Review of Madam Vice President

[Ruth Chege 2]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Madam Vice President" by Julian Mann.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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It is 1981. Victoria Pierce makes a run from her adoptive parents following their mistreatment on their isolated farm in Oklahoma. After hitchhiking to San Francisco, Victoria enlists in the Marine Corps. She excels in the military, rising through the ranks to become Brigadier General Victoria Pierce. She accomplishes this with the help of Senator Sam Eagan, a decade and a half her senior, with whom she has an affair.

Fast forward to 2008, and Senator Eagan runs for the American presidency and seeks support from his mistress as his military advisor. General Pierce, still in love with Sam for all these years, offers her unwavering support. However, Victoria’s past is shrouded in secrecy, but her ambitions know no bounds. In a twist of events, Sam appoints Victoria as his running mate and clenches the presidential seat after winning with a landslide. Meanwhile, Grace Brandon, a novice political journalist, uncovers Pierce's past and threatens to leak it to the people. Victoria’s reputation, ambitions, and all she has worked for all these years hang in the balance!

I liked how the author explored the characters' moral uncertainty throughout the novel as it related to their quest for power. Victoria must face the repercussions of her previous deeds and the ethical conundrums that ensue as she makes her way through the treacherous waters of politics. This element fosters internal turmoil and heightens the tension of the story.

Even the most selective reader will find plenty of suspense and intrigue in this book, which features everything from lusty affairs to high-stakes betrayals to clandestine deals. Also, it provides a provocative examination of ambition, power, and the cost of success.

As the stakes rise and the thin line between friend and foe becomes blurred, Grace, an unseasoned journalist, faces the ethical quandaries of her field and makes the sacrifices necessary to fulfill her goals. Some characters learn that pursuing fame and glory has a cost — one they might not be prepared to pay— in a society where power is everything.

The book has very few errors. Therefore, it is well edited. I detected nothing to dislike. For these reasons, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The relentless quest for power and the web of secrets make this book a page-turner! I recommend Madam Vice President by Julian Mann to fans of political thrillers.

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Madam Vice President
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