Revolution

by Chris Helvey

Revolution follows a busload of tourists, a squad of government soldiers, and a band of guerillas all caught up in a country-wide revolution. Told from multiple points of view, this book is an honest, detailed reality driven look at the loves, dreams, visions, and hopes of an oppressed people, and the glories, tragedies, violence, and death that accompany revolutions. It is not a pretty book, nor for the faint-of-heart, but it is a gripping read that you will never forget.

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Helvey's "Revolution" is about tourists on a trip to a fictional Latin American country who inadvertently get caught up in a revolution. It's a mix of passengers, from an Asian couple to British aristocrats to adventurous travelers. At first, dealing with the heat, insects, and other inconveniences such as a dilapidated bus, they end up in a rundown hotel in a small town. While there, revolutionary guerrillas attack a small group of government soldiers. The story is told from multiple points of view, with each distinct character giving the reader insights and feelings about what is going on in realistic and expressive words and thoughts in their fight for survival.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening chapter, I became involved in the lives and fates of the characters in Chris Helvey’s REVOLUTION. I slid into seat on a bus full of *touristas* driving through a jungle in Latin America, each lost in their own thoughts, none of them aware that they were about to be thrust into a bloody battle between a group of violent rebels and equally brutal soldiers. REVOLUTION is gritty and harsh, and entirely realistic. The writing is so vivid and gripping that I felt the oppressive heat, heard the terrifying crack of gunfire, and smelled the acrid smoke from a viciously set fire that burned in my nostrils. Revolution is not an easy read. It’s about violent, rebellious people who hurt other people – including people we care about. Some of the content might be offensive to some readers. But the story is gripping and held my attention all the way to the poignant ending. Kudos to Helvey for tackling such an ambitious story and doing so with skill.