Second Term: A Novel

By: J.M. Adams
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Publication Date: October 17, 2023
ISBN: 978-1608095919
Reviewed by: Katie Specht
Review Date: July 5, 2023

From Emmy-nominated journalist J.M. Adams comes his debut novel, a political thriller entitled Second Term. This novel is the gripping tale of a DIA defense operative turned press secretary who works to thwart terrorist attacks on both foreign and domestic soil in order to protect American democracy.

Our protagonist, Cora Walker, begins the story as a DIA defense operative working undercover in North Africa gathering intelligence for her superiors. The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is coming up, and Cora learns of a terrorist plan that will threaten the lives of innocent Americans. However, when she notifies her superiors of this plan, she is met with resistance, and is therefore, forced to take matters into her own hands.

The latter portion of the story takes place 16 years later, with many things having changed in Cora’s life. She is now the single mother to an eight-year-old girl and she is employed as the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. She is just as devoted to her career as she was 16 years ago, only now she also has the added responsibility of trying to balance single parenting with a very demanding and stressful job. The time frame for this portion of the story takes place as the anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack at the Capitol is approaching. Cora is once again faced with political insurrection, this time at the hands of the lame duck President, who is attempting to reclaim power for himself. Cora finds herself approached by the President’s daughter, who proposes an unlikely alliance. As she works to protect the Speaker of the House at all costs, she quickly learns to be careful who she trusts as she discovers previous allies turning out to be current adversaries.

While Adams has spent 15 years in broadcast journalism utilizing his skills with the spoken word, his transition into the realm of the written word appears to have been seamless and almost effortless on his part. His debut novel, Second Term, is a riveting, fast-paced thriller that keeps the reader captivated until the very last page. His writing is concise, yet so descriptive that the reader will find himself immersed completely within the story, almost as if experiencing the political insurrections right along with our protagonist Cora Walker.

Adams has created a truly unique main character in Cora Walker for several reasons. The most obvious is that the protagonist of a politically-based thriller is not often a woman. Additionally, throughout the course of the story, Cora also holds not one, but two, very high-level jobs with the government. Finally, Cora is extremely relatable to Adams’s female readers for one simple reason: the fact that she is a mother. She is truly special in many ways, and with Cora at the center of his enthralling story, Adams has crafted a certain winner with Second Term.

Quill says: Second Term is a captivating political thriller filled with endless action and unexpected surprises, complete with a truly relatable and unforgettable protagonist. Adams has authored what’s sure to become a brilliant success. Here’s hoping that Adams has more planned for Cora Walker in the future!

For more information on Second Term: A Novel, please visit the author's website at: jmadams.com/

Author Interview

Meet the Author