“While Justice Sleeps,” by Stacey Abrams, Doubleday, 384 pages, May 11, 2021.

Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn has a degenerative brain disorder. Only Chief Justice Teresa Roseborough, Wynn’s doctor and his private duty nurse know about his illness. Then he slips into a coma.

Avery Keene, one of his law clerks, is told that Justice Wynn has left instructions for her to serve as his legal guardian and power of attorney. He hadn’t told her that he was naming her. Avery’s father is dead and her mother is a drug addict who Avery keeps bailing out.

The justice is estranged from his wife, Celeste Turner-Wynn, and his adult son by his first marriage, Jared. Wynn and President Brandon Stokes don’t agree on issues. Wynn is the swing vote on many high-profile cases.

Avery finds that Wynn has been secretly researching one of the most controversial cases before the court: A proposed merger between GenWorks, a North Carolina biotech company, and Advar Biogenetics, an Indian genetics firm. Wynn has left Avery a complex puzzle.

This is very intense, fast-paced and intricately plotted. The characters are complex and the dialogue is well-written. It combines medical ethics, biological warfare and chess.

Stacey Abrams served for 11 years in the Georgia House of Representatives. She is the author of eight romance novels written under the pen name Selena Montgomery. I haven’t read any of her romance novels, but “While Justice Sleeps” is a first-class legal thriller.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley and in print in exchange for a review.

This political/legal thriller is a page turner. Politician and activist Stacey Abrams has some behind the scenes insights into Washington D.C. and the Supreme Court that make this a juicy read.

Avery Keene is scary smart -- which explains how she came to be a law clerk for irascible Supreme Court Justice Wynn. She is also tough, stubborn and loyal, and a young woman of great integrity. When the justice is found comatose, she is as stunned as anyone else. Particularly when it is discovered that he had secretly given Avery his power of attorney. Neither she nor anyone else has a clue although malicious rumors about their relationship start to circulate.

And the Court -- which typically splits in two with the Wynn casting the deciding vote -- is close to the end of the term and has some key cases left to decide, cases which are important enough to kill for. Soon the justice's nurse is murdered, with Avery finding the body. Cryptic messages crop up. An international cartel of scientists is working on a top secret project, with potential to be a great life saver -- but which also can be used destructively.

Justice Wynn remains in his coma, with Avery and his estranged son protecting him. Avery is a fine character and she assembles a likable and efficient team: her doctor roommate, Justice Wynn's lawyer, and his estranged son Jared. The foursome evades their FBI and Homeland Security handlers because they don't know who to trust.

This is a fast-paced suspenseful read, elaborately plotted. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was really looking forward to this book. I mean, a legal thriller by Stacey Abrams, who wouldn't be. Overall I liked the book but the fact that I had to look up a lot of the words to make sense of all the medical jargon was distracting me from staying completely invested in the story the entire time I was reading. I enjoyed that Avery was a strong black woman who was taking care of her mom and working for a Justice of the Supreme Court. I mean the fact that the Judge appointed her as his guardian says a lot. She was also entrusted with trying to solve a rather complex and tangled web of lies and deception surrounding the President and a merger of two companies that was to be decided by the Supreme Court was so interesting. She was smart, and was able to do it in the face of many obstacles and be the champion in the end. I would rate this book 3.5 stars.

Supreme Court Justice Howard Winn has a degenerative brain disease that is killing him. With his remaining lucid moments, he has unearthed a dark secret about an important case currently being heard by the Supreme Court. He knows he doesn't have long to live and he hopes his complex plan to pass the secret to a trusted person will work.

The case involves the merger of an American biotech company with a genetics company from India. The Court is believed to be heading toward a 4-4 voting deadlock with Justice Winn the swing vote. The current term of the Supreme Court ends soon and the two companies involved in the international merger need it to be approved now to avoid financial ruin. Those hoping the merger will fail are putting their money on Justice Winn's incapacity or death before he can make that swing vote.

With Justice Winn's health rapidly failing, he requires a home healthcare nurse. He suspects she is an informant monitoring the status of his mental and physical decline presumably for the autocratic President of the United States. One evening she finds the unconscious Justice gasping for breath, in a moment of sympathy, she disregards her orders to immediately report changes in his health to her minders and then let nature takes it course without medical intervention. She calls for an ambulance before she reports that Justice Winn is near death. With the Justice still alive but hospitalized in a permanent coma, Nurse Lewis turned over the apple cart that will lead to mayhem in the underworld of politics and international relations.

This is a really compelling thriller. The main character, Avery, is a law clerk to the key justice of the Supreme Court. When the justice slips into a coma, Avery is surprised to learn the justice has given her control over his affairs and medical decisions. This plunges Avery into a complex web of conspiracy, touching a key case pending in the Supreme Court, the White House, and a top technology merger. The story was propulsive and engaging, perfect for anyone who lives a political or legal thriller. Strongly recommended!

Thank you to Doubleday Books for my gifted copy!

When the legendary Justice Howard Wynn falls into a sudden coma, the Supreme Court is left without their critical swing vote ahead of one of the country’s most important biomedical cases. Wynn’s brilliant young law clerk, Avery Keene, is the only one he trusted to unravel the mystery that is slowly revealed to be at the center of it all. As Avery begins to uncover clue after clue, she realizes that Wynn’s carefully constructed game of chess involves players more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.

As a young attorney living in DC (and a huge fan of Stacey Abrams’ incredible political work), there was no way I could have not loved this book. It’s a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has elements of mystery, government secrets, biomedical ethics, and legal drama, all told in an engaging writing style that puts you in the mind of our badass heroine, Avery Keene. The city of DC is its own character in the novel, with just as much depth and color as the rest of the cast, and Abrams deftly drops in names and locations sure to make DC residents feel like they’re right in the thick of the action (looking at you, shoutout to Kramer’s Books that pops up near the beginning of the book 👀). If you’re a fan of political or legal thrillers, then pick up this book as soon as you can.

Well, it's no surprise that this was just amazing. I usually think of thrillers as "quick, mindless reads" (which isn't a bad thing!! Time and place for everything), but wow - this is next level. It's smart, creative, and it makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action. Loved the play on words with the title as well. I hope this makes the NYT list!!

A thrilling look at life in the Supreme Court through the eyes of a thrilling adventure. It pulls into play many aspects of modern politics as well as the checks and balances that our Founding Fathers created within our Constitution. There are parts of the story that are a bit thick in terms of technicalities, but those are short and quickly remedied. Thanks to NetGalley for the read - I believe that many will enjoy this first venture into the fiction realm.

Avery is a clerk working for Justice Howard Wynn, who is the swing vote on many high profile cases. After an erratic event Justice Wynn overdoses and falls into a coma. Avery is shocked to learn he has appointed her as his power of attorney over both his son and ex wife even though they don't have a close relationship. She's already dealing with the resurgence of a drug addicted mother demanding cash and as she soon discovers there are a lot of people who want Justice Wynn dead and don't mind taking her out in the process. Teaming up with his son Jared and his lawyer Nick she must put together the cryptic clues he left behind about his research on a foreign genetics company with nefarious ties.

This is my first legal thriller so I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read thriller that has a bit of a political angle to it before but while my previous reads scratched the surface this one dove right in. There's so many characters and moving pieces that it's a little hard to keep everyone straight but it makes for a compelling ride. Though some of the more political and scientific jargon required me to read closely I thought much of it was explained well without overexplaining and bogging down the story.

Stacey Abrams makes good use of her background in politics and much like she had to step up in her fight against voter suppression, Avery finds herself stepping up against some of the most powerful men in the country. Avery's eidetic memory and love of analyzing problems helps her solve the living game of chess she now finds herself a pawn in.

This story is written in 3rd person and the reader gets a peek into the mind of every player who affects the story whether small or large. One minute you'll be reading about Avery's thoughts and the next about a man sent to spy on her. It was almost like watching an action movie or a tv show.

Were their things within the text that went over my head? Absolutely! However I also enjoyed the look at the US government and America's love of having a stronghold in international affairs. If I were Avery I would've abandoned from the moments he threats started but her loyalty, attachment to the judge as a pseudo father-figure, and genuine curiosity keep her from backing down even as the events wear on her.

I received an advanced copy from Doubleday in exchange for review.

See origins review.
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2021/05/while-justice-sleeps-by-stacey-abrams.html

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. There were far too many underdeveloped characters and the plot was too slow for my liking. I love Stacey Abrams and I do plan to try this one again in the future.

I enjoyed this book! It kept me entertained and wondering how Avery was going to get to the end. While I didn’t fully understand all the science details that were part of the plot, I could easily follow the story. I wanted to keep reading and not put the book down.

As soon as I saw that Stacey Abrams was writing a thriller, I knew I had to read it. And I was extremely lucky to be approved for an advanced copy. All in all, I devoured this book. As in, I read it in one sitting, one day, etc. It kept me anticipating and waiting for what was going to happen next. It fits the genre well.

Abrams has a very clear knowledge of the inner workings of government (for obvious reasons) and that absolutely heightened the experience. Every political moment felt real--too real, almost--and left me reeling. I quite enjoyed Avery's character and loved her determination, even if it came hesitantly at first. I was also impressed with the cast of side characters.

I really only had one problem while I was reading. The syntax and overall writing left something to be desired. While I was really impressed with the research and work that went into the story, the writing sometimes felt clunky. I noticed a LOT of sentences repeated the same syntax as the previous one, and that made it feel like I was trudging through mud at times. It also felt repetitive, which made my eyes sort of glaze over certain parts. Then I'd have to go back and reread, because I missed something crucial. My only wish is that the sentences were more varied.

Overall, a fun, solid read!

I wanted to love this book, the synopsis and the author made it an irresistible choice to read. But, it wasn’t fast and taut enough for a political thriller, although it is a worthy performance by a well-known public figure turned author. WHILE JUSTICE SLEEPS pits an irascible Supreme Court Justice against a President he abhors. The Justice is suffering from a disease that forces him to act obliquely. He just hopes the clerk he has treated like furniture for several years is able to solve his chess problem aka his final wishes. It is a bit of a journey to the end, the book is plodding at times. But, honestly, no more so than a number of best sellers. So, this is a good effort by an up and coming author. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

While Justice Sleeps is an upcoming political thriller from ... Stacey Abrams. As if she’s not busy enough protecting voting rights and fighting to preserve democracy, she wrote a zippy little book in the meantime.
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Avery Keene is clerk for a prominent and curmudgeonly Supreme Court justice. When he falls into a coma under suspicious circumstances and has named her his executor/directive, she is thrust into the spotlight. What’s more, he has left clues and it becomes clear that the stakes are very very high.
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The book is well paced and fun with some depth. It wasn’t unputdownable but I was certainly invested in it. I enjoyed reading about the court but a bit of suspended belief was necessary.
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If you liked the TV Scandal or the propulsive mystery of The DaVinci Code, this is for you.
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Thank you Netgalley, Doubleday, and Stacey Abrams!

It almost physically pains me to not give this book a glowing review. I was beside myself with excitement to receive this advance copy, but that's where my excitement ended.

Because this book is boring. There are way too many characters, and the writing style is overly formal and difficult to get into (and there are several strange turns of phrase that kept pulling me out of the story). This makes for a very lax, very slow, very dull pace. It needed some heavy editing to make the diction easier to understand and to improve the flow, because slow pacing is a death knell for a thriller, political or otherwise.

Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn is difficult, stubborn, impatient, and brilliant. His clerk, Avery Keene, is well-aware of all of his moods and always tries to anticipate what to expect from him. But, she never expects him to lapse into a coma, leaving instructions that she is to serve as his guardian and hold the power of attorney. Confronting his belligerent wife, confused son, and the unwanted attention of the press are the least of her concerns. Clues left by the Judge indicates that there is much at stake and it’s up to Avery to unravel a puzzle and identify a possible conspiracy that leads to some of the most powerful people in Washington.

While Justice Sleeps is a complex novel which will require the reader’s undivided attention. At its heart are a cast of characters, some of which have their own problems to deal with. The plot is peppered with references to the game of chess, which will be somewhat confusing to anyone who isn’t familiar with the game. The prose is a bit too elaborate and complicated at times and I think the story would move along at a better pace if this could be pared down. The essential plot was well-conceived but there is a lot of scientific explanations that, again, seemed to bog the story down a bit. While this book has been compared to the writings of Grisham, it doesn’t seem to flow as well as his stories do, which makes While Justice Sleeps a more difficult read.

I wanted to love Stacey Abrams' first novel but, instead, I just liked it and will give it 3.5 stars. Ms Abrams is a promising writer and I’m looking forward to more from this multi-talented lady.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Excellent. Both a thriller and a mystery that keeps you following along from the early pages. The story opens eyes to see how absolute power corrupts absolutely. This book introduced me to a different side of Stacey Abrams.

A well written political/legal thriller that incorporates science, technology and chess in an intriguing story of power, greed, and deception, and the law clerk who figures it all out. The fully developed characters and a well paced plot kept me reading late into the night. Highly recommended

Avery Keene is just one of many clerks on the Supreme Court. That is, until her boss Justice Howard Wynn falls into a coma, and his instructions give Avery power of attorney. As Avery investigates, she finds clues from Wynn about a case the court is set to rule on, a merger between an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm. There's much more going on than meets the eye - can she and Justice Wynn's son uncover the truth before it's too late?

This book is complex, with multiple interwoven plots, and the pieces don't fully come together until the very end - marks of a great thriller! I really liked the urgency of the story and the conspiracy feel - it reminded me a lot of The Pelican Brief. As a biologist, I appreciated the science underpinning the story; it's a different take on the genre than your typical terrorist plot.

Although the book is more plot-driven than character-driven, I still enjoyed the characters Abrams introduced. Avery is a well-drawn protagonist - she comes from a poorer background and has worked hard to get to the Court. Even though Justice Wynn is in a coma throughout the book, his wisdom and wit come through in the chess-like clues he left for Avery. I would definitely read another novel featuring either (or both!) of them.

Review posted to Goodreads and Instagram 4/27/21

This is a complicated thriller, touching aspects of legal, political, intelligence, medical, scientific, and ethical areas, in addition to chess and puzzle solving. Stacey Abrams admirably juggles all of these threads, in addition to creating interesting characters. It is easy to like the main one, Avery Keene (law clerk to a Supreme Court Justice), who is smart, strong, and caring, reminiscent of the author herself. Highly recommended.