annieb123's Review of Rogue Justice

by Stacey Abrams

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The #1 bestselling author of While Justice Sleeps returns with another riveting and intricately plotted thriller, in which a blackmailed federal judge, a secret court and a brazen murder may lead to an unprecedented national crisis.

"Abrams delivers another smart, zippy thriller." —Washington Post

"A thoroughly compelling take on the machinations of Washington and those covetous of power." —New York Magazine

Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene is back, trying to get her feet on solid ground after unraveling an international conspiracy in While Justice Sleeps. But as the sparks of Congressional hearings and political skirmishes swirl around her, Avery is approached at a legal conference by Preston Davies, an unassuming young man and fellow law clerk to a federal judge in Idaho. Davies believes his boss, Judge Francesca Whitner, was being blackmailed in the days before she died. Desperate to understand what happened, he gives Avery a file, a burner phone, and a fearful warning that there are highly dangerous people involved.

Another shocking murder leads Avery to a list of names – all federal judges – and, alarmingly, all judges on the FISA Court (the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court), also known as America’s "secret court." It is this body which grants permission to the government to wiretap Americans or spy on corporations suspected of terrorism. As Avery digs deeper, she begins to see a frightening pattern – and she worries that something far more sinister may be unfolding inside the nation’s third branch of government. With lives at stake, Avery must race the clock and an unexpected enemy to find the answer.

Drawn from today’s headlines and woven with her unique insider perspective, Stacey Abrams combines twisting plotlines, wry wit, and clever puzzles to create another immensely entertaining suspense novel.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Rogue Justice is the second book featuring Avery Keene written by Stacey Abrams. Released 23rd May 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Doubleday imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in second quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

It's always fun to see really clever people doing things they're good at. Ms. Abrams is well known as a lawmaker, voting rights advocate, legal professional, and politician. She's perhaps less-well-known as an accomplished author, but certainly no less talented. She writes, and writes very well. This is a well constructed and engaging legal procedural mystery which is fast paced and with a solidly constructed plot. All the parts are engineered well and work to a satisfying denouement and resolution.

There are some difficulties with an overabundance of secondary characters which were sometimes a challenge to keep straight during the read. The ebook format is recommended for the ability to do text searches for that reason. At several places, the narrative felt a little too much like it was taken directly from the headlines and much less like a spy thriller, but here we are.

I cannot imagine that Ms. Abrams has time to sleep, given her schedule and professional commitments. She must be an incredibly gifted time manager, writing and publishing books, speaking publicly, making policy and advocating.

This is the second book of an ongoing series, and especially given the intricacy of the plot and the plethora of characters, the books should be read in order.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition and potentially for mystery book club discussion or a buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

29 October, 2023: Started reading

29 October, 2023: Finished reading

29 October, 2023: Reviewed