Book Review

Divided We Stand – Rachel McLean

At long last I can tell you all about the final book in the Division Bell Trilogy! If you haven’t read the first two books, can I suggest reading them before you read the rest of this post because otherwise there will be spoilers aplenty. You can read my reviews of A House Divided and Divide and Rule here.

BLURB:

Britain is a country under surveillance. Neighbours spy on neighbours. Schools enforce loyalty to the state. And children are encouraged to inform on their parents.

Disgraced MP Jennifer Sinclair has earned her freedom but returns home to find everything changed.

Rita Gurumurthy has been sent to a high security prison. When a sympathetic guard helps her escape she becomes a fugitive, forced to go into hiding.

To reunite her family and win freedom for her son and her friend, Jennifer must challenge her old colleague and rival, the new Prime Minister Catherine Moore.

Will Catherine listen to reason and remove the country from its yoke of fear and suspicion? Or will Jennifer have to reveal the secret only she knows about Catherine, and risk plunging the country into turmoil?

Divided We Stand Ebook

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

REVIEW:

Well, what can I say. I am a little sad that I have now reached the end of the Division Bell Trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed every book, and the finale certainly did not disappoint. Rachel McLean continues to create a grim picture of the state of the UK in the early 2020s, writing in a way that makes you feel that this story could really be the newspaper headlines in the not too distant future.

Although the subject matter of the entire trilogy could, and perhaps should, make for uncomfortable reading, Rachel’s writing style is such that you just cannot stop reading. Divided We Stand is one of those books that you can’t help but read quickly to see what happens (and to find out if there is any hope for redemption for our country), but at the same time you find yourself trying to read more slowly so that it lasts just a little bit longer.

Over the course of the trilogy, I had become attached to a number of characters, and I was pleased to see that Rachel gave each of these characters their own conclusion and I wasn’t left wondering about anyone’s fate, be that good or bad.

Having said earlier this year that political thrillers were not my usual choice of genre, it is safe to say that the Division Bell Trilogy has well and truly converted me, and I look forward to seeing what Rachel comes up with next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

rachel mclean

I’m Rachel McLean and I write thrillers and speculative fiction.

I’m told that the world wants upbeat, cheerful stories – well, I’m sorry but I can’t help. My stories have an uncanny habit of predicting future events (and not the good ones). They’re inspired by my work at the Environment Agency and the Labour Party and explore issues like climate change, Islamophobia, the refugee crisis and sexism in high places. All with a focus on how these impact individual people and families.

You can find out more about my writing, get access to deals and exclusive stories or become part of my advance reader team by joining my book club at rachelmclean.com/bookclub.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

My thanks go to Rachel for allowing me to part of the blog tours for all three parts of this fantastic trilogy, and for providing me with my copy of the books, and also to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for making it so easy to take part.

Book Review

Divide and Rule – Rachel McLean

Regular readers will have seen my review of the first book in the Division Bell Trilogy early this month (you can read it here if you missed it) and will know how much I was looking forward to sharing part two with you all. Well, today is that day! Quick warning – anything passed this point WILL contain spoilers for book one if you haven’t read it!

Divide and Rule e-book

BLURB:

Jennifer Sinclair’s fight to save her political career, her family and her freedom has failed. Traumatised by prison violence, she agrees to transfer to the mysterious British Values Centre.

Rita Gurumurthy has betrayed her country and failed the children in her care. Unlike Jennifer, she has no choice, but finds herself in the centre against her will.

Both women are expected to conform, to prove their loyalty to the state and to betray everything they hold dear. One attempts to comply, while the other rebels. Will either succeed in regaining her freedom?

Divide and Rule is 1984 for the 21st century – a chilling thriller examining the ruthless measures the state will take to ensure obedience, and the impact on two women.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon.com

Amazon UK

REVIEW:

It is hard to find the words to describe Divide and Rule without giving too much away about the story. I found it to be quite an unsettling read, I think largely because it didn’t take an awful lot of imagination to picture the state of Britain portrayed in it becoming a reality, although I hope it is one that never comes into existence!

The tactics used at the centre to control the “patients” are shocking, from mind games and public humiliation, to vicious beatings and more, and it is disturbing to read about the lengths the Government is prepared to go to to control people who it sees as dissenters. Rachel McLean’s writing style skilfully weaves an atmosphere of fear and distrust amongst all the Centre’s occupants.

I am probably making this sound like a difficult read, but it is far from it. From the very first page, I found it almost impossible to put down, as I just couldn’t wait to see what was coming next for Jennifer and Rita. Despite the subject matter of the book, there is an underlying sense of warmth between the “patients” at the centre, and this gives an added depth to the story that I didn’t expect.

I am looking forward to reading the final instalment of the trilogy to see what the future holds for Jennifer and the friends she made whilst in the centre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

rachel mclean

I’m Rachel McLean and I write thrillers and speculative fiction.

I’m told that the world wants upbeat, cheerful stories – well, I’m sorry but I can’t help. My stories have an uncanny habit of predicting future events (and not the good ones). They’re inspired by my work at the Environment Agency and the Labour Party and explore issues like climate change, Islamophobia, the refugee crisis and sexism in high places. All with a focus on how these impact individual people and families.

You can find out more about my writing, get access to deals and exclusive stories or become part of my advance reader team by joining my book club at rachelmclean.com/bookclub.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Many thanks to Rachel McLean, and to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of today’s blog blitz, and for providing me with a copy of the book.