Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Shadows of the Republic by Randall R Reese delves into the concept of a secret cabal, an order established at the very formation of the United States. As the early founding fathers attempted to create their great democratic experiment following the defeat of England in the Revolutionary War, they were well aware that their new republic was a fragile and delicate creation. Apart from the constant threats from England and even France to invade their hard-won new country, acceptance from within by the people was certainly not a given. Desperate for funds for the new republic, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and others knew taxation was required, but resistance was strong and adamant. When the farmers of Western Pennsylvania began to organize and resist the new whiskey tax, the government knew they had to quell the rebellion quickly before it spread. Here enters the mysterious Sentinel Order and its agents, Anders and Isabelle, whose remit is simple - stop the rebellion by whatever means necessary and stop it from spreading, to preserve the sacred Union. 

Shadows of the Republic is exactly the type of historical fiction that I adore; fiction that seamlessly combines real, actual historical events with a carefully constructed and conspiratorial plotline that will keep readers intrigued and reading. Randall R Reese has created a scenario that is not only believable but will have readers doing research to discover just what this little-known Whiskey Rebellion was all about. I appreciated the careful rationale behind the founders’ thinking of the reasons for forming the Sentinel Order and cleverly enshrining it, hidden in plain sight, within the Constitution. They saw what occurred after the French Revolution, where vindictive and ruthless monarchical rule had been replaced by equally evil and violent parliamentary rule. They were determined that it would not happen in their fledgling republic. I imagine many readers, like me, assumed the founding fathers were all of one mind regarding the direction of the United States. What this story shows is that even in the early days, ideologies, aims, and methods of those in power were often in conflict. I love historical novels that not only educate but also make me do some research because they have piqued my interest. Shadows of the Republic is just such a story. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it.