“Laugh if you will, you carrion of society. But mark my words - hell has come to earth, and your parents have elected its offspring.”
That night he rages to his nurse on the perfidy of the leaders of America and speaks of a conspiracy he has uncovered. After combining powerful medication with alcohol he is on the edge of unconsciousness when, with barely enough strength to speak, he beseeches his nurse to pass on a message to one of his clerks, Avery Keene, giving her clues to finding his research.
The next day Keene is summoned to the Chief Justice’s office where she is advised by the Chief and Major Vance from Homeland Security that Wynn, now in a coma, had executed documents months earlier appointing her as his power of attorney and legal guardian.
I was electrified. She now has access to all of his documents not covered by court privilege and his financial affairs with the authority to deal with them as she considers in his best interests. As his legal guardian she will make medical decision with him incapacitated.
Homeland Security and the White House (President Brandon Stokes) want to know why a clerk was given these grave responsibilities. She has no knowledge why but she will honour his trust in her.
Keene’s personal life is chaotic. Her mother, Rita, is a severe drug addict lurching from crisis to crisis.
Avery has a photographic memory. It has served well during university and as a clerk.
Abrams provides some early information on the conspiracy, a wise decision by the author. I find conspiracies more interesting and more credible when we know their outlines.
Avery acts swiftly when she realizes the judge’s life is in danger.
What Justice Wyrnn wanted done by her is obscure. Clearly there are issues over a pending decision by the Court with regard to a proposed merger of high tech companies as the judge has obsessed over the case but she has but a few cryptic clues to guide her.
She is aided by Wynn’s personal lawyer, Noah Fox, and the Justice’s estranged son, Jared Wynn and her roommate, Dr. Ling Yin. The quartet, brilliant and resourceful, face a powerful conspiracy.
The book delves into the complex situation of a disabled Supreme Court Justice. Being America there are issues for the Senate and the House of Representatives. President Stokes, as will all Presidents, is anxious to have the chance to appoint a new Justice of his choice.
The “Originalists” of the American legal establishment cannot look to the intentions of the Founding Fathers. As the Democratic Leader of the Senate says:
“Hell, in the Framers’ day, we didn’t have ventilators and artificial nutrition and living wills.”
Celeste, Justice Wynn’s estranged wife is bitter at her exclusion and anxious to challenge the guardianship documents.
Justice Wynn uses chess terminology in some clues including reference to a famous double bishop sacrifice strategy.
The conspiracy involves dangerous scientific research. It is truly frightening what some scientists are exploring. I wish the conspiracy was not so believable.
Abrams balances the high functioning Avery of the Supreme Court clerkship with the struggling Avery coping with an addicted mother. She has spent most of her life juggling her life with the needs of Rita.
The book concludes with one of the most interesting legal hearings I have ever read. The issue is important. The participants include the highest in the land. The interplay between the Court and the lawyers is eloquent and insightful. Aspects of the hearing challenge the credibility of a lawyer reader but do not detract from the power of the hearing. I wish I could describe it in more detail but I cannot figure out a way without spoilers.
Abrams is a clever plotter, writes convincing dialogue and provides a credible, less conventional, ending. I appreciated that she kept the body count down. If the state of Georgia does not elect her Governor in the fall I look forward to more legally based thrillers.
That's a really interesting premise for a book, Bill. And I can see how there would be a number of important legal questions woven throughout it. And it sounds as though there is a real balance between action and character development, and that's important, too. I always appreciate it when authors bring their own professional expertise to their writing, and Abrams appears to have done that here.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. It is more complex than the average thriller. Some aspects are not discussed to avoid spoilers. I wait for a truly political legal thriller from here. How about false allegations of election fraud?
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