wrong.
The rather complicated plot, the legal complexities and the rather large cast of characters with their different objectives make the first part of this book a little overwhelming. The author addresses the inevitable information overload by giving very full descriptions of the environment and does something not often done: he portrays the nature of the character through their clothing. This was first done (as far as I know) in the Nibelungenlied, so there is a tradition. However, for this financially and sartorially challenged reviewer, the sequence of brands etc do not mean much.
The story then comes to life, with the author making a number of points relating to the inability of US Security organizations to function properly and coordinate with each other, so even when Blind Freddy sees the plot should fail, the authorities' lack of coordination virtually assure the reader that it has strong possibilities. The characterization is very well described, the plot has a driving internal logic once it gets established, and it manages tension and surprise very well. The production is clean, although there are occasional flaws where words appear to have been omitted. Overall, I found this book held my interest strongly. It is a chilling story, but chillingly plausible.
The story then introduces each of a small group who call themselves Daturans, and they see that there is a simple answer to this succession problem: Semtex. Another major protagonist is Matti Harrold, a young NSA staff member who works at the desk, decoding. Suddenly, her supervisor sends her out into the field. At first Matti is thrilled, then she realizes that the information given to her is inadequate, the NSA generally does not do field work, and even if they did, they would not send in a young woman with absolutely no training. Something is wrong.
The rather complicated plot, the legal complexities and the rather large cast of characters with their different objectives make the first part of this book a little overwhelming. The author addresses the inevitable information overload by giving very full descriptions of the environment and does something not often done: he portrays the nature of the character through their clothing. This was first done (as far as I know) in the Nibelungenlied, so there is a tradition. However, for this financially and sartorially challenged reviewer, the sequence of brands etc do not mean much.
The story then comes to life, with the author making a number of points relating to the inability of US Security organizations to function properly and coordinate with each other, so even when Blind Freddy sees the plot should fail, the authorities' lack of coordination virtually assure the reader that it has strong possibilities. The characterization is very well described, the plot has a driving internal logic once it gets established, and it manages tension and surprise very well. The production is clean, although there are occasional flaws where words appear to have been omitted. Overall, I found this book held my interest strongly. It is a chilling story, but chillingly plausible.
December 4, 2012
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A riveting modern political-thriller with a smart heroine at its helm!
If I had to say just one thing about Sedition, I would say that the author of this book clearly knows his stuff, and he knows them very well, too!
When I began reading the book, I was literally mind-blown by what was written within the first few pages. The political, as well as the socio-cultural references in this book really hit my tickle spot, and I was hooked in no time!
So what is this book all about?
Well, Sedition is a synthesis of real US politics and written fiction, weaving them both in such a way that could make the reader take a pause to think critically. The story, being a slice of reality, actually gives the reader information about stuffs that matter, but which are mostly overlooked and ignored.
As for the characters, I really liked the fact that each member of the Daturan had his own distinct personality which made it very easy for me to distinguish one from another. They were like this group of intellectual gentlemen with extreme superiority complexes, which is actually only a coping mechanism for their inferiority complexes. I’d have to admit that they were largely the reason why I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
On the other hand, I haven’t really quite warmed up to Matti. She seemed a little too perfect for me. I mean, her guilty pleasure was watching hilarious videos on YouTube. Sure, it’s definitely a quirk, but there has got to be more to her than just being a mid-level intelligence analyst, with an eidetic memory and poor self-esteem.
Moving on, while this book may not be as action-packed as so many spy novels, what it lacks in action, it makes up for in intellectual stimulation and well-planned twists. The suspenseful pace was also consistently maintained throughout the story.
Also, fans of stories featuring conspiracy theories are going to love this book! Not only is it a smart read, it is also insightful and a definite brain teaser!
A riveting modern political-thriller with a smart heroine at its helm!
If I had to say just one thing about Sedition, I would say that the author of this book clearly knows his stuff, and he knows them very well, too!
When I began reading the book, I was literally mind-blown by what was written within the first few pages. The political, as well as the socio-cultural references in this book really hit my tickle spot, and I was hooked in no time!
So what is this book all about?
Well, Sedition is a synthesis of real US politics and written fiction, weaving them both in such a way that could make the reader take a pause to think critically. The story, being a slice of reality, actually gives the reader information about stuffs that matter, but which are mostly overlooked and ignored.
As for the characters, I really liked the fact that each member of the Daturan had his own distinct personality which made it very easy for me to distinguish one from another. They were like this group of intellectual gentlemen with extreme superiority complexes, which is actually only a coping mechanism for their inferiority complexes. I’d have to admit that they were largely the reason why I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
On the other hand, I haven’t really quite warmed up to Matti. She seemed a little too perfect for me. I mean, her guilty pleasure was watching hilarious videos on YouTube. Sure, it’s definitely a quirk, but there has got to be more to her than just being a mid-level intelligence analyst, with an eidetic memory and poor self-esteem.
Moving on, while this book may not be as action-packed as so many spy novels, what it lacks in action, it makes up for in intellectual stimulation and well-planned twists. The suspenseful pace was also consistently maintained throughout the story.
Also, fans of stories featuring conspiracy theories are going to love this book! Not only is it a smart read, it is also insightful and a definite brain teaser!
November 27, 2012
Sedition. A Political Thriller is a smart and entertaining political thriller. There are a lot of storylines but few wasted moves in this 414-page story. Abrahams covers characters from a professor with an eye for the students to a satirical artist to a White House power struggle all with character that are well rounded and easily believed and who are all brought together in a very plausible storyline.
Abrahams conveys a sense of deep knowledge as to the inner workings of Washington. He clearly did a great deal of research in preparation for this novel in a political and historical sense. The plot is complex but tight. This is Ludlum done better and a work worthy to stand side by side with that author in success. Often Amazon published works are riddled with editing and formatting errors but if there were editing errors, I was too engaged in the story-line to spot them.
Detractors will argue that Matti was too gullible and maybe not self-aware enough to know that she was attractive but the way in which the author brings these realizations combined with her background, I believed that she puts on a dress, a salesperson exclaims and suddenly she says, “Yeah, maybe I do have something going on here.” That’s not to suggest that Abrahams dwells on Matti’s self-discovery. As with the rest of the novel, the realization is matter of fact, given a human moment and then we move on.
Just in case the point has been missed in this glowing review, Sedition. A Political Thriller was a truly wonderful read. Contentious and gritty with the sense that we’re learning something about Washington in the reading process. I would recommend this to fans of John leCarre, Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, and any other political thriller writers. Sedition. A Political Thriller can stand up to their novels any day of the week.
I loved this novel. I am a big fan of political thrillers and Sedition. A Political Thriller is done especially well. I look forward to reading the next release from this author.
January 22, 2013
Explosive political thriller
When the President of the United States suddenly dies of natural causes, the Vice President usually steps into the job. It’s happened before and the country continues. But what if the V.P. recently died and his confirmed replacement has not taken the oath of office? Does the Speaker of the House become President or would the courts say the new V.P should fill the job? An underground group of “patriots” might use this moment of political dysfunction to seize control of the White House, even if it meant committing mass murder.
The author of “Sedition” obviously knows Washington D.C., understands backroom politics, and uses the skill of a master storywriter to craft a plausible novel. He injects a dose of reality into the narrative and allows the reader to appreciate this hair-raising tale of political intrigue. The heroine, Matti Harrold is a well-rounded character, the conspirators are believable, and the scenario seems possible. Hopefully the country will never face a real crisis of this magnitude and brave souls stand ready to defend us.
My only objection to the story was that the author made the “Tea Party” sound like a den of conspirators. (Any group with strong opinions might attract wacky people into its membership.) To be fair the conspirators in this story didn’t believe the Tea Party was willing to go far enough to achieve their goals. We should all be grateful that America changes regimes without violence—just read this book to understand where that road could lead. A good novel should make readers think and I believe this one fills that role.
When the President of the United States suddenly dies of natural causes, the Vice President usually steps into the job. It’s happened before and the country continues. But what if the V.P. recently died and his confirmed replacement has not taken the oath of office? Does the Speaker of the House become President or would the courts say the new V.P should fill the job? An underground group of “patriots” might use this moment of political dysfunction to seize control of the White House, even if it meant committing mass murder.
The author of “Sedition” obviously knows Washington D.C., understands backroom politics, and uses the skill of a master storywriter to craft a plausible novel. He injects a dose of reality into the narrative and allows the reader to appreciate this hair-raising tale of political intrigue. The heroine, Matti Harrold is a well-rounded character, the conspirators are believable, and the scenario seems possible. Hopefully the country will never face a real crisis of this magnitude and brave souls stand ready to defend us.
My only objection to the story was that the author made the “Tea Party” sound like a den of conspirators. (Any group with strong opinions might attract wacky people into its membership.) To be fair the conspirators in this story didn’t believe the Tea Party was willing to go far enough to achieve their goals. We should all be grateful that America changes regimes without violence—just read this book to understand where that road could lead. A good novel should make readers think and I believe this one fills that role.
December 19, 2012
When I was approached by Tom Abrahams to review his book, I was a little hesitant as I had had a number of authors find me asking the same question. It has been some time since then, but Tom has been very patient with me, making absolutely no demands on me to complete the review. There is a very good reason for that, which he knows. This book is very good.
Sedition was a book that surprised me. Why? I hear you ask. The answer is very simple. This is a tense, taut political thriller that hits all the marks. Whilst I am an Australian and do not know much of the United States political system, this book was written so well that the necessary holes were filled without making the process laborious as it went through the law to explain the whys of the main characters.
Whilst there are a number of typos through it and a couple of odd sentences (in my reading), this was due to reading an uncorrected proof. They do not slow the reading down too much as we jump from the crisis of both the President and Vice President being dead to there being no real succession plan in place. America is at a stand-still. The Speaker and a member of the government both claim to be the right heir to the throne.
But that is not all. There are external elements planning yet another downfall for the country. This book is exciting and fast paced. If you want to know more, then buy it. I liked it lots and I think you will too.
Sedition was a book that surprised me. Why? I hear you ask. The answer is very simple. This is a tense, taut political thriller that hits all the marks. Whilst I am an Australian and do not know much of the United States political system, this book was written so well that the necessary holes were filled without making the process laborious as it went through the law to explain the whys of the main characters.
Whilst there are a number of typos through it and a couple of odd sentences (in my reading), this was due to reading an uncorrected proof. They do not slow the reading down too much as we jump from the crisis of both the President and Vice President being dead to there being no real succession plan in place. America is at a stand-still. The Speaker and a member of the government both claim to be the right heir to the throne.
But that is not all. There are external elements planning yet another downfall for the country. This book is exciting and fast paced. If you want to know more, then buy it. I liked it lots and I think you will too.
July 3, 2014
"Sedition", a political thriller by Tom Abrahams, is a gripping tale of conspiracy and intrigue. The United States is in the grip of a constitutional crisis when the President dies of an aneurism while there is not a sworn Vice President. The order of succession is under attack on all sides. Into this political soup enter the Daturans, a group of 6 who broke off from the Tea Party and want to affect change in Washington. With the crisis under way they plot to make the succession issue a non-issue.
The NSA knows about the Daturans through an informant. As the plot thickens Mattie Harrold, a code analyst is given the task of handling the informant. As she begins to uncover the plot she is hampered by her own agency. I don't want to give anymore away so I will leave it at that.
Mattie Harrold is a somewhat naive character who really comes into her own during the course of the story. The Daturans are a motley crew. There's an artist, a professor, a drunk, a political pundit and Sir Spencer the ringleader. Abrahams does a great job developing each of the characters and what their motivations are for conspiracy. The novel is well-paced and the building tension keeps the pages turning.
A great summer read for anyone who likes thrillers.
The NSA knows about the Daturans through an informant. As the plot thickens Mattie Harrold, a code analyst is given the task of handling the informant. As she begins to uncover the plot she is hampered by her own agency. I don't want to give anymore away so I will leave it at that.
Mattie Harrold is a somewhat naive character who really comes into her own during the course of the story. The Daturans are a motley crew. There's an artist, a professor, a drunk, a political pundit and Sir Spencer the ringleader. Abrahams does a great job developing each of the characters and what their motivations are for conspiracy. The novel is well-paced and the building tension keeps the pages turning.
A great summer read for anyone who likes thrillers.
May 3, 2013
This book was a free promotional ecopy from Amazon. It is chock full of grammatical errors. Still I gave it four stars, a high rating. For a thriller, it was, sad to say, not far from the truth. The terrorist plot had been set long before it came to fruition. The plot leader simply played with the lives of the innocent and of those complicit with his plan. Attention was brought to agencies within our government that will not share information and to politicians who think of their careers first and foremost. There is nothing new in this story. We have seen it happen. This author wrote the story very well. Don't put this book on your 'to read someday' list. Read it now. As an ordinary citizen, I feel impotent to stop the downward spiral our country is taking. Giving this book four stars is just about the best I can do.
I have read other reviews of this book that emphasize succession issues that were far-fetched.
Thank you, Mr. Abraham's, for a very good read.
I have read other reviews of this book that emphasize succession issues that were far-fetched.
Thank you, Mr. Abraham's, for a very good read.
January 10, 2013
I read this book in paperback and for a first time author, I was very impressed with Tom Abrahams. If you're a conspiracy theorist or love political mystery, this may be a book you'd enjoy as you're taken on a journey of espionage, secrecy and code cracking to find out who will take over the presidency and who ultimately should, after the President and Vice President of the United States die in office. Unfortunately, there were several moments where the detailed descriptions were overbearing, the plausibility of certain occurrences and the believability of the ensemble in the main conspiracy group Datura waned. In general however; the writing was vivid and Abrahams is clearly a talented story-teller who could likely debate politics with anyone for eons
November 5, 2014
Overall I enjoyed this novel - reminded me of Guy Fawkes who also tried to change a government with violence. The only negative for me was the British knight, he came across slightly `wooden', and some of his dialogue was how foreigners expected a knight of the realm to speak, rather than speaking naturally. That being said, I was still up late turning the pages to see what happened next. The basis of the story is a great idea, and I learned a lot about the system of succession in American politics. For me the story had just the right amount of detail so as not to bore the reader to death - very much in the Vince Flynn mould. Well worth reading.
December 4, 2012
Abrahams does a masterful job of keeping history and fiction intertwined throughout the novel. This novel reads like a piece of historical fiction as much as it does a thriller. Fast paced and exciting, with plenty of twists and turns, Sedition is a must read political thriller.
February 27, 2013
It could have used some better editing, but it was a good page-turner that kept me interested until the very end. Good debut for the first-time novelist/local news reporter. I hope he writes more novels.
May 10, 2013
What happens when patriotism and radicalism go too far? What if the Tea Party isn't enough? Sedition is a book that attempts to answer those questions and more. While the story has some flaws, it is a fast paced, suspense filled romp from beginning to end.
May 22, 2013
The vice president and president are both dead and the country is facing a Constitutional crisis throw in politicians, a small radical group, bomb makers, and a NSA analyst and you get a political thriller.
No sex
Violence-- all talk
No sex
Violence-- all talk
July 8, 2018
Lots of Suspense
While the plot was very well developed, there were an inordinate number of errors - spelling, grammar, syntax. I suggest that future books be more carefully edited.
While the plot was very well developed, there were an inordinate number of errors - spelling, grammar, syntax. I suggest that future books be more carefully edited.
May 14, 2013
Very good political thriller. Quite appropriate for the current political environment.
February 11, 2014
YAYYYYYY! Another editing project is now a published book!
March 18, 2014
Action packed. Enjoyed every minute of it.
July 28, 2025
This is my first Tom Abrahams thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an intriguing plot, set in the US when a perfect storm of unforeseen events leaves the country with no clear successor. The VP has recently died but his successor hasn't been sworn in when the President himself dies from a brain aneurism. This leads to a battle between the VP candidate and the Speaker of house who is next in line according to a 1947 law. VP Designate John Blackmon, starts legal proceedings to prevent the speaker taking the other, whilst heavily in the shadows a group of power hungry men determine it's time to take advantage of the situation and change the US forever. Their plan, simple attempt to take out most of the existing cabinet with well placed bombs during the memorial and funeral of the deceased President. The only person seemingly in the conspirators way is Matti Holland a low level NSA analyst who has been tasked by her boss with managing an asset who is providing information on the group. Many things don't add for Matti however, she doesn't believe (and isn't convinced by her bosses arguments) that the NSA has the right to spy on US citizens on US soil but is told to do it anyway. She is also convinced she is not getting the full story, and when she accidently identifies a second team at an event she is at she is taken off the case by a belligerent boss. As she learns more however she sets off on her own to try and stop the group.
The story moves along a good pace, some of the characters are not fully developed but this doesn't take away from the enjoyment.
Certainly looking forward to book 2 in the series.
The story moves along a good pace, some of the characters are not fully developed but this doesn't take away from the enjoyment.
Certainly looking forward to book 2 in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2020
I've mostly read this author's post-apocalyptic books, but this one is more of an action-thriller. It has a very slow build and at times bogs down a lot with too much inane detail on fashion accessories, weapons and other items. There are also quite a few editing errors that should be easy to catch and fix. Some of the intrigue was interesting as were the issues on presidential succession in the circumstances that occurred at the start of the book. While I like a good, capable female character, I was a little troubled by Matti. Initially she seemed be a mousy analyst who was good at her NSA job. Suddenly she is put undercover (which I don't think is an NSA role) and a nice dress makes her drop-dead gorgeous. Not very realistic as far as I am concerned. The ending seemed a bit rushed and as far as I can tell the sedition part has ended so am not sure what is next, but I like this author well enough to go on to book two to check it out.
April 7, 2021
This is Book three of the Road to the Breaking Series, written by adventure lover author, Chris Bennet. Set in 1861, the main character of this brilliant story, is former army captain Nathan Chambers, who fights to keep the state of Virginia in the Union as his enemies plot to take the state by force.
This fictional novel is well-written and well-thought-out. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work or even when I went to sleep, I found myself wondering what happened in the book and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out.
It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future and I highly recommended it to all fans of history!
This fictional novel is well-written and well-thought-out. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work or even when I went to sleep, I found myself wondering what happened in the book and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out.
It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future and I highly recommended it to all fans of history!
January 17, 2018
A good one for people that like political novels. This story provides information and insight into the workings of the United States
Full of political intrigue. As a rogue group plots to change leadership in the United States constitution. The twenty fifth amendment is required to solve a leadership vacuum. A group of men want to force the country into a decision that would change the course of history. A young NSA analyst uncovers the plot and looks for a way to thwart their plans.
Full of political intrigue. As a rogue group plots to change leadership in the United States constitution. The twenty fifth amendment is required to solve a leadership vacuum. A group of men want to force the country into a decision that would change the course of history. A young NSA analyst uncovers the plot and looks for a way to thwart their plans.
February 7, 2018
I love suspense, and I love politics, so this seemed like a comfortable fit. Overall, I enjoyed this book, although I thought the first part of the book moved too slowly. The rest of the book made up for that since it moved forward at almost breakneck speed. Now that I’ve finished this book, I plan to move on to the next book in this series—Intention. Hopefully it wraps up this story since the ending did sort of leave you hanging. All in all I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.
March 2, 2021
The President is dead-who will fill his seat?
Author Tom Abrahams spins a tight tale in this patriotic thriller. The plot thickens and the clock ticks down the moments until the seditious men have passed the point of no return. Will the heroine stop them in time?
Sedition
Author Tom Abrahams spins a tight tale in this patriotic thriller. The plot thickens and the clock ticks down the moments until the seditious men have passed the point of no return. Will the heroine stop them in time?
Sedition
November 19, 2022
This is a very good book if you are into political intrigue. As far as I go, the book did not become interesting until I was 60% through it all. It took me longer than usual to read it. I had to read part of it, go to another book; go back to this book and then switch to another. Toward the last 10% of the story it finally picked up the pace. If you want action and adventure, this isn't for you unless you just pick up at the end of the book and start to read.
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