Trust Me: A Blueprint for Revolution
Author: C. David Gleason
Contributed to Make A Scene Magazine by Teresa Ascone
April 25, 2010
C. David Gleason’s latest novel, Trust Me: A Blueprint for Revolution, takes up where his previous book, The Fraternity: Alaskan and Russian Roulette, leaves off, spiced with the added twist of his glimpse into America’s economic and political future.  Gleason plows into the highest circles of world power as he creates the complicated minefield that is tomorrow’s field of play.

It’s 2015. The USA is in shambles and the main characters from The Fraternity: Stan, Ryan, and Anna (in a much expanded role) are back, this time to rescue ailing America and create a new world that recalls an old one: the one intended by our founding fathers. Alliances are rejoined as our heroes hatch a daring scheme to take back the country.

The plot is cleverly linked to real current events: namely, recent elections, changes in the political scene and economic issues that affect all Americans. Big Oil figures in as world powers vie for supremacy.

Gleason cleverly weaves fact with fiction as he spins this tale of Red State/Blue State conflict, which leads to revolution and all the attending chaos.  Excitement abounds as each new plot element evolves, laced with violence, new allies, old enemies and secret conspiracies. His tongue-in- cheek use of names plucked from the headlines -- thinly disguised real-world celebrities and politicians – entertains, while leaving little doubt of his leanings. The fantastical shenanigans and (sometimes bloody) fates of the villains: House Speaker Polousey, President Bernard Samuel Oberman (nicknamed BS), and news maven Katie Cutie are described with relish.

With the dramatic backdrop of civil war, woven with assassinations, impersonations, and illicit assignations, there is never a dull moment in this tale. It was a pleasure to see the courageous Anna, more of a supporting character in The Fraternity, come into her own in this book.
Trust Me: A Blueprint for Revolution is part political thriller and part futuristic fantasy, with some clever satire thrown into the mix. Gleason’s latest work affords us the occasional chuckle as he takes us on a wild ride: an entertaining look at America’s future through his knowing eyes.