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Urban Scarecrows by Jim Chambers
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher: Silverwood Books
Publication date: 25th May 2022
Blurb:
The Labour Party election victory of 2019 ushers into power a radical socialist government which swiftly mutates to a British form of totalitarian Marxism in its quest for social justice and equality. Dominic Green, a Labour Party activist and celebrity chef, is caught up in the economic and social crisis as the country lurches towards civil war.
Taunted by the jibes of his volatile Spanish wife, Rosa, he moves from denial to acceptance to opposition and becomes a totemic media figure in the struggles. His marriage is in terminal decline; Rosa cannot forgive his philandering or his support of the government. His family falls apart as Rosa leaves him and one son is incarcerated, whilst the other attempts to liberate his sibling. Labelled a turncoat terrorist he is hunted by the brutal SNPS state police whose attempts to subjugate the population includes 'urban scarecrowing'.
Who can he trust as he goes on the run whilst assisting the resistance movement? Will Rosa forgive him as she tracks his public pronouncements and his efforts to free their son? Will Dominic escape the clutches of the SNPS as the net closes? Will international outrage translate into military intervention as sections of the armed forces rebel? And can Dominic survive and recover his relationship with Rosa and their surviving son?
Review:
This was sort of a new genre for me and I was very pleasantly surprised. Urban Scarecrows is a political thriller but I would probably also class it as dystopian fiction.
Set following the Labour Party's election win in 2019 and carrying through to 2027, celebrity chef and activist Dominic Green is caught up in the country's economic crisis.
One son is imprisoned and sent to a rehabilitation centre that is run by the SNPS state police in order to either recruit young people into the SNPS or train them for other jobs in society. His other son is an activist and his relationship with his Spanish-born wife is on the rocks. Dominic himself is then painted as a terrorist.
This is a slow burner at the start but really kicks up a notch about halfway through. It is a good insight into how things are portrayed, how words can be twisted by the media and highlights what could happen if power is given to different parties with extreme views on how society should be run.
I really enjoyed the thrill of this novel and like the author's writing style.
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