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)

Loved it.

Couldn't stop listening. Excellent plot. Excellent writing skills. One of the best books I've read.

I'm not a fan ... but she got me on this one.

I am not a political fan of Stacy and chose to listen out of curiosity ... the author being one who aspires to be President some day. Hopefully she never makes it to the White House but that being said I thoroughly enjoyed this non-political political story. Stacy is a good and clever writer. Put your opinions aside and enjoy this book. it's well written. a clever story and well narrated. 5 Stars.

Relevant

Excellent story. Awful narration. It is unfortunate that the narration makes the book so hard to listen to. This book was not appropriate for Ms. Ojo.

I should have read it

I agree that the narration is awful especially trying to fake an Indian accent. It would have been easier to be authentic for such a short part of the story. Also jumping from the female to male parts was hard to take and trying to distinguish which male part she was faking was painful!

Very good story, lacking narrator

Very good suspense, clue chasing, justice seeking story involving three branches of government. Unfortunately the narrator breathy speech and same tone for different characters detracted from what could have been a very excellent listen.

Exciting!

Very complex and thrilling I enjoyed the suspense and how the puzzle came together in the end.

Story vs Performance

Stacey Abrams’ plot is intriguing, wrapped around the constitutional silence of what to do when a Supreme Court justice is not able to fulfill their duties or resign. It’s an escape read for thinkers, which I appreciate. Adenrele Ojo’s performance of the male characters’ voices was a distraction. There are many male characters, and other than Nigel’s southern drawl, they all sound about the same: a woman lowering her voice to be masculine. Never convincing and without distinction.

Amazing, just like Stacey

This book is wonderful! Never figured out who done it till lead there. First time reading her work-but it won’t be my last. What a thrilling story.

Just can’t continue

This is my first Abrams book and I had such high hopes that While Justice Sleeps would be a fascinating read. But I can no longer stand the reader’s voice inflections, drama and tone. I tried up to Ch 7 to like the book but couldn’t go any further.
The story line seems fascinating but her writing style are short sentences and it seems as though she is trying to introduce too many characters who don’t seem to tie into the story line, a German, Indian, old man voice land a harlot. All in the first 6 chapters! I don’t get it and cannot continue.

Great story, please find a new narrator

Stacey Abrams can do it all! Amazing plot, complex characters, I loved it!
The narration however, was atrocious. The accents, or whatever you want to call it, for the Indian characters was quite insulting.