Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - While Justice Sleeps

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams was a read that surprised me and was a really intriguing political and legal thriller that felt like it could have been from a real Presidential term in recent history.

Avery Keene is a law clerk to Justice Howard Wynn, who is often the deciding Jurist on a split Supreme Court. When he falls into a coma, Avery finds that she is the one who the Justice haw decided has his life in her hands, above those of his wife, who he is divorcing, and estranged son, who had been in the Navy, working intelligence.

As her world quickly spirals, can Avery solve the puzzle pieces that leaves a bread crumb trail only she seems to see, save justice and bring down the heart of government in one fell swoop...

I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on cloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 45, chapter headings have dates, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.

Content Warnings

just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It's been an intense few weeks of work for me and I was looking for something escapist and fun(?) and mostly, just entertaining. I've been curious about Abrams writing for some time now. I mean honestly, how does a person do everything she does?! She's an inspiring political leader and advocate for social justice and voting rights and also writes romances and, apparently, now legal thrillers. It's enough to make a person really question what they're doing with their life and why they aren't that accomplished... But anyways, I just wanted to see what this was about and my current reading mood made this the right time to finally do so.

Borrowing from Goodreads for this blurb: Avery Keene, a brilliant young law clerk for the legendary Justice Howard Wynn, is doing her best to hold her life together--excelling in an arduous job with the court while also dealing with a troubled family. When the shocking news breaks that Justice Wynn--the cantankerous swing vote on many current high-profile cases--has slipped into a coma, Avery's life turns upside down. She is immediately notified that Justice Wynn has left instructions for her to serve as his legal guardian and power of attorney. Plunged into an explosive role she never anticipated, Avery finds that Justice Wynn had been secretly researching one of the most controversial cases before the court--a proposed merger between an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm, which promises to unleash breathtaking results in the medical field. She also discovers that Wynn suspected a dangerously related conspiracy that infiltrates the highest power corridors of Washington. As political wrangling ensues in Washington to potentially replace the ailing judge whose life and survival Avery controls, she begins to unravel a carefully constructed, chesslike sequence of clues left behind by Wynn. She comes to see that Wynn had a much more personal stake in the controversial case and realizes his complex puzzle will lead her directly into harm's way in order to find the truth.

Well, my biggest reactions to this novel were all positive. I was so impressed by the complexity of it all, how many moving pieces and details and twists and knowledge went into this. Maybe this is typical of legal thrillers? It's not a genre I read much of or have much experience with, so you know, I don't have a ton of frame of reference. With that in mind, for me, this was so intricately plotted! There were so many sectors that were brought together: science/medicine, legal/judicial, technological, as well as some more personal interests, like Fresh literature and chess, and interpersonal relationships that added depth and complications (like Avery's mother's struggles with addiction). It was, in that way, reminiscent of The Immortal King Rao, though more politically focused, as opposed to market/public focused. Abram's brain is intimidating and impressive.

And the pacing was nonstop. It was an increible page-turning ride for me...every time I had to stop reading (or listening, as it were), I didn't want to! Like I said, I don't read a lot of thrillers, legal or otherwise, and I had so much fun with this one. I also liked that, while some aspects were a bit more speculative, there was a very real grounding in the present day. It ramped up the immediacy and tension of the story. For example, I appreciated the currentness of the discussion about deep fakes and technology, meaning that having video proof of something is not enough anymore, without authentication, which could take long enough that justice never happens. So, how to make sure you reveal the right way to get the end result you want? The playing fast and loose with some laws/rules to accomplish that maybe didn't feel quite realistic, but was enjoyable to read. I was definitely cheering for Avery et al. There were also some very familiar characterizations and rhetoric here...the kind of basis in reality style details that make for an extra compelling story (because it’s extra scary and possible feeling). Like, the rhetoric of “protection” against “enemies” out of “fear” of potential “attacks on this great nation” is terrifying in its familiarity. I won't lie, a couple times I sort of wished real life wasn’t so directly inspiring for this kind of fictionalized narrative of upsetting/immoral/unlawful actions by world leaders, yeesh. But yea, it was compelling AF.

Some final random thoughts. I love the dual meaning of the title; always a fan of creative wordplay. Early on I noted "is there a budding romance here?!" And it turns out: yes, yes. I didn't love that, but I didn't hate it. It wasn't overdone, which was nice. It felt like there were a few loose ends but...partially I know this is setting up to be a series and partially I don’t care because it was entertaining and satisfying and that’s what I wanted (and the major plot points were all cleared up, there was just come open-ended-ness in a few spots). The side characters seemed a bit conveniently knowledgeable on diverse and useful topics, but, you know, fiction. And those perspectives added a lot to the plot, so I'll take them. I did struggle with the seemingly unshakeable belief that Avery has in Justice Wynn’s mental capacity and status, without a lot of proof or seemingly too much previous relationship depth. But again, fiction (and maybe a bit explained away by his clear "character study" of Avery as the "right" choice for that faith). I'll buy it for the sake of the story here.

To repeat myself, the number of moving pieces (pun intended) and knowledge and detail orientation that went into this was so much. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. So, despite any small questions I had about development quality, I have to be honest and say I'd recommend it pretty strongly. Exactly the suck-me-in escape I had hoped for.

Content Warnings

atamano's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

hmetwade's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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kryskross's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

3.5

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jewelkr's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I was surprised/disappointed when I realized that this was a work of fiction. I picked it up from a Little Library thinking that it was Abrams take on Washington.

But interested in her capabilities as a fiction writer – what an amazing woman/person.

It’s an interesting read – fast-paced with many unexpected turns, although a bit too spy-vs-spy for me to follow. It was good to experience a young [black] woman in a professional and pivotal role in a non-chic lit format. I would have liked to have the main characters more developed and fewer random murders so that the story was more about the people and less about the conspiracies. There were a few corn cob moments that could have been less sentimentalized but I would certainly read another of Abrams’ books, fiction or otherwise.

Content Warnings

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

lilifane's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This was a fun and fast-paced political thriller with a puzzle solving/scavenger hunt aspect that I really liked. The politics went a little over my head, but were super fascinating.

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