While Justice Sleeps

A Novel

By: Stacey Abrams

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo, Stacey Abrams

A Go On Girl! Book Club Pick

From celebrated national leader and best-selling author Stacey Abrams, While Justice Sleeps is a gripping, complexly plotted thriller set within the halls of the US Supreme Court.

"Brilliant and mesmerizing. Abrams follows in Dan Brown’s footprint with this masterfully plotted thriller that unfolds like the ultimate chess match - bold move to bolder move with lives hanging in the balance." (Lisa Gardner)

"Stacey Abrams is a true novelist, and While Justice Sleeps is a first-class legal thriller, favorably compared to many of the best, starting with The Pelican Brief, which it brings to mind. It’s fast-paced and full of surprises - a terrific read." (Scott Turow)

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. While Justice Sleeps is a cunningly crafted, sophisticated novel, layered with myriad twists and a vibrant cast of characters. Drawing on her astute inside knowledge of the court and political landscape, Stacey Abrams shows herself to be not only a force for good in politics and voter fairness but also a major new talent in suspense fiction.

With an audio-exclusive original introduction written and read by the author

©2021 Stacey Abrams (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Supremely entertaining...A page-turner, plot-driven in the extreme...It succeeds brilliantly."—The Boston Globe

"Stacey Abrams delivers a taut, twisty thriller, drawing the reader into the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court along the strands of a complex web of politics, raw ambition and deadly deception." (Nora Roberts)

"While Justice Sleeps is a mesmerizing legal thriller that does the rare thing: It uses the novel to get at the truth. Stacey Abrams is a powerful new voice in fiction." (Michael Connelly)

AMAZING!!!!

This book was excellent. I enjoyed every minute of this book. The book was suspenseful and kept me on my toes. Great job, Stacey Abrams!!!!

Good book, questionable narration

Narration was distracting at times - bad accents and misread recuse as rescue - repeatedly.

This is a Great story!

Great story, but the narration keeps it from being 5 stars. But the mystery, thriller aspect is spot on! After getting pass the narrator, it keep you on the edge of your seat!

I was excited for this book.

I was excited for this book. Justice was sleeping alright, when the narrator was chosen for this book. I can not get past the narrator's cringeworthy performance with strange voices for the different characters awkward pauses were there shouldn't be. The review requires an overall rating. As I could not get very far into it I didn't feel I could give more than 3 stars. It may be a 5 star story. But I'll have to read a printed copy to find out.

Gripping

This is an interesting legal/medical thriller. The book is well written. The story is plot driven. The reader must stay alert as the story has many moving parts. The characters are interesting. At times I felt the story could have moved at a faster pace but that might just be the mood I was in while reading it. I hope that Abrams continues to write more legal thrillers.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fourteen hours and fifty-five minutes. Adenrele Ojo does a good job narrating the book. Ojo is an award-winning audiobook narrator and actress.

Well, butter my scalp and call me a biscuit. This was dope!!!

This was a thrilling tale with everything I love! Avery and the other characters are very relatable and easy to root for. Apparently, I have been as asleep as Justice (couldn’t help myself) on Stacey Abrams’ ability to write fiction. I loved her autobiographical works, but this has made me a true fan. Also, Adenrele Ojo’s narration was a chef’s kiss.

Too much going on

It takes half the book for anything to make sense. Wasn't impressed with narrator. Her voice interpretations didn't enhance the story.

A mystery as a chess game

A clever mystery combining something as old as chess with something as current as genetic engineering. While a lot of suspension of disbelief is required the story is engaging.
We get a glimpse into the workings of the Supreme Court and national government as well. Undoubtedly many liberties are taken ya advance the story. Avery the protagonist is a bit too cute and judge Winn’s personality seems overdrawn but again it fits together.

Wanted to like!

Story itself was so so. But the performance was abysmal. Breathy, poorly timed, emphasis on wrong words (“she TURNED on the television” - as if to attack it rather than watch it), No respect for punctuation, and very naive and exaggerated.
If not for Stacy Abrams, I would have returned it after the first chapter.

Poor narration

The narration is very distracting. It’s as if the narrator wants to be the star of the show and has pulled out whatever she learned in elocution training and thrown it at this book. I’m used to suspending disbelief when I read this genre of fiction. The story is decent. BUT I cringe every time I listen because the narration is so bad. I will never buy a book if it’s narrated by this woman.