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A review by savvyrosereads
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
When Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn falls into a coma, the world is shocked to learn he has left his power of attorney in the hands of his law clerk, Avery Keene. Avery herself has no idea why Wynn would have done such a thing…and in her quest to find out uncovers a conspiracy that will threaten her life and the lives of everyone around her.
Oof. I need to preface this by saying I absolutely adore Stacey Abrams the person/politician and none of the following changes that. Unfortunately, I’m not nearly as big a fan of this novel as I am of Abrams personally. The entire thing felt contrived and impossible to believe—even factoring in the suspension of disbelief inherently necessary for most politico-legal thrillers. The characters were unlikable and the stakes felt shockingly low (they were not) because no one seemed particularly invested in uncovering the mystery until the end. Worst of all, one recurring riddle, discussed several times by the characters and presented as key to the entire story, was never adequately solved and instead was entirely forgotten by the end. It’s possible I would have enjoyed this more if I was a bigger fan of this type of thriller (I’m really not) but as it was it still fell significantly short of my expectations.
Recommended if you are already a fan of politico-legal thrillers.
CW: Medical experimentation; government oppression; death/violence/blood; drug abuse/addiction.
When Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn falls into a coma, the world is shocked to learn he has left his power of attorney in the hands of his law clerk, Avery Keene. Avery herself has no idea why Wynn would have done such a thing…and in her quest to find out uncovers a conspiracy that will threaten her life and the lives of everyone around her.
Oof. I need to preface this by saying I absolutely adore Stacey Abrams the person/politician and none of the following changes that. Unfortunately, I’m not nearly as big a fan of this novel as I am of Abrams personally. The entire thing felt contrived and impossible to believe—even factoring in the suspension of disbelief inherently necessary for most politico-legal thrillers. The characters were unlikable and the stakes felt shockingly low (they were not) because no one seemed particularly invested in uncovering the mystery until the end. Worst of all, one recurring riddle, discussed several times by the characters and presented as key to the entire story, was never adequately solved and instead was entirely forgotten by the end. It’s possible I would have enjoyed this more if I was a bigger fan of this type of thriller (I’m really not) but as it was it still fell significantly short of my expectations.
Recommended if you are already a fan of politico-legal thrillers.
CW: Medical experimentation; government oppression; death/violence/blood; drug abuse/addiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug abuse
Minor: Death of parent