First published 2021
Avery Keene works as a law clerk for Justice Howard Wynn, the Supreme Court's unpredictable swing vote. Her demanding job barely leaves time to manage her troubled family life. Then Justice Wynn collapses into a coma, and Avery learns he has appointed her as his legal guardian and power of attorney. Thrust into this unexpected role, Avery discovers that Wynn was secretly investigating a controversial merger case between an American biotech company and an Indian genetics firm. The case promises major medical breakthroughs, but Wynn suspected a dangerous conspiracy reaching into Washington's highest levels. As politicians maneuver to replace the incapacitated justice, Avery begins decoding the intricate clues Wynn left behind. The puzzle reveals Wynn's personal connection to the case and leads Avery toward deadly truths. She must navigate the treacherous intersection of law, politics, and corporate power while controlling the fate of the justice whose survival could determine the court's future. Avery faces a choice between safety and justice as she unravels Wynn's carefully planned revelations.
Genres: mystery, contemporary, political-thriller, legal-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: uncovering-secrets, unexpected-responsibility
Setting: Washington, United States
Period: 21st-century
367 pages · Hardcover · Bantam Doubleday Dell/Penguin Random House Publishing Group/Bertelsmann