BATTLING AGAINST THE ODDS -- A REVIEW

If you have ever been a part of an "underdog" kind of group, firmly believing in your cause and desperate to win out over the "establishment," The Accidental Activist will definitely appeal to you.

When a small group of protestors are served with a libel suit in 1990s Great Britain, our protagonist, Matt Fielding, steps forward to help. He has just connected with Suzie, the woman of his dreams, and he becomes involved because of her. As a computer programmer, he has assisted in the cause by creating a website that has become very popular. At this time in history, the Internet was a new source of information and the full extent of its power was unknown.

Facing these charges in Great Britain was uniquely difficult, as the libel laws during those times were not set up to benefit defendants. Taking on this battle was a David vs. Goliath event, and for the next six years of their lives, they fought for this cause.

Over the subsequent pages, I was intrigued by how the characters jockeyed for position in this battle, knowing that they were up against humongous odds.

While much of the legal posturing felt like unfamiliar territory to me, I was still captivated and could not wait to see how it would all play out.

Toward the end, I especially enjoyed this passage that shows us how great the odds were for these characters:

Suzie is explaining some of this to Matt. "But it's different out here on the political streets, Matt. We're in the right but that's not enough. You were blinded by our romance when you joined us and maybe at some point by our cause. But romance and righteousness just isn't going to be enough. We're not going to be able to saddle your horse after the verdict, Matt, and ride off into the sunset."

Poignant scenes like this follow the reader through to the end, where, without inserting spoilers, I can say that I felt the rush of tears (not necessarily sad ones) as the final outcome was rendered.

Five stars!

(On Blog Tour)