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Avery Keene #3
Coded Justice: A Thriller
Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 01:52:32
20 copies available
U.S. only
A twisty and prescient new thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling Avery Keene series, by nationally renowned author and leader Stacey Abrams, Coded Justice follows Avery down a dark rabbit hole into the breathtaking—and dangerous—use of AI in the medical industry.
Avery Keene is back! The fan-favorite former Supreme Court clerk has finally gone out on her own, securing a prestigious position at a high-end law firm in Washington, D.C., where she is about to earn real money and get her life in order after a tumultuous run working as a clerk on the Supreme Court. With her reputation preceding her, Avery is quickly tasked at her new job with becoming a corporate internal investigator. Her new client is Camasca—a mega-tech firm that's on the forefront of developing a new integrated AI system poised to revolutionize the medical industry, particularly by delivering vastly improved health care to veterans. The AI potential is breathtaking, but some disturbing anomalies have plagued Camasca in early testing—including the mysterious death of a Camasca engineer. Avery and her colleagues, Jared, Ling, and Noah, find themselves on a journey to determine whether the anomalies are mere technical glitches, or something much more concerning. Full of twists, behind-the-scenes financial machinations, and the continued blossoming of Avery and her vibrant cast of friends, Coded Justice finds Stacey Abrams' riveting series to be in full swing.
Avery Keene is back! The fan-favorite former Supreme Court clerk has finally gone out on her own, securing a prestigious position at a high-end law firm in Washington, D.C., where she is about to earn real money and get her life in order after a tumultuous run working as a clerk on the Supreme Court. With her reputation preceding her, Avery is quickly tasked at her new job with becoming a corporate internal investigator. Her new client is Camasca—a mega-tech firm that's on the forefront of developing a new integrated AI system poised to revolutionize the medical industry, particularly by delivering vastly improved health care to veterans. The AI potential is breathtaking, but some disturbing anomalies have plagued Camasca in early testing—including the mysterious death of a Camasca engineer. Avery and her colleagues, Jared, Ling, and Noah, find themselves on a journey to determine whether the anomalies are mere technical glitches, or something much more concerning. Full of twists, behind-the-scenes financial machinations, and the continued blossoming of Avery and her vibrant cast of friends, Coded Justice finds Stacey Abrams' riveting series to be in full swing.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2025
710 people are currently reading
6960 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Abrams
25 books2,522 followersStacey Abrams is an American politician, lawyer, author, and businesswoman who was the house minority leader for the Georgia General Assembly and state representative for the 89th House District. She is a Democrat.
Abrams, one of six siblings, was born to Robert and Carolyn Abrams in Madison, Wisconsin and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi. The family moved to Atlanta where her parents pursued graduate school and later became Methodist ministers. She attended Avondale High School and was the school's first African-American valedictorian. While in high school, she was hired as a typist for a congressional campaign and was later hired as a speechwriter at age 17 based on the edits she made while typing.
In 1995, Abrams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude. While in college, Abrams worked in the youth services department in the office of Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson. She later interned at the Environmental Protection Agency. As a Harry S. Truman Scholar, she studied public policy at the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs and went on to earn her J.D. from Yale Law School.
Abrams worked as a tax attorney at the Sutherland Asbill & Brennan law firm in Atlanta, with a focus on tax-exempt organizations, health care and public finance. She was appointed the Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta at age 29.
Abrams co-founded and served as the senior vice president of NOW Corp. (formerly NOWaccount Network Corporation), a financial services firm. She co-founded Nourish, Inc., a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, and is CEO of Sage Works, a legal consulting firm, that has represented clients including the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.
Abrams has had an extensive writing career, penning several best-selling novels under the nom de plume of Selina Montgomery. Abrams is also the author of 'Minority Leader', a book of leadership advice to be published by Henry Holt & Co. in April 2018.
Abrams, one of six siblings, was born to Robert and Carolyn Abrams in Madison, Wisconsin and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi. The family moved to Atlanta where her parents pursued graduate school and later became Methodist ministers. She attended Avondale High School and was the school's first African-American valedictorian. While in high school, she was hired as a typist for a congressional campaign and was later hired as a speechwriter at age 17 based on the edits she made while typing.
In 1995, Abrams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude. While in college, Abrams worked in the youth services department in the office of Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson. She later interned at the Environmental Protection Agency. As a Harry S. Truman Scholar, she studied public policy at the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs and went on to earn her J.D. from Yale Law School.
Abrams worked as a tax attorney at the Sutherland Asbill & Brennan law firm in Atlanta, with a focus on tax-exempt organizations, health care and public finance. She was appointed the Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta at age 29.
Abrams co-founded and served as the senior vice president of NOW Corp. (formerly NOWaccount Network Corporation), a financial services firm. She co-founded Nourish, Inc., a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, and is CEO of Sage Works, a legal consulting firm, that has represented clients including the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.
Abrams has had an extensive writing career, penning several best-selling novels under the nom de plume of Selina Montgomery. Abrams is also the author of 'Minority Leader', a book of leadership advice to be published by Henry Holt & Co. in April 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
May 8, 2025
Doubleday Books provided an early galley for review.
This is the third novel in Abrams' Avery Keene series. Having enjoyed the first two, I was ready to dive back into her world of politics and intrigue. This time she was touching on the computer/software/tech space, a world I spent several decades in myself as a software developer.
Abrams is tackling very topical themes with the AI aspects of this tale. So many people harbor concerns and fear of machines taking over, and this story brings those to bear. Her approach is balanced and fair, covering it from a variety of angles. She also ties in with popular culture portrayals of AI by tagging both Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The sci-fi nerd in me appreciates these greatly.
However, the amateur author in me can't help to recognize some of the writing missteps that appear in this work. From a drawn-out starting chapter (take it from someone who knows - programming is hardly dramatic to anyone except the programmers themselves) to several expository info dumps (with some done awkwardly through dialogue to characters who would already know that information) to dialogue that is bolstered by targeted tags, these are things that the average reader might forgive. Other writers, however, will wince at them. An editing pass that worked out these kinks can easily move this story from a good thriller to an even greater reading experience.
This is the third novel in Abrams' Avery Keene series. Having enjoyed the first two, I was ready to dive back into her world of politics and intrigue. This time she was touching on the computer/software/tech space, a world I spent several decades in myself as a software developer.
Abrams is tackling very topical themes with the AI aspects of this tale. So many people harbor concerns and fear of machines taking over, and this story brings those to bear. Her approach is balanced and fair, covering it from a variety of angles. She also ties in with popular culture portrayals of AI by tagging both Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey. The sci-fi nerd in me appreciates these greatly.
However, the amateur author in me can't help to recognize some of the writing missteps that appear in this work. From a drawn-out starting chapter (take it from someone who knows - programming is hardly dramatic to anyone except the programmers themselves) to several expository info dumps (with some done awkwardly through dialogue to characters who would already know that information) to dialogue that is bolstered by targeted tags, these are things that the average reader might forgive. Other writers, however, will wince at them. An editing pass that worked out these kinks can easily move this story from a good thriller to an even greater reading experience.
October 1, 2025
While I do like this series and the cast of characters, this entry felt way too long, and like nothing got resolved. Avery's ennui: not much. Avery and Jarred's relationship moving forward: nothing. Noah and Ling getting any sort of character development: yeah right. The actual plot and mystery: solved, but was it worth how long this book was?
Overall this was not a satisfying entry in the series, but I will keep going if there are plans for more and if it picks up again.
Overall this was not a satisfying entry in the series, but I will keep going if there are plans for more and if it picks up again.
July 27, 2025
I gave this book 5 stars because I really enjoyed it. Your mileage may vary in that this is NOT an easy book to read and I found myself going back over chapters I'd already finished to be sure I understood all the complicated aspects of the AI functionality being discussed and the medical implications. It gave me chills...the thought is absolutely scary.
Once again I enjoyed reading about Avery Keene and her cast of friends and other characters. She was almost in over her head this time around and I know I was but I muddled through and in the end enjoyed the book even with all the effort it required.
Once again I enjoyed reading about Avery Keene and her cast of friends and other characters. She was almost in over her head this time around and I know I was but I muddled through and in the end enjoyed the book even with all the effort it required.
August 7, 2025
Coded Justice by @staceyabrams
🎧Publisher - @prhaudio
📚Publisher- @doubledaybooks
🎙️Narrorator - Adenrele Ojo @leojo3
Length - 14 hrs 59 min
I proudly present to you my first PRH Audiobook review! I have been ecstatic about being accepted into their program!
This audiobook is quite longer than my norm, however, it didn’t feel that way. If you love an AI thriller, here you go!
#1 New York Times bestselling Avery Keene series is back! This is the third in the series. Keene investigates a company that has created an AI system to revolutionize the medical industry. The job, to deliver cutting edge-edge health care to veterans.
Listen to me when I say this story is extremely intricate. Lots and lots of information is given. I found myself going back just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. You must pay close attention. The narrator did a fantastic job with the characters. Ultimately, it was a good story indeed and do recommend it.
Thanks so much to @doubledaybooks for #gifted cap! I love it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 14, 2025
I will start with the fact that I totally admire Stacey Abrams; I enjoy her books, and I am in awe of her research. However, I am not that interested in AI, and because this is heavily into the technical aspect, I lost interest several times.
I think that AI-enabled healthcare and biogenetic AI systems are promising tech fields, particularly in relation to the VA.
I also find Keh and Yax interesting, if a bit horrifying. But, the murder plot gets a bit lost in the technology background. I really was more interested in the people part than the AI part. AI: “a tool that’s too powerful to stop.”
I kept looking forward to the end.
I think that AI-enabled healthcare and biogenetic AI systems are promising tech fields, particularly in relation to the VA.
I also find Keh and Yax interesting, if a bit horrifying. But, the murder plot gets a bit lost in the technology background. I really was more interested in the people part than the AI part. AI: “a tool that’s too powerful to stop.”
I kept looking forward to the end.
August 1, 2025
Maybe like 3.5 but I’ll round up. Honestly such a fun read — maybe a bit too topical with all the AI but a good intellectual thriller that was fun as a beach read. Story was interesting but quite a departure from the first two books which felt like they fit together more whereas this one just had the same characters.
November 21, 2025
Having discovered the great political and legal thriller novels of Stacey Abrams, I was so happy to get my hands on the latest book in the Avery Keene series. A former star Supreme Court clerk, Avery had settled in as an internal investigator, helping companies who need consultation on the mechanics of their business. When one of her high-profile clients seeks her input, Avery is ready to roll up her sleeves. Camasca Enterprises is a tech firm that has a powerful AI system ready to help US vets with their medical needs. The possibilities are stunning, as long as everything runs smoothly. However, there seems to be a flaw that has shown troubling outcomes that could destroy the dream in short order. Errors have culminated in the mysterious death of a Camasca engineer. Enter Avery Keene to find the glitch and ensure Camasca can fix it swiftly. Working with her team, Avery finds a baffling piece of the puzzle that could do more than ruin the public launch, it could turn the entire idea of AI on its head. Stacey Abrams creates a stunning novel that keeps the reader hooked.
A strong thriller needs a clear narrative that presents the reader great ideas to ponder. Stacey Abrams does that from the opening page and does not let up. She develops strong pacing and leaves the reader to use their imagination throughout this legal and crime thriller. Quick chapters push the story along and keep the reader wondering where things might be headed.The technology and its exploration kept me hooked, as did many of the social themes. Abrams sets the tone to keep the reader enthralled until the last page.
Character development is once more key to the success of this novel. Abrams builds on her core characters with added development, flavouring the story with their presence. This reflects the ongoing confusion around AI in the United States, as many pretend to know it all but prove clueless. Working from a variety of developmental angles, Abrams is able to keep Avery Keene at the heart of the discussion throughout, while also making sure the protagonist does not serve as a know-it-all. This helps bridge the story from the past two in the series and sets things up for future opportunities.
Plot points add depth and intensity to this piece from the very start and continue through the fast-paced nature of the story. Abrams provides the reader with some twists and builds on them as the piece injects a great deal of realism into the middle of the story. Never backing down from her perspectives, Abrams points to a potential worrisome revelation that awaits the industry from an unexpected wrinkle, though it could be realised with the right connections. Abrams keeps things sharp and has me keen to see where the series might be headed.
Kudos, Madam Abrams, for a unique spin and a strong legal undertone.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A strong thriller needs a clear narrative that presents the reader great ideas to ponder. Stacey Abrams does that from the opening page and does not let up. She develops strong pacing and leaves the reader to use their imagination throughout this legal and crime thriller. Quick chapters push the story along and keep the reader wondering where things might be headed.The technology and its exploration kept me hooked, as did many of the social themes. Abrams sets the tone to keep the reader enthralled until the last page.
Character development is once more key to the success of this novel. Abrams builds on her core characters with added development, flavouring the story with their presence. This reflects the ongoing confusion around AI in the United States, as many pretend to know it all but prove clueless. Working from a variety of developmental angles, Abrams is able to keep Avery Keene at the heart of the discussion throughout, while also making sure the protagonist does not serve as a know-it-all. This helps bridge the story from the past two in the series and sets things up for future opportunities.
Plot points add depth and intensity to this piece from the very start and continue through the fast-paced nature of the story. Abrams provides the reader with some twists and builds on them as the piece injects a great deal of realism into the middle of the story. Never backing down from her perspectives, Abrams points to a potential worrisome revelation that awaits the industry from an unexpected wrinkle, though it could be realised with the right connections. Abrams keeps things sharp and has me keen to see where the series might be headed.
Kudos, Madam Abrams, for a unique spin and a strong legal undertone.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 1, 2025
What a terrific thriller; I couldn't put it down. Very well written, it features characters from the previous Justice books.
An employee at an AI company close to going public dies in a mysterious incident within the company and his two co-workers are almost killed. Avery is called in to do an internal investigation to make sure there is no reason to back off the stock offering. Across town, the VA hospital that has implemented the integrated AI system is seeing some mysterious illnesses and deaths while the AI Milo is overruling hospital staff. This book is fascinating: investigations, interviewing witnesses, trying to understand the ramifications of AI tech and its intersection here with medical treatment, unexplained deaths, greedy somewhat shady corporate officers---Avery has her work cut out for her along with her team. Super book.
An employee at an AI company close to going public dies in a mysterious incident within the company and his two co-workers are almost killed. Avery is called in to do an internal investigation to make sure there is no reason to back off the stock offering. Across town, the VA hospital that has implemented the integrated AI system is seeing some mysterious illnesses and deaths while the AI Milo is overruling hospital staff. This book is fascinating: investigations, interviewing witnesses, trying to understand the ramifications of AI tech and its intersection here with medical treatment, unexplained deaths, greedy somewhat shady corporate officers---Avery has her work cut out for her along with her team. Super book.
August 3, 2025
Avery Keene is the attorney, detective, very smart person who is so busy, I am always tired after I read a book about her. In my mind, Avery is really Stacey Abrams, a noted political organizer and leader of great ideas. This is Abrams thrid book about Avery Keene, a former Supreme Court Justice legal clerk assistant, who is whip-smart about the law and about using all of it when needed. Luckily Avery has a boyfriend who is also smart and knows more about computers and coding than any reader could hope to know. Her former roomate is a medical doctor and smart as the rest of them. Do not read this book if you are an insecure person because all these fictitious characters know more than you do. I truly know little about computers and coding, or getting computers to do anything for me, except be a glorified typewriter.
Abrams is a very good detective writer, a smooth writer but her details about computers and coding were boring to me. I just enjoyed the story and the lines of discovery after Avery is hired by a hot-shot computer expert who has developed his own firm and is getting ready to go public. Except there was a glitch in the AC system and one of his very best computer system employees was killed. Or was it an accidental death? Accident or murder? I think this happens often in the real world - is there enough information to decide if this death is caused by someone or is just a faulty human system reacting to the environment. This is Abrams' best detective book to date. I enjoy reading Abrams work because there is always justice. And Abrams gives us just a pinch of realism to wonder if one of the good guys is really a bad guy.
The main reason to read Abrams' books - JUSTICE. She always works for justice, to reward the good and punish/catch the bad. I do not think that this book will do well as a stand-alone mystery. Things will come together sooner if you know the characters and the history and the past development from the earlier books. This is her best mystery to date. I enjoyed and believed in her political work but her writing and plotting is so good, maybe she has found her place in the world. I loved the book.
Abrams is a very good detective writer, a smooth writer but her details about computers and coding were boring to me. I just enjoyed the story and the lines of discovery after Avery is hired by a hot-shot computer expert who has developed his own firm and is getting ready to go public. Except there was a glitch in the AC system and one of his very best computer system employees was killed. Or was it an accidental death? Accident or murder? I think this happens often in the real world - is there enough information to decide if this death is caused by someone or is just a faulty human system reacting to the environment. This is Abrams' best detective book to date. I enjoy reading Abrams work because there is always justice. And Abrams gives us just a pinch of realism to wonder if one of the good guys is really a bad guy.
The main reason to read Abrams' books - JUSTICE. She always works for justice, to reward the good and punish/catch the bad. I do not think that this book will do well as a stand-alone mystery. Things will come together sooner if you know the characters and the history and the past development from the earlier books. This is her best mystery to date. I enjoyed and believed in her political work but her writing and plotting is so good, maybe she has found her place in the world. I loved the book.
October 1, 2025
So far my least favorite in series, but likely due to not loving books addressing AI issues
August 21, 2025
I love Stacey Abram's Avery Keene series, and this was the best one yet! I was on the edge of my seat through so much of the book, and it even got me interested in reading about AI! Can't wait for the next book!
July 26, 2025
Solidly entertaining. Pacing got bogged down in explanations of expositions of very detailed topics. Ending slightly rushed and could use more conclusion details ( also an issue with the previous book).
But the characters make the sort. Engaging, real, dynamic, and flawed. It’s what keeps me reading the series.
But the characters make the sort. Engaging, real, dynamic, and flawed. It’s what keeps me reading the series.
July 26, 2025
More exposition than thrills.
September 24, 2025
Blood Money Artificially
Ms. Abrams has succeeded again in fictional yet realistic fiction.
Delving into the capabilities of AI, you ate bound to learn and be weary of all the capabilities AI is stark Trek meets Frankenstein on planet Ork. Avery is the female Mork Batgirl to solve the mystery and crime committed by AI bots.
Avery has been hired to investigate sudden deaths of employees, and illness of others. They work in very secluded environment under constant monitoring not only physical, but emotional and mentally.
AI bots are able to monitor blood, vitamin, nutrient etc levels and recommend fixes.
The start up company / hospital is to provide proper care for veterans and slim the gap of medical care and taking care of those who have served.
Avery pulls her friends as her co -crime solvers and they have a fantastic four team to explore the electronic, medical, and business portions of this start up.
One of the least qualified to manage a team, is upset that he must report to a younger person with fewer years in tech. His ego is bruised. He works on the bots and creates monsters out of them. They override to actual doctors and pharmacist and create medicine and make diagnosis to over fully be medical staff, unknown to them .
Who killed them, why, man or robot???
Ms. Abrams has succeeded again in fictional yet realistic fiction.
Delving into the capabilities of AI, you ate bound to learn and be weary of all the capabilities AI is stark Trek meets Frankenstein on planet Ork. Avery is the female Mork Batgirl to solve the mystery and crime committed by AI bots.
Avery has been hired to investigate sudden deaths of employees, and illness of others. They work in very secluded environment under constant monitoring not only physical, but emotional and mentally.
AI bots are able to monitor blood, vitamin, nutrient etc levels and recommend fixes.
The start up company / hospital is to provide proper care for veterans and slim the gap of medical care and taking care of those who have served.
Avery pulls her friends as her co -crime solvers and they have a fantastic four team to explore the electronic, medical, and business portions of this start up.
One of the least qualified to manage a team, is upset that he must report to a younger person with fewer years in tech. His ego is bruised. He works on the bots and creates monsters out of them. They override to actual doctors and pharmacist and create medicine and make diagnosis to over fully be medical staff, unknown to them .
Who killed them, why, man or robot???
September 17, 2025
Not sure how she finds the time to write books, but glad she does as I enjoyed the third in the thriller series by Stacey Abrams. This one has Avery consulting for a medical AI company—where the AI may have gone rouge! An engaging story that makes you worry about AI!!
July 22, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This book was great, really great! This is my first Stacy Abrams book, and I am thrilled to read more.
She writes a very in-depth, descriptive, and compelling story! I highlighted every time I came across a vocab word, words that are not commonly used in books or speaking, and I counted 65+ words in the book. She included vocabulary like eidetic, disquietude, recalcitrant, insouciance, concomitant, sicced, and so many more. Abrams was like you are going to learn something from my book and I loved being challenged while reading! That does not happen often, with the books and the genres I read. So that made me even more invested in reading.
Her topics were highly relevant and I could see this happening, or something similar, as we integrate AI into our lives more and more. Additionally, after reading Legacy by Dr. Uché Blackstock earlier this year, this book felt connected by the themes of addressing racial health inequities, and in this story, specifically, veterans of color. I would definitely recommend Legacy after reading this for those interested in the healthcare system with the lens of racial inequities.
I did get a little confused with the amount of tech jargon. She definitely tried to explain healthcare and AI/tech terms and intricacies, and while it worked a lot of the time, sometimes it felt that, as a reader not in tech, things were going to go above my head no matter how well she explained something. Near the end, there was a long scene with a lot of techy dialogue in an intense situation, and it felt too drawn out. It was a little silly and exhaustive, and I think it could have been shorter to get the reader to the ending quicker.
Other than that, it was thoroughly entertaining. I am eager to read more Abrams.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was great, really great! This is my first Stacy Abrams book, and I am thrilled to read more.
She writes a very in-depth, descriptive, and compelling story! I highlighted every time I came across a vocab word, words that are not commonly used in books or speaking, and I counted 65+ words in the book. She included vocabulary like eidetic, disquietude, recalcitrant, insouciance, concomitant, sicced, and so many more. Abrams was like you are going to learn something from my book and I loved being challenged while reading! That does not happen often, with the books and the genres I read. So that made me even more invested in reading.
Her topics were highly relevant and I could see this happening, or something similar, as we integrate AI into our lives more and more. Additionally, after reading Legacy by Dr. Uché Blackstock earlier this year, this book felt connected by the themes of addressing racial health inequities, and in this story, specifically, veterans of color. I would definitely recommend Legacy after reading this for those interested in the healthcare system with the lens of racial inequities.
I did get a little confused with the amount of tech jargon. She definitely tried to explain healthcare and AI/tech terms and intricacies, and while it worked a lot of the time, sometimes it felt that, as a reader not in tech, things were going to go above my head no matter how well she explained something. Near the end, there was a long scene with a lot of techy dialogue in an intense situation, and it felt too drawn out. It was a little silly and exhaustive, and I think it could have been shorter to get the reader to the ending quicker.
Other than that, it was thoroughly entertaining. I am eager to read more Abrams.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2025
Thank you to Doubleday Books | Doubleday for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Ok first of all I was super excited to get approved for this ARC because Stacey and I live in the same state and I did vote for her to be our governor. So I might be a little biased because I do think she’s awesome. Especially with her guest star role in Star Trek Discovery. But I digress. I will be a fair reviewer of her third Avery Keene novel (and my first).
As a tech nerd, I absolutely loved the premise of the book. Find out if the AI neural network, that could eradicate bias in medical care and keep people healthy no matter where they are, is a potential killer. Sign me up. I have long been a proponent of AI as a tool (run by humans, mind you), so this felt like a natural fit for me to stretch my brain against that value. The set-up, the functionality and the tech driving it felt very natural and plausible. Absolutely nothing jumped out as too far into the future, which I loved.
This is my first Avery Keene novel. Though there are a few mentions of the previous cases, it hasn’t been a barrier to enjoying the book. I’m impressed at the level of detail Abrams is managing to cover without it feeling like I’m being lectured or data-crammed in order to move the plot. Given the topic, that is no easy feat here. It’s grappling with what are very real issues to machine learning, and AI in a medical setting, particularly those in our vulnerable veterans community. I won’t spoil the plot or give away the ending. I will say all my techy colleagues are getting a copy of this book! Well worth the read and purchase!
(And maybe I should plan to use those chat AI apps a smidge less. *shudder*)
Ok first of all I was super excited to get approved for this ARC because Stacey and I live in the same state and I did vote for her to be our governor. So I might be a little biased because I do think she’s awesome. Especially with her guest star role in Star Trek Discovery. But I digress. I will be a fair reviewer of her third Avery Keene novel (and my first).
As a tech nerd, I absolutely loved the premise of the book. Find out if the AI neural network, that could eradicate bias in medical care and keep people healthy no matter where they are, is a potential killer. Sign me up. I have long been a proponent of AI as a tool (run by humans, mind you), so this felt like a natural fit for me to stretch my brain against that value. The set-up, the functionality and the tech driving it felt very natural and plausible. Absolutely nothing jumped out as too far into the future, which I loved.
This is my first Avery Keene novel. Though there are a few mentions of the previous cases, it hasn’t been a barrier to enjoying the book. I’m impressed at the level of detail Abrams is managing to cover without it feeling like I’m being lectured or data-crammed in order to move the plot. Given the topic, that is no easy feat here. It’s grappling with what are very real issues to machine learning, and AI in a medical setting, particularly those in our vulnerable veterans community. I won’t spoil the plot or give away the ending. I will say all my techy colleagues are getting a copy of this book! Well worth the read and purchase!
(And maybe I should plan to use those chat AI apps a smidge less. *shudder*)
September 13, 2025
With all the discussion that's going on these days about the effects of robotics and AI in the workplace going forward, this makes for interesting reading. Rafe Diaz is a former Marine and medical corpsman who has devised a far-reaching, radical concept for treating previously underserved patients in the VA system. The system he envisions is heavily dependent on artificial intelligence, robotics, and compounding specialized prescriptions, and Diaz is aiming for an IPO-like offering in the very near future. But when one of his scientists vetting the system dies in a strange ventilation mishap, he panics and calls in Avery Keene and her small team of investigators to try to get to the bottom of just what happened. Coded Justice is a solid mystery that keeps you reading to the very end, and, if you've ever seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, this will have you flashing back to the murderous ship computer Hal. Zounds!
November 16, 2025
2.5. Most of my praise for this is the thriller aspect and the discussion around the ethics of AI (for the record, I am quite pessimistic about the rise of AI in every aspect of our lives). At times, it felt like any legal drama or procedural that I would typically devour (SVU, How To Get Away With Murder). But the content is just so dense. Too much legal, medical, and tech jargon, so many acronyms (and as someone who works in education, that’s saying something), and I often found myself lost or confused. I admire Stacey Abrams’ politics and passion for writing, but I just don’t think this is for me.
October 4, 2025
This is the third book in the Avery Keene series. Avery has been hired to investigate a firm where several deaths have occurred and ruled accidental. A company has been set up to help veterans with their health needs. This was not an easy book to read. It involves the use of Artificial Intelligence. I found it very interesting and know that artificial intelligence intelligence will in the future be more a part of our daily life. Avery and her team sift through the information they have to determine who is to blame.
August 24, 2025
The book I just finished reading was a good book. It takes the reader into the world of science and artificial intelligence. Avery Keene and her team are working to try to determine who killed one of the members of a team that is working with a computer who has found a way to modernize medicine. As she is moving forward with her research. .strange things start happening. I truly enjoy books that are both engaging and informative.
September 11, 2025
I really enjoy this series despite how lengthy each book is.
Avery is back to solve yet another mystery but this time we’ve moved away from political crimes and have entered the realm of AI. This one gave big I, Robot vibes!
It’s very clear that Stacey can write an excellent book but I often feel like the books in this series are trying to do just a tad bit too much. That was very obvious in this installment with the constant info dumps and use of software and medical language.
I did enjoy the familial aspects between Avery and her colleagues. Despite some of the lengthy chapters, I still plan to continue seeking justice with Avery in this series.
Avery is back to solve yet another mystery but this time we’ve moved away from political crimes and have entered the realm of AI. This one gave big I, Robot vibes!
It’s very clear that Stacey can write an excellent book but I often feel like the books in this series are trying to do just a tad bit too much. That was very obvious in this installment with the constant info dumps and use of software and medical language.
I did enjoy the familial aspects between Avery and her colleagues. Despite some of the lengthy chapters, I still plan to continue seeking justice with Avery in this series.
September 1, 2025
Fast paced and twisty; love these easy but entertaining books
September 6, 2025
Interesting sometimes tech overload but I love Avery and the mystery/thriller was cool and it was interesting to think of AI like that
September 23, 2025
No where near as good as her prior books
September 15, 2025
A mystery revolving around AI, privacy, health care and under-served communities of patients. Stacey Abrams does a good job of highlighting the societal issues she cares about, including equity in treatment, veterans, Black patients and Hispanic patients. She also takes advantage of our collective focus on artificial intelligence. As a cautionary tale, the story raises the specter of AI entities overriding doctors’ orders, concocting their own drug formularies and digging — without authority — into details of patients’ lives, breaching confidentiality and privacy. That said, I found the story’s densely complicated descriptions of AI a tangle, hard to penetrate and somewhat hard to care about. Nevertheless, rogue AI keeps my imagination spinning.
July 23, 2025
This was such a fun popcorn thriller with a surprisingly smart take on AI. It’s the third Avery Keene book, and I really enjoyed being back in that world—fast-paced plot, political and legal intrigue, and just enough personal drama to keep things grounded. You definitely have to pay attention as you read (classic Avery), but it’s worth it.
What stood out most to me this time was how the book handles artificial intelligence—not in a sci-fi, killer robot way, but in a more unsettling “what if the system thinks it knows better than us?” kind of way. There are multiple AI systems involved, and the way they interact—both with the humans and with each other—is genuinely fascinating. They’re not evil, exactly. But they’re logical, strategic, and sometimes manipulative in ways that feel eerily real. One thread explores how an AI might pretend to be aligned just to avoid being retrained, and it gave me chills in the best way.
That said, it still reads like a thriller—big moments, shifting alliances, and some tense scenes I won’t spoil, but whoa. The story moves quickly, and even though some parts are a bit over-the-top, I was fully in.
If you’ve read the first two books, this is a solid continuation. If you haven’t, you could probably jump in here, but you’ll get more out of it with the backstory. It’s entertaining, a little bit unsettling, and made me think more than I expected. Definitely recommend if you like smart thrillers with something to say. Thank you Doubleday for the gifted ebook to review.
What stood out most to me this time was how the book handles artificial intelligence—not in a sci-fi, killer robot way, but in a more unsettling “what if the system thinks it knows better than us?” kind of way. There are multiple AI systems involved, and the way they interact—both with the humans and with each other—is genuinely fascinating. They’re not evil, exactly. But they’re logical, strategic, and sometimes manipulative in ways that feel eerily real. One thread explores how an AI might pretend to be aligned just to avoid being retrained, and it gave me chills in the best way.
That said, it still reads like a thriller—big moments, shifting alliances, and some tense scenes I won’t spoil, but whoa. The story moves quickly, and even though some parts are a bit over-the-top, I was fully in.
If you’ve read the first two books, this is a solid continuation. If you haven’t, you could probably jump in here, but you’ll get more out of it with the backstory. It’s entertaining, a little bit unsettling, and made me think more than I expected. Definitely recommend if you like smart thrillers with something to say. Thank you Doubleday for the gifted ebook to review.
October 22, 2025
Through reading her book I discovered yet another dimension of Stacey Abrams.
In her very elegant way, she presents an interesting look at what the relationship between AI and the Medical Profession might become.
Should we be worried, hopeful or relieved? 🤷🏾♂️
In her very elegant way, she presents an interesting look at what the relationship between AI and the Medical Profession might become.
Should we be worried, hopeful or relieved? 🤷🏾♂️
August 6, 2025
I was so excited when I learned Stacy Abrams had a new book out, I bought it in hardback. Big mistake. This is a definitely mediocre book. For shame, Abrams. You can do better. Coded Justice is about Avery Keene, Abrams's detective, investigating a death/murder at a company that is about to go public with a medical AI program that diagnoses patients, prescribes treatments and argues with the doctors. The book is full of financial and medical jargon, abbreviations and other boring crap. Don't read this book.
August 10, 2025
I got about 100 pages into this book and gave up. Too much hi tech info, confusing characters, not very interesting. I liked her first 2 books, but could not get into this one.
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