Book Review: That Was Then

That Was Then by M.K. Tod
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I suspect that many of us historical novelists look at what is happening in contemporary United States (and elsewhere) with great concern, seeing echoes of the rise of totalitarian regimes in the 1930s. I’ve wanted to deal with my angst about that by adding a 2nd timeline to the historical novel I’m currently writing. It is mainly set in Russia in the period leading up to and shortly after the Russian Revolution. The alternate timeline would contrast my socialist protagonist in Revolutionary Russia with a contemporary right-wing politician in the US. There are surprising similarities: extremes lead to bad outcomes, regardless of whether the extremism comes from the right or the left.

Historical novelist, M. K. Tod, decided to deal with it by writing a completely contemporary novel, exploring the rise of the right and threats of religious extremists taking over both government and the judicial system in the US. Sadly, the scenario she outlines in That Was Then is not far-fetched; we are watching much of it play out in the United States. (Think Donald Trump, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas, among others.)

In the novel she tackles several types of abuses of power, including that of entitled, powerful men over young women. The book starts with an excruciating scene of a young female journalism student, Andrea Larson, reeling from a sexual assault by a business tycoon who had agreed to do an interview with her. I was initially furious with Andrea for washing away the evidence and not going to the hospital, if not the police. Surely we should all know better by now? But, as Andrea initially concludes:

“No one would believe me, a twenty-one-year-old student against the CEO of TekBiotics. A man whose accomplishments were legendary, whose reputation was unsullied by scandal; a man who represented success and leadership within the Boston community; a man who funded major charitable efforts.”

Eight years and a lot of therapy later, she sees an opportunity to get even and persuades her twin sister to help her take it.

The author has risked taking on too much in this story: sexism, sexual violence, the religious right, political corruption, the unmasking of supposed judicial neutrality. And yet, that is the reality we are watching unfold, and it is satisfying (though often frustrating) to watch a character go after the abusers.

As the story builds it becomes an increasingly fast-paced thriller. I’m not much of a thriller reader, so it is hard for me to rate it versus other such books. But I can tell you it kept me reading, and reached a satisfying conclusion. It’s not “literary” fiction, but it is a darn good read.

(Note: I received a free advance review copy of the novel.)

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