Reviews with content warning for Torture - While Justice Sleeps

This is Stacey Abrams’ first novel published under her name (not her pen name, Selena Montgomery), and I was really excited to read it! It’s a mystery/thriller about a Supreme Court justice and political conspiracies. It’s got some House of Cards vibes, but you’re rooting for a much more moral and likable protagonist. I enjoyed it overall, but I have to say I really disliked the audiobook format here. The narrator’s style felt very affected and over dramatic to me, which was kind of a bummer. It constantly took me out of the story. It’s tricky to separate my feelings about a book vs the narration, but I’m pretty confident that I still liked the text. This would be a difficult novel to write for someone outside the legal profession or even outside of Washington. Abrams is definitely using her expertise wisely in her writing! (Is there anything she CAN’T do??) I appreciated how Abrams kept the legal content very approachable, not too opaque for a regular reader. Though I should maybe note that all my parents were/are lawyers, so I perhaps have slightly more familiarity. I also like how Abrams didn’t tie up every single loose end, but it still felt finished, not like she was leaving you hanging for a sequel. It just felt very grounded in reality, where we don’t get perfectly neat endings. If you’re into this genre, definitely give this a go and support Stacey, but maybe do the regular book rather than audio.

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jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

The story was engaging, and the premise is very interesting. However, the writing seemed stilted. The language didn’t flow easily. She used some obscure words that threw me off kilter (or my vocabulary sucks).

I would definitely read more of Stacey Abrams’ thrillers.

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lorinew1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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sfbookgirl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The highly-anticipated thriller is (almost) here! I am so grateful to have gotten my hands on an early copy of Stacey Abrams’s new novel. The political thriller takes place in Washington D.C. in which young law clerk Avery Keene is tasked with solving a series of clues left for her after legendary Justice, and swing vote, Howard Wynn is found in a coma. This novel pairs perfectly with The Queen’s Gambit Netflix series (or book) as Avery’s tasks often involve finding clues through chess moves. And while I don’t have much knowledge of chess, I was into it because I had recently watched the show.

Any political thriller written by Abrams is bound to be detailed and accurate. Some of the political jargon definitely went over my head, but I enjoyed finding and solving clues alongside Avery. Additionally, the storyline is easy to follow and the ending is satisfying. It’s amazing to think that Abrams wrote the first draft for the novel a decade ago, as the characters and conflicts are incredibly timely.

Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy!

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rachel_from_avid_bookshop's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Stacey Abrams's first legal thriller is a multi-layered suspenseful book that does not disappoint. The heroine in While Justice Sleeps is a top-notch female law clerk who unexpectedly is singled-out as the last best chance to save the day (and the nation) when her boss, Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn, becomes incapacitated. This is a very smart read and lots of fun. (I expected nothing less from Ms. Abrams!)

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