I'm a huge fan of Stacey Abrams, so I was excited to read a legal thriller by her, and fortunately, she does not disappoint. Avery Keene is a brilliant law clerk for a supreme court justice after an unconventional path to law school. She is a heroine for our times and I hope we see her again in future books. In this one, she is following a political, medical, legal plot, and I loved every part that involved the Supreme Court. She is also smarter than us, think Dan Brown books, so don't expect to keep up with all of the clues, but that doesn't detract from enjoying the story. I enjoyed the characters and hope to learn more about them in future books. This story is one we hope stays to fiction, but medical science and genetics research makes the absurd possible. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was definitely worth my time.

This book is for fans of Dan Brown. The setting and level of detail reminded me of "The Lost Symbol." The POV jumps around quite a bit and some of the detail seems unnecessary, but the writing just may not suit my style.

Complex, intricate, and well crafted, WHILE JUSTICE SLEEPS is a legal and political thriller that hits a lot of themes while keeping the action going at a good pace. Although at times I could get confused in some of the more serpentine points of the vast and all encompassing clues and conspiracy, I think that has more to do with me than it does with the plot. I could very easily see a fan of political and legal thrillers with these kinds of themes and intricacies being very engaged. For me the best aspect of this story was Avery Keene herself, as I thought that she was a well rounded and interesting protagonist. Her talents and legal mind are sharp, but she is also relatable and has a personality that connects with the reader, especially given the hardships she has to face as 1) a young biracial woman in a very competitive field, and 2) as a young biracial woman thrown into the spotlight when she's surprisingly named as the power of attorney for a comatose Supreme Court Justice. Abrams takes on not only political conspiracy thrills and legal themes, but also themes of Misogynoir through this tale, and I really liked it. And even more themes of corporate influence, corruption, ethics within medicine and genetic study, and chess are tossed in as well, but Abrams juggles it all. Any feelings of being overwhelmed were almost certainly a reflection of me and not the material.

WHILE JUSTICE SLEEPS is tense, carefully woven, and well done. Stacey Abrams continues to show the world just how awesome she is, and fans of political thrillers should definitely check it out!

This was a good thriller, especially if you love politics and Washington. I got a little lost in some of the twists and turns, but loved the characters.

While Justice Sleeps delivers a legal thriller that takes us from the US Supreme Court to the White House. Avery Keene is brilliant and dedicated and well versed in the routines and hierarchy of the US Supreme Court. While she is one of the law clerks for legendary and swing vote Justice Howard Wynn, she doesn't have the usual pedigree of Ivy League degrees, wealthy and well connected parents, etc. She's had to claw her way up from poverty and a difficult family life. But her own journey has given her the strength and skills to face the hardest task imaginable.

Just as the Supreme Court is facing a controversial case involving biotech and genetics, Justice Wynn collapses into a coma. He has left instructions and the power of attorney with his law clerk, Avery Keene, to the surprise of the Supreme Court, his family and the White House. Avery Keene is asked to stand firm and keep Justice Wynn''s position on the Supreme Court and possibly save Keene's son's life -- while battling the White House as it seeks to install a new and pliable SC justice.

Stacey Abrams delivers a complex thriller with unexpected twists and betrayals. The book begins slowly but the pace soon picks up. It's easy to root for Avery Keene!

I honestly have no idea how Stacey Abrams not only has time to do everything she does, but to do it all supremely well. I don’t read a lot of political thrillers so I don’t have much to compare this to, but to me, While Justice Sleeps was a complex but fast-paced ride of a story that had me invested from the first page.

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. 

Content warnings: drug abuse, torture, violence, medical content
 
Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy!

What a lovely surprise! I didn't know what to expect before opening this book, but what I found was a sophisticated thriller that combines elements of legal, medical, and political genres with chess thrown in for very good measure. Abrams presents us with a plot filled with twists and turns and characters that are well fleshed out. As in many thrillers, the heroes and heroines sometimes possess more knowledge and brilliance than seems possible, but seasoned thriller fans seem to accept that. Most readers will enjoy While Justice Sleeps immensely.

What a delight! This thoughtful, fast-paced political thriller reads like KNIVES OUT meets THE PELICAN BRIEF. This novel grabbed me from the opening scenes, taking me deep into the bowels of the Supreme Court and the life of one fascinating protagonist, law clerk Avery Keene.

With well-drawn characters, a propulsive plot, and fascinating setting, this is sure to be a hit with longtime Abrams fans and new readers alike. And the timing couldn't be better for readers seeking either a twisty mystery to escape into or a thoughtful thriller that examines important issues of the day like racism, equity, and social justice.

I enjoyed this debut from Abrams which reads like an early John Grisham novel. Like the Pelican Brief, While Justice Sleeps revolves around a plot to get rid of a Supreme Court justice in order to change the balance of the court but this time the plot comes from within the government itself. Avery Keene is a compelling and likable character and the plot moves well.

Ok, I admit I just picked this book because it was written by Stacey Abrams...shallow, I know. And while I enjoyed the book I found that the plot was slightly lagging. The writing is good, and it is certainly a legal thriller (surprise, surprise). But, I found myself wanting more.

Wow. Stacey Abrams can do it all! This fast paced legal, political thriller has everything you are looking for in a book. Twists and turns at the highest political level, and a terrific new heroine to root for in Avery Keene. This book encompasses legal issues, medical issues and politics. All with a very human and believable touch. The book is well crafted to keep you turning the pages and racing toward the conclusion.

I have not read many political thrillers, but I loved this one by Stacey Abrams. To begin with, she’s inspiring and amazing and so was her book. When our protagonist, Avery Keene is notified that she is to serve as legal guardian to Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn, who is in a coma, she has no idea where this will lead! This was such a fun read with lots of twists and turns. I highly recommend this taut thriller! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this digital arc.

Abrams delivers a legal thriller full of secrets, puzzles, and intrigue. The plot spans the globe and uses geopolitical tensions, medicine, and domestic politics as story tent poles. This is the first thriller I have come across with a climax that hinges on oral arguments at the US Supreme Court, and as a former mock trial kid who doesn’t *actually* know anything about the law, that made for an exciting denouement. Recommended for fans of Grisham and Baldacci.

You might pick up this legal/medical thriller because it’s written by Stacey Abrams, champion for voting rights in Georgia and across the nation. You’ll continue reading, however, once the story draws you in and won’t let you go.

Avery Keene is a law clerk for the demanding Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn. Justice Wynn is the deciding vote on a case involving a merger between an American biotech company and an Indian genetics company. Before the vote, Wynn is rushed to the hospital in a coma and Avery is stunned to discover that he has named her his guardian in charge of his medical and estate decisions.

This move sets into motion a complex riddle for Wynn to solve. The more Avery learns, the higher the stakes become, and the stronger her resolve becomes to find the truth. Her investigation jeopardizes her job, her safety and the safety of those around her...including Justice Wynn’s estranged son who recently learned that he and his father both share the same genetic disease. Medical ethics, biological warfare, legal maneuvers and corrupt politicians abound in this taut, fast paced thriller that is just waiting for a mini-series to bring it to life.

Fans of John Grisham and Robin Cook have a new go-to author layered, sophisticated thrillers!

Advanced copy read courtesy of @Netgalley and @PenguinRandomHouse.

A #PolicalThriller to the nth degree, from the first page to the last #WhileJusticeSleeps is a ride you will not want to depart. A road littered with the US Supreme Court, chess clues, an evil President, a high-ranking member of Homeland Security, international biogenetics, and so much more for Avery Keene to wrestle with throughout this tome, she is a protagonist I hope to meet in print again.

This book was just fun. I enjoyed the characters and the insight into the Court, the fast pace, and the twisty clues. Also, Stacey Abrams is awesome so it was extra fun to read.

No good can come from comparing yourself to Stacy Abrams. In the midst of a pandemic, she fought voter suppression in Georgia, helping to elect Biden and two democratic senators and wrote the best thriller I've read it in year.

This book is riveting from the first page and happily destroyed all my plans for two days. I didn't want to take a break from reading until I finished this book. Avery Keane is a stellar protagonist and it's impossible not to root for her and the people who help her unravel the cryptic clues left for her by Justice Wynn. Truly one of the best books I've read in years. Pre-order a copy and clear your schedule.

This is my first political thriller and it was great! The writing was amazing and the story kept me hooked and then I realized it was written by Stacey Abrams so it was definitely the icing on the cake!

Did a lot of this book go over my head? Absolutely. Did it diminish my enjoyment of the book in the slightest? Heck no! Between the law, the genetics, the biology, and heck, the chess, my head was spinning, but I was just happy to be along for the ride, flipping pages frantically to see what on earth would happen next. Highly recommended!