Susan J. Reinhardt. The Moses Conspiracy. Helping Hands P, 2013. E-book.

In recent years dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels, films, and television shows have become very popular. We note The Hunger Games, The Road, and countless films where Los Angeles, New York, or Washington DC are destroyed on the big screen. Recently I reviewed Little Brother, which got its title from Big Brother of the dystopian classic 1984.

Some commentators have noted that such works become popular in a time of uncertainty. The last time such things stood out was in the late sixties and early seventies–think Clockwork Orange, The Journal of David Q Little, or A Canticle for Liebowitz.

The Moses Conspiracy falls into this trend. Like Little Brother, it takes place in the near future in the United States. Instead of San Francisco, Washington DC is in lockdown because of a terrorist attack. Ellie, an ordinary American mother who is visiting DC as a tourist, is arrested by the DHS and separated from her eight-year-old son who came with her because she is told that she is suspected of planting one of the terrorist bombs. The action begins almost immediately and seldom lets up.

We have also read a number of reviews noting the popularity of so-called “bonnet rippers,” Amish romance novels. Many of these are set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Our arrested housewife is also from Lancaster County. Much of the subsequent action is set there in such places as Bird-in-Hand, Smoketown, and Paradise. Is the author trying to appeal to this audience as well?

Not really. This is clearly far more dystopian than romantic. Without giving away too much of the plot, our protagonist does get out of the Washington jam only to find herself and her family in another pickle. And then another. And another. There are actually multiple conspiracies in the book, but they can be classified as imitating the Pharaoh of Moses’ time.

America has become increasingly intolerant of religion. Lancaster County is one of the few places where people can meet for religious purposes openly because of its value as a tourist attraction in that region. The United States has adopted a one-child policy similar to that of China. And governments at various levels single out church buildings for eminent domain, justifying their actions on the Kelo v. City of New London decision which said governments could use this power if they were putting the property to better use.

What are law-abiding citizens to do? Especially pacifist Mennonites and Amish?

There are many things going on. A stranger comes to town, and his presence seems to coincide with the increase of unusual activities. There are secret meetings, government agents, and rogue medical doctors. Ms. Reinhardt spins quite a yarn.

When I realized that I was getting to the end of the 250-plus pages, I was saying to myself that the author could have done a lot more with this. Many of the characters could have complicated the plot a lot more. There could have been more surprises before the conclusion. There are conflicts within families, within communities, within agencies. This novel has scope.

Perhaps I was being unfair because I was reading a Tom Clancy novel at the same time. Clancy novels have great scope, and that is why they are three times as long as The Moses Conspiracy. I have since learned that The Moses Conspiracy is meant to be the first book in a series. The author, then, has not finished the tale. I expect that things will get more complicated. If it is anything like part one, the next installment should be worth reading. Just do not expect an Amish Utopia.