Twenty-six-year-old Daniel Rawlings has an enviable ancestry as a twelfth-generation American and a fifth-generation Californian. A Stanford Law School graduate, his position as County Administrator in Yolo County, California, and his commission as a National Guard JAG officer, provides what would seem to be an excellent career and a fulfilling professional life. His frequent nightmares, however, are a constant reminder of the tragic loss of his new bride two years earlier in a skiing accident. Finding an outlet for his personal tragedy by writing the "Great American Novel," Rawlings is unaware that his life is about to further disassemble and the choices rendered will place him in harm's way, much as it did the pioneer ancestors about whom he writes.

When United States Senator Malcolm Turner responds to an invitation to meet with John Henry Franklin, a wealthy industrialist and financial legend, a conspiracy of national consequence is born. Headed by Franklin, a consortium of US businessmen and Mexican government officials is financially involved in illegal immigration, seeking to obtain a cheap workforce and avoid federally mandated labor laws. Franklin is aware that western Americans have become increasingly agitated with Washington over federal usurpation of state and individual rights. Seizing on this western fervor, Franklin directs Jean Wolff, a mercenary in his employ, to provide funding for California militia units to inflame the public, igniting the impetus for a referendum to secede from the Union. Following a solid "yes" vote-effected by poll and election rigging-a date is set for implementation.

Nicole Bentley, an FBI agent from San Francisco, draws Daniel Rawlings into an investigation of election related murders. Aided by Nicole's gentle urging and a blossoming romance, and by his newly-published and highly successful chronicle of Rumsey Valley pioneers, Rawlings comes to an understanding—enhanced by his election to the California legislature—of his responsibility to his ancestor's American dream.

The FBI's investigation results in a dangerous discovery that plunge Rawlings and Bentley into direct conflict with the secessionists. A mountain chase, more assassinations, and conflicts between the fledgling Republic of California and the United States government ensue. Will anyone be able to put the pieces back together again, or will the fabric of the United States Constitution remain irreparably torn?

Packed with action from cover to cover, this is a novel you won't want to put down.

Review by Jeff Needle, Association for Mormon Letters:

The premise -- a movement is afoot to separate the state of California from the United States of America. A secession movement, spearheaded by a prominent U.S. Senator, and backed financially by an elusive political manipulator, has taken hold in the Golden State, with polls showing majority support for the rebellion. What few know is that, using advanced technology, the voting results have been manipulated and skewed to create an illusion of support for the cause and to put in office those in favor of the proposition.

Daniel Rawlings is a County Administrator in Yolo County, California. His family has deep roots in the community; his grandfather is a much-loved icon. Opposed to the secession movement, Dan finds himself at odds with many of his co-workers and local politicos. But when judges and FBI operatives are killed by a local militia unit, Dan is called in to assist. He meets the beautiful Nicole Bentley, an FBI agent assigned to track down the killers and stop the violence attributed to the separatist militia groups.

What follows is a multi-layered, textured story involving political intrigue, international relations, corrupt local governments, cross-border alien smuggling -- a consideration of the depth of human depravity. But it also a story of redemption in the midst of tragedy, a testament to the human spirit.

As a reader might expect, a personal relationship develops between Dan and Nicole. And it was at this point that I noted similarities between this book and the previous novel. Both feature functionaries in local government. Both present city managers as evil. Both have male leads meeting beautiful professional women and falling in love.

Had this book been intended for the LDS market, I would have been critical for what appears to be plot overlap. But given the target markets, and the unlikelihood that any person will read both volumes, the reuse of a literary setting is understandable. And, in fact, the plotlines of the books are so different that problems that might have arisen as a result of the similarities are avoided.

"State of Rebellion" will never see the shelves of an LDS bookstore. Coarse language and explicit violence make it problematic for the Mormon reading public. While there is some competition in the LDS political thriller market, it pales when you compare the number of secular writers producing such works. Can Gordon Ryan compete in the "real world"? This remains to be seen.

Oddly, you do find some Mormonisms in the book. Page 324 describes the cabal behind the secession movement as a "secret combination." And throughout the book, both Dan and Nicole seem committed to "choosing the right," taking the path that leads to a morally right conclusion. Not that they are prudes -- at one point, Dan expresses his desire to take Nicole to bed. She is not averse to the idea. But their relationship is not consummated within the pages of the book.

The reader will find a very large cast of characters, whose stories come together nicely as the book draws to a close. I would have liked a list of the characters at the beginning of the book. From time to time I had to flip back and figure out how a character fit into the picture.

"State of Rebellion" is non-stop action from beginning to end. And between the killing and collusion, sub-stories of human relationships (especially touching are the scenes involving Dan and his beloved grandfather, Jack) and ultimate triumph of good carry the story to a satisfying conclusion.

A quick word about the production of the book itself. Mapletree Publishing seems to know what it's doing when it comes to publishing. From cover design, to typeface and size, binding and overall quality, their products appear to be better than other independent, small publishers. I hope this adherence to quality standards continues.

Those offended by harsh language and explicit violence will have some trouble with this story. Others will be challenged by the ethical and political questions posed in this fine book.