Review of WHILE JUSTICE SLEEPS by Stacey Abrams

 2.5 Stars

Though I’m Canadian, I’ve heard of Stacey Abrams, an American lawyer, politician, and voting rights advocate. I admired her efforts which have been widely credited with boosting voter turnout in Georgia. When I learned that she is also an author, I decided to read one of her books. I chose this legal thriller, the first in the Avery Keene series.

Supreme Justice Howard Wynn falls into a coma just before an important vote concerning a controversial case before the court. The case has to do with the merger of an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm. To everyone’s surprise, Wynn named his young clerk, Avery Keene, as his legal guardian. He has also left Avery with clues to decipher, clues which imply a conspiracy involving the most powerful in Washington. As she follows the clues to uncover the truth, she and her accomplices find themselves in danger.

This is supposed to be a suspenseful thriller, but its pace is slow. That is a fatal flaw in a suspense novel. Much has to be explained to the reader (chess plays, genetics, legal procedures) so there are information dumps. The amount of information given, about things like genetics and government protocols and abbreviations, often creates confusion rather than suspense. Undoubtedly, Abrams has inside knowledge of the Supreme Court and the political landscape, but she includes unnecessary details.

Another issue is Avery. She is supposed to be very intelligent; indeed, she knows a lot about chess, bioethics, French philosophers, and astronomy. She even has an eidetic memory. However, she does some very stupid things. A law clerk would sign papers without reading them? A law clerk would find a murder victim and just flee after leaving evidence of her presence? Though instructed to destroy a paper after reading it, she takes a photo of it? She has an eidetic memory so doesn’t need a photo which can be accessed by the wrong people, something the instruction is intended to prevent!

Then there are Avery’s assistants. Wynn’s son, Avery’s roommate, and Wynn’s lawyer appear at opportune times. Of course each has specific knowledge and skills that Avery needs at the time. This all seems so contrived. The fact that the three supporting characters are all bland with little personality means they are even more obviously just plot devices. Don’t get me started on the burgeoning romance! Though everyone is well-educated, having them all speak in an erudite, polished manner in the most ordinary of conversations makes no sense. The dialogue is just so stilted.

With its focus on intricate puzzles and conspiracies, at times this book reminded me of a Dan Brown novel. Why did Wynn leave a trail of such opaque clues? He expected Avery to know obscure chess moves and to recall past conversations. Okay, that’s within bounds of plausibility. But she also has to connect with his son and he has to take her into his childhood bedroom?!

I was disappointed with this novel. Though plot-driven, it lacks suspense and there is only superficial character development. Much feels contrived. I will not be continuing with the series.