4 out of 4 stars
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Victoria Pierce has a clandestine past! After running away from her 'parents,' who treated her like a slave in their Oklahoma farmhouse, she returns to the only life she knows, but this time in San Francisco. And it's by chance that she enrolls as a Marine while there. Graduating as the best recruit and soon becoming a hero worthy of presidential recognition, Victoria seems destined for greatness. After receiving her Medal of Honor from the president, she meets Senator Sam Eagan, and a love affair ensues.
Victoria rises through the ranks to become a Brigadier General and joins Sam Eagan's presidential campaign. Americans love Victoria, and when Sam makes her his running mate, political analysts expect nothing but a landslide victory at the presidential polls. However, there's a problem. It seems that a reporter, Grace Brandon, whom Victoria befriends during the campaign, is suspicious of her past and will stop at nothing to expose her. Who is Victoria? And what past is she hiding? There's so much to unravel and marvel at in this page-turner, Madam Vice President, written by Julian Mann.
It's been a long time since I read a suspenseful book like this. Without a doubt, the atmosphere of suspense the author engulfed me in throughout his narrations is my favorite aspect of the book. This story is fast-paced and captivating, and I am yet to recover from the exciting hangover it left on my mind. I couldn't wait to resume reading this title anytime I took a break, as I wondered what could happen next. And each time, the author made sure to floor me and my predictions of the characters' next moves.
Furthermore, this book is rich in graphic descriptions. I commend the author's exceptional ability to evoke vivid mental pictures with his words. The ease at which he engaged all my senses endeared me to his writing style. For example, the author writes, "She unfolded and tumbled the telephone-book-sized manual onto the coffee table in front of Sam, rattling the ice cubes in his empty glass." Didn't that engage your sense of hearing?
The characterization in this novel is also top-notch. The characters are relatable and unique, and I especially like that their dialogues make them even more life-like. The backstories the author provided for them, especially the main characters, made me feel like I knew them personally. It's hard to pick a favorite because they all played exciting roles and made the story fascinating. However, Victoria's intelligence, go-getter attitude, and aptitude to take advantage of any situation would win her many fans.
I enjoyed the non-linear progression of events in this book. And I was wowed by the author's ability to still evoke tension in his narrations of the past despite me being aware that the characters were still alive in the present. Good job, Mr. Mann! It was such a joy to see all the events, past and present, converge to form an explosive climax at the end. Readers who love politics would be thrilled by this novel, as its insights into the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution are fascinating and educational.
I commend the author for such a well-written story, and he just won a new fan. I didn't dislike anything about this novel, and despite a few errors in it, it still seemed professionally edited. Hence, I gladly rate Madam Vice President a well-deserved four out of four stars. And I highly recommend it to lovers of intriguing and well-written political thrillers.
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Madam Vice President
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Non-linear narrative is very appealing to me too. Thank you very much for this wonderful review!
