Title: Police Man USA: The SHOT that Split America
Author: R. Anderson
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1665536844
Audiobook Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
Pages: 362
Genre: Murder & Suspense Thrillers, Sci-fi
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Pacific Book Review
In our modern age, one of the most prolific topics of debate in the United States is gun control. With the rise of gun-related violence occurring in our nation, the debate between gun-owners and gun control advocates seems to dominate the news. The question of morality, versus a person’s constitutional right to arm themselves, is so complex and has kept many politicians locked in heated battles, as the violence continues. Yet what is the right answer in this discussion? Is there a right or wrong here?
In author R. Anderson’s Police Man USA: The SHOT that Split America, the discussion takes a whole new meaning in this sci-fi dystopian meets murder thriller novel. When an infamous athlete on the fast track to make records is gunned down and his killers remain on the loose, the nation becomes split in half, with one half of the nation becoming the liberal and lawless Frontier and the other half becoming the ultra-conservative Pilgrim state. Over six decades later, a hotshot detective in Pilgrim is sent to Frontier to solve the decades old cold case. Unable to rely on his fast technology, the gun-toting policeman must use old-school means of investigation to solve the crime, and discovers a shocking secret in the process.
The author did an incredible job of finding just the right balance between world-building and character development. The rich dynamics between the characters is immediately prevalent, as the interaction between protagonist James Merit of the Pilgrim state and characters such as Starla of the Frontier each highlights the deep-seated beliefs and values they held in opposition to one another, and the ways in which they come together, despite this show the depth of humanity and possibility that exists within us all. The futuristic setting and atmosphere the author plays with not only brings a sci-fi element to the narrative, but brings plausible and very possible scenarios to life, such as the impact of climate change and the politically charged divide existing between liberal and conservative minded individuals and politicians; showcasing how universal these viewpoints can often be, as well as how turbulent they are.
This is a brilliant book to read, and would be greatly appreciated by anyone who enjoys dystopian crime thrillers with elements of science fiction, suspense, and murder, all rolled up in a finely tuned mystery. The book will also appeal to those who enjoy audiobooks, as the author has also managed to bring this story to the audiobook world with a narrator that speaks with a gravitas and authority that instantly captures the listeners’ attention. The audiobook brings the mystery and suspense elements of the genre forward even more, playing out as if a radio show of the 1920s.
Thought-provoking, captivating, and entertaining, author R. Anderson’s “Police Man USA: The SHOT that Split America” is a must-read, action-fueled novel. The imagery the book conjured up almost brought to mind films such as Judge Dredd and Robocop – mixed with 80s action films. The audiobook is a definite bonus for readers that they will love, but the way the author is able to explore both sides of the conversation, and how the themes of this narrative plays out, kept me invested in the overall story and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters’ arcs in this brilliant book.
