State of Rebellion

Pug Connor #1

by Gordon Ryan

Author's   This title is available as part of the Rebellion Trilogy in Kindle format at Amazon with a discount price below the three separate novels.

A runaway federal government!
Western states in revolt!
Martial law in Sacramento!
America in a State of Rebellion!

STATE OF   "Had the gallows knot been placed to the side, behind the ear, Richard McFarland's neck would have snapped, delivering a swift death. As it was, the young California National Guard lieutenant twisted and convulsed for a long, agonizing two minutes before he died."

California is on the brink of secession, and those who oppose this drastic political maneuver are turning up dead. Federal Agent Nicole Bentley is sent to discover what she can about the movement and meets up with Assemblyman and National Guard JAG officer Daniel Rawlings, a man whose commitment to his country runs deep in his blood.  Resisting their mutual attraction, they uncover a plot devised by greedy men bent on taking power at any cost.  As Colonel Pug Connor, working under the direction of the President of the United States, seeks to root out the leaders of the Western Patriot Movement--a military cadre with a chip on its shoulder--Nicole and Dan find themselves literally in the crossfire. Can they end the dispute between the various factions before they all end up martyrs for the cause?

A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat political thriller, State of Rebellion will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Politics, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Political Thriller

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Passed away November 14th, 2012. He was 69.

Gordon Ryan was a writer with a varied history. He lived and worked in six foreign nations and a dozen or more states, including Alaska. He served in the 1st Recon Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He also served as a member of the American Embassy staff in Dublin, Ireland, during the violent seventies. His first published novel, Dangerous Legacy, was released in 1994 and he published ten more over the intervening years with the three Pug Connor novels, the last one released in early 2011.

Reviews

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided by the author to a number of users on the Amazon forums in return for honest reviews. When I read the synopsis it struck me as the type of book I would enjoy so onto my kindle it went.

The basic premise of the book is that there are shadowy forces at work in the state of California who, for their own means, want the the state to secede and become a republic. They are in the background manipulating events to their own ends. The idea of secession has struck a note with various militia organisations and indeed a section of the public who has had enough with what is seen as ever-increasing federal interference. A series of crimes take place, all carefully planned to advance the cause.

The character of the title isn't the main character in this book, but he does play a key role and the book has set up his background and credentials for the next in the series. Instead the main protagonist is Dan Rawlings, an administrator and novelist who finds himself struggling to choose between his loyalties to the USA and to California. I thought the main characters were well drawn and I empathised with Dan for what we are told he has been through and what he goes through in the book. I don't know if he will make an appearance in further books but I hope so.

I would describe this more as a political intrigue than a thriller or action novel. I found the idea that this could potentially happen intriguing and despite feeling there was something of a lull in the middle of the book was hooked by all the twists and turns the events took.

I have a couple of criticisms though. Firstly there are a lot of acronyms used, especially in relation to military terms. I expect to an American reader they would probably be obvious but no so to me. Using the term they stand for in full before turning to the acronym would have been helpful. Secondly I was slightly perplexed by a scene which takes place in London, where a car hits a corner water hydrant which then spouts a geyser. We've all seen it on tv and in movies but I can't remember having ever seen a corner water hydrant in London, or elsewhere in the UK. They may exist but to me it stuck out as being incongruous and it distracted me a bit while I puzzled over it.

Overall I found this an interesting book with a storyline that was all the more fascinating for it's plausibility. I will certainly be reading the second book in due course.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

In State of Rebellion, Gordon Ryan has imagined an alternative history for the US in 2012, with the US facing its biggest crisis since the Civil War. The premise, that the people of California, tired of encroachment on what they perceive as their rights as a state by the federal government, hold a vote to leave the United States and become a separate country. Similar to what the Southern states attempted in the Civil War, there has been enough noise made from time to time by states (the most recent I can think of being a secession movement in Montana) to make the premise plausible.

Ryan’s characters, especially Dan Rawlings and Nicole Bentley, who take center stage for much of the book, are well-formed, complex characters. The characters who could be called “villains” in this tale are credible and not unlike people who actually exist – in fact they’re all too easy to find in the current political climate.

One aspect of the book set it apart from many political thrillers. It seems most political thrillers that come across my desk pit two groups with clearly defined political leanings against each other. This is virtually always a group of villains with an extremist political agenda, typically right-wing, with heroes who lean moderately in the other direction, usually slightly to the left. In State of Rebellion, the villains fit the typical mold, with political beliefs about as far to the right as possible, but the heroes aren’t as easy to nail down. If forced to classify them, I’d say they’re moderate, very close to the middle of the road, possibly even leaning slightly to the right. While this means there is slightly less contrast between the two factions, it also means a much broader reader base should find the politics of the heroes closer to their own.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Gordon Ryan]

The following two reviews were published by Jenny Hansen, Meridian Magazine, and Jeffrey Needle, Association of Mormon Letters, following pre-release of American Voices.

Jeffrey Needle, Association of Mormon Letters.

It's hard to read this book without thinking about the current state of affairs in our nation. Some time ago, the governor of Texas began talking about secession, and most of us reacted by saying either “Fine, don't let the door hit you on the rear end on your way out,” or “Please just shut up – you're not going anywhere.” If you're not a politics junkie as I am, you may not have heard of this latest bit of nonsense.

Now, in the wake of the passage of health care reform, we're hearing talk once again about, among other things, secession. I don't think anyone is going to take such foolish steps; we are, after all, one nation under God. But there is certainly a groundswell of protest growing that is worth paying attention to.,

In this latest offering from Gordon Ryan (whose writing we haven't seen in quite a while), Daniel Rawlings, whose American roots go back nearly 150 years, is plunged into a world of violence and bloodshed. As a captain in the National Guard and a respected attorney, Dan, an active Latter-day Saint, is plunged into the difficult and murky world of fringe radical groups, cold-blooded killers, bent upon the destruction of the Union that we call the United States of America.

His main target is a group called the Shasta Brigade. Populated by radicals and disaffected no-gooders, they operate in the shadows, although some, even peace officers, are known to be active members. Their influence, and their deadly activities, are abetted by a respected group called the Western Patriot Movement. Behind the scenes of this group is a U.S. Senator bent upon the full secession of the state of California from the Union.

Dan Rawlings and his ancestors have lived and farmed the fertile ground of California for generations. Now Dan must decide whether he will support the secession movement or to live his convictions about California and its place in the United States.

Along the way there are heroes and villains, and enough action to keep any reader on the edge of his seat, wondering how the story will wind down.

Ryan is known for his spare, lean prose, and his amazing understanding of the human condition. I've been a fan of his writing for many years, ever since he produced his “Spirit of Union” series, which ended all too quickly. This latest offering may be his best yet. The subject matter is timely; the action is credible and often nail-biting.

There is much to admire in this book. Ryan has been a consistent and thoughtful voice on the Mormon literary scene. His books appeal to readers of every stripe. Some may complain that there is little in the way of soaring rhetoric in his writing. But this is not his goal. Instead, he wants to inform and to entertain. And in this sense, he succeeds very well.

A quick word about typography, and this, I admit, may be a purely personal preference. There are two issues.

First, when expressing ranking (such as 1st), the publishers choose to superscript the “st” portion, thus causing the reader's eye to leave the flow of the text. I recall reading studies that indicate that readers tend to tire more easily when they are forced to leave the direct left-to-right reading path. Yes, I understand the common use of such typography, but my personal preference is to leave the entire word in regular type.

The second issue, I think, is more serious. I appreciate as well as the next guy the desire to make a book look as nice as possible. The first page of each chapter has a picture of an American flag, in medium-dark gray, set as a background for the page. The result is a potential problem for some readers who have trouble reading black print on a dark gray background. In my opinion, this particular decision will create some stress on the reader. I know that my eyes don't deal well with the reduced contrast between the print and the background.

This is an exciting beginning to a new series. Valor Publishing is to be commended for bringing this book to life. Ryan, after many years of fine writing, still has a lot to say. We can all hope that he continues to put pen to paper for a long time to come.

Jenny Hansen Review in Meridian Magazine

I don't usually review a book until closer to its release date, but since I don't have a large number of other books this time, I'm going to talk about American Voices, State of Rebellion, Book One, by Gordon Ryan which is slated for release in May. This political action thriller is just what one might expect from Ryan, who is well known for his political intrigue novels and his vast knowledge of political and military tactics.
American Voices takes a young man, Dan Rawlings, a twelfth generation American and sixth generation Californian, and places him in the center of a political power struggle as California teeters on the brink of secession from the United States. Recently widowed, Dan buries himself in his work as city administrator for a small Northern California City, captain in the National Guard and would-be author until the brutal murders of a National Guard lieutenant and a sheriff's deputy by a militia group who sees their actions as the same as those of the early rebels who revolted against British rule at our country's inception. Suddenly he's involved with the FBI, particularly a young, attractive special agent, elected to the California Assembly, and assigned by the governor to write a new constitution for the Republic of California.
Dan is torn between loyalty to his country and to his state. His ancestors fought in every war in which the US has been involved. His recently accepted novel is based on his family's experiences in supporting the Union, yet members of his family were among the first settlers in California, own a vast tract of Almond orchards, and have a large stake in California's future.
A senator from California is at the forefront of the secession movement, but is he capitalizing on popular sentiment or is there something else behind his effort to form a new nation? Are the militias' brazen bank robberies, murders, and intimidation tactics signs of mere extremists and raving misfits or are their actions being guided by a master manipulator? Is dissatisfaction with federal intervention the cause of the rebellion or is it just a log thrown on the fire to push the flames higher?

The action is fast and enthralling and the premise is one that will appeal to many people, especially those familiar with political issues. I liked this book a lot and have never failed to enjoy any of Gordon Ryan's novels, but there were some points that didn't feel as smooth in this one as in the previous books by him that I've read. There are a few annoying info dumps and Dan and Nicole could both be a little better developed, both are somewhat flat. The intrusion of material that will only matter in the next volume is distracting as are references to incidents in various characters' pasts that leave the impression the reader is starting in the middle of a series instead of with volume one. Some of the wrap-up events are a little too convenient.
That said, let me go on to point out that Ryan paints one of the most realistic pictures of the issues that trouble Westerners concerning our Federal government, land use, illegal workers, and state rights without pushing an extremist agenda that I've seen. His dialog is real. He's one of the few male writers who presents a truly strong female character who is still feminine. Both the physical background in the book and the political background are realistic and believable. I recommend this book to men and women with an interest in politics, history, action novels, or who just have an interest in the modern West.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very timely and well written book. Definitely speaks to current events in the U.S.A. Not the subject of secession but; the manipulation of the voters.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book has to capture my interest in the first couple of chapters, or I'll likely move on to another book. A book that claims to be an action/suspense thriller should hook me in the first couple of pages. Gordon Ryan's "State of Rebellion" grabbed me in the first paragraph and never let go: "Had the gallows knot been placed to the side, behind the ear, Richard McFarland's neck would have snapped, delivering a swift death. As it was, the young California National Guard lieutenant twisted and convulsed for a long, agonizing two minutes before he died."

That's the prelude to an action-packed, suspenseful page-turner of a novel in the Tom Clancy style, except that Gordon Ryan does it better and far more succinctly than Clancy's bloated thousand-page sagas. And Ryan's characters are real flesh-and-blood people compared to Clancy's cardboard cutouts.

The storyline involves a move to bring about the secession of the State of California from the United States. Within California, the secessionist movement is being championed by many of the state's politicians, as well as by local militias that are popping up around the state. The story covers both the political machinations and the actions of the militias to force secession.

There are a number of major characters in the novel, but the story focuses on Daniel Rawlings, a county administrator and officer in the National Guard, and Nicole Bentley, an FBI agent assigned to keep watch on the local militias. Rawlings is still mourning the death of his young wife in an accident when he meets Special Agent Bentley, and over time they become involved romantically as well as professionally. It's a sweet romance, one that blooms gradually as the two get to know each other, not the typical boy-meets-girl, hops-into-bed-with-girl scenario.

As the political action heats up and the local militias become increasingly violent, the federal government becomes more and more determined to put an end to the secessionist movement and end the crisis, and this leads to even more violence by the militias. Although the secessionist movement appears on the surface to be a populist rebellion against the intrusiveness and over-regulation by the federal government, the movement is secretly being orchestrated by a sinister businessman for his own purposes. Will Daniel Rawlings, Nicole Bentley, and others who are working to keep California in the Union succeed in learning the secret, and can they expose the fraud and quell the movement without it leading to another civil war? That's the crux of the plot, and there are a lot of suspenseful scenes along the way.

I said that "State of Rebellion" reminded me of a Tom Clancy thriller. I was also reminded of the 1960s classic "Seven Days in May." The storylines are completely different, but the relentless pacing and the conflict between the political sector and the military sector are similar.

"State of Rebellion" is an ambitious novel, but the author has done a splendid job of managing a big storyline. Think of a chessboard with each side moving its pieces in a grand scheme with checkmate as the goal. That's "State of Rebellion."

NOTE: The title indicates that this is a "Pug Connor" novel. Pug Connor is a fictional former marine who has become a CIA operative. His role in "State of Rebellion" is relatively small until near the end of the novel, but apparently he plays a bigger role in subsequent books by Mr. Ryan.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Ryan's description of the problems our country presently faces: too much money being spent by Washington; an immigration problem that runs more deeply than one can imagine; people with power and money using the same for their own largess; a populace that is clueless and easily duped; and how many problems are therr in our country, let me count the ways. I expected some kind of resolution regarding California's withdrawal from the Union and was disappointed when none came. The main character had no answer in the beginning nor at the end. The mastermind of the coup did kill his partners in crime, which was the most definitive action I found in the book. That "up in the air" ending leads me to believe a sequel is in the making. The incident in Mexico was a throw away as was the IRA talk and even the character of Jack.
The book made me want to start over the American Experience, fresh and clean. After the cleansing, I wanted to make sure that the political power would stay with the majorityof the people. It made me want to throw away that handbag that is taking our country to hell. It made me recognize my inability to help my country, except by voting and who knows how much good that will do. We hear cries of "voter fraud" after every election. What is being done about it? Nothing. Home to us is the place where we put our heads in the sand.
I eagerly read this book and kept some notes because I thought the ending might throw me a curve. I want to read more books by Mr. Ryan. He is a talented author (this coming from a person who will read the cereal box--forgive me Mr. Ryan. I just could not resist that bit of levity). When a book makes the reader think, then it is a good book. This book made me think. Thank you Mr. Ryan.

[Pamela Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

"State of Rebellion (A Pug Connor Novel)" by Gordon Ryan is a fascinating read. It seamlessly blends politics, history, love, family and page-turning action into a novel that, as the description promises, will keep you reading late into the night.

Dan Rawlings is a decent, ordinary man who finds himself thrust into the midst the turmoil surrounding California's decision to become it's own Republic by not only outside pressures, but by his own conflicting emotions regarding his love of California and his love of the United States of America. What unfolds is a story that reinforces the readers' own patriotism, while at the same time raises questions about what we think we know as oppossed to what we blindly believe about our government.

Just when you think you know whom you can trust, the author throws in a twist that will leave you stunned at the depths to which humanity can stoop. This novel is also a vividly crafted portrait of the layers of good and evil that, depending upon the circumstances, can be found within us all. I would highly recommend this book for readers who, wherever your political affliations lie, love a good adventure-packed thriller that makes you think, smile and cheer.

[Jim A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book One of three, soon to be four if the publishing schedule is kept.

A pretty good political thriller with a twist, the secession of California from the Union. For those who like action, there are plenty of bodies left around throughout the book. The bad guys have a pretty good body count and the good guys get their licks in too.

I almost gave up on this book. I was glad I stayed with it. When I reached Chapter Six, and the conspiracy was revealed, the book started to move along at a good pace. The first six chapters were, to me anyway, pretty boring. Too much reflection on the part of the protagonist Dan Rawlings. While Rawlings' ties to his family valley are an important part of the story, I think the author got carried away in the continued reflections by Rawlings, both of the land and of the death of Rawlings' wife in a ski accident.

With exception of mention of the formation of a counter domestic terrorist arm of Homeland Security, Pug Connor to head it up (hence the designation of Pug Connor, Book 1), this could be taken as a stand alone book. There really is nothing lost if a reader chooses to not continue the series, although I certainly plan to see where the Connor character leads.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Kindle Freebee and boy was it a good one. Dan Rawlings is the town administrator in a small California agricultural town where his ancestors have lived for generations. He is writing a book, (fiction based on is family history) and soon to be published. He lost his wife in a skiing accident and is still coming to terms with that. But what really matters in his life now is the behind the scenes of a multimillionaire who has plans to separate California from the US and create a new nation. By rigging polls and elections he has pushed through a secessionist agenda which with the help of some renegade militias and murders of those who stand in his way is becoming a reality. Dan is opposed but events pull him into the middle of the state politics and at the same time working with the national Government to quell the rebellion. Well written and detailed this one kept me from other tasks as I read it to the end. Needless to say there is much more going on, but I hope this will whet your appitite.

[Gwendolyn Dabney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well written book. I'm not usually drawn to political thrillers, but the characters in this book were very engaging. I was gifted this book and the third book in this trilogy by the author Gordon Ryan. I stared reading it during my prom season when I was making gowns, so I only read when I could get some time away from sewing. Once I really got into reading I didn't put the book down until I finished. State of Rebellion is a book I'd recommend to others. I purchased the 2nd book in this trilogy, Uncivil Liberties and look forward to reading it and the 3rd book To Faithfully Execute.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author provided it for free to those who would review it honestly, and I was one of the lucky winners.

Honestly, it is just not my genre of fiction and I don't know if I've ever had such a difficult time getting into a book. Maybe it was because I felt like I had to read it since it was given to me for free, but even that hardly inspired me to read it.

The writing was good, but a bit disjointed at times. I thought the character development was very poor from the very beginning, though.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel takes place today and involves the separation of California from the US. There are a group of protagonists ranging from some Military to a female FBI agent and a California politician. The antagonists range from the 'civilian militia' to politicians to businessmen to members of the Mexican government. It is fast moving and fast paced, yet the time constraints of the novel are more realistic than fast. Pug Connor is the main Protagonist and will be well worth seeing more often.

[Scott Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book when I heard about the generosity of the author (he was donating his royalties to Christchurch Earthquake Relief). Boy am I glad I did. The plot was fantastic, the characters well developed and believable. The pacing was great, action packed but with enough story to really bring the details to life. I will definitely be going back and adding additional works by this author to my TBR list.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually politics is not something I want to read about, but I have enjoyed other books by Gordon Ryan so I decided to read this one. Now, imagine that California decides to secede from the United States. That alone makes for a good story and then there are the characters that are very easy to get acquainted with. I'm so glad this is the first book of a trilogy, because now I need to know the rest of the story. Thank you, Gordon Ryan, for another wonderful book!

[Sally Beaudean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought it would be too far-fetched -- I mean, really, California seceding from the Union? However, the author's organization -- jumping from one scene to another -- and the interesting characters, kept me reading. Ultimately, I found myself caught up in the intrigue and wanting to read to the end. It was a great read!

[JC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book fore free from a special offer on my Kindle and I found myself going in and out with how engaging it was and my focus. I'm not sure if it's because of the pacing or what but I just found myself losing interest and then having it come back. It makes it tough to follow the story as much as I prefer. Interesting idea though. Check it out if you can get your hands on it for free.

[Abel Keogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Kimberly Van De Graaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

It got better as I got to the end. There were so many people and different things going on that if you didn't keep reading you would get lost.

[Mike]

This book was awful. I rate it ZERO stars because I could feel my brains leaking out of my ears as I read it. A bunch of extreme right-wing claptrap.

[Kelley Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting political, intrigue, with a bit of romance book. I enjoyed it a lot.