⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

This was an enjoyable book, chapters alternating different time periods and different characters points of view.

However the characters are mainly unlikeable or annoying and the book didn’t get going for me until about 55%.

The big secret reveal was a tad underwhelming and I am really sorry but I didn’t like the abrupt ending.

Overall an average but readable book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. A great look at different view points of a scandal. It is intelligently written and very topical. Unfortunately, shortly after I finished reading this book, personal circumstances meant that I was unable to write a full length review.

Anatomy of a Scandal will be published on the 23rd of January 2018 and is a highly anticipated read!

I awarded four stars as it personally took me a while to get into but from chapter seven onwards it started to get good. This story focuses on the upper-class oxford university graduates/students in a rape case. Each chapter is told through the different main characters the story involves and is set out well. However, the story does flick between 1992/93 while they are in university and 2016/17 which is present time, but the author has set it out plainly so the reader does not become confused.

Anatomy of a Scandal is written well, starts off slow paced but is easy to read with plenty of reference to literature within the book, some may be familiar. There is more than one side to this story… Who do you believe? I am glad I got the chance to read this story and would highly recommend you all pre order or add to your list for next year.

A really good book. The subject is really current. Is James guilty? How well does Sophie know her husband. A carefully thought out and well put together story. I read this book in one sitting. I had to know the answers.

One the surface, Anatomy of a Scandal is a riveting courtroom drama about a high profile rape trial. A Tory minister is on trial, accused of raping a member of his staff in a lift in the Houses of Parliament. Kate, the lead barrister for the Crown is convinced he is guilty, and she is willing to do everything in her considerable power to see this darling boy of the British establishment brought down for his brutish entitlement. But James’ wife, Sophie is convinced he is innocent; her husband is simply not capable of anything so heinous as rape.

To begin with, we see the unfolding scandal through the eyes of these three characters. This cleverly places the reader is slightly ahead of the howling press pack who are keen to throw new unsavoury tidbits to the news cycle every day. Our privileged position lets us know that there are plenty more secrets to be detonated here, going back two decades to when several of the main protagonists (including the Prime Minister) were at Oxford together.

It was fascinating to see how, as the growing scandal spread like an oil slick, drawing in more and more people who themselves had absolutely nothing to do with the immediate crime in question, but were nevertheless party to information which could radically affect the outcome of the trial if only the jury were to hear it. So one of the many driving tensions of the novel is this question of what will, and what won’t, end up in the public domain, and therefore in the court.

The trial itself is exquisitely handled. Initially I assumed the author must be a barrister herself, as the descriptions and insights reminded me of that other courtroom masterpiece, Presumed Innocent and that feeling of being given an access-all-areas pass to places most of us will never get to go.

I loathe spoilers, so will not say anything more about the trial, just that as it plays out, the narrative cuts back and forth in time to Oxford and an elaborate web of secrets and betrayals. What is particularly fascinating about this is how it shine a giant torchlight onto how societal views of what is and isn’t acceptable in terms of personal conduct have, thankfully, undergone such a radical change in a short space of time.

This is a novel not just about the difference between the haves and have nots, or natural justice vs legal justice, but what it really means to be of good character, and how no matter how far we grow or how many times we reinvent ourselves there are always tells which follow us, facial tics, or turns of phrase that give us away. Perhaps one of the rawest truths here is how this scandal points up that, somehow, we are always still who we used to be. In this regard I was particularly blown away by the observations of one character’s mother in the final third of the novel.

As has already been said elsewhere, Anatomy of a Scandal is almost spookily of its time. But if I had to choose the one thing I loved most about it, it’s how the author resisted any temptation to just jump on the PC bandwagon here and hector us with obvious lessons about how we *should* feel about consent, but rather acknowledged we live in a world of moral ambiguity. This is a story which tested me in lots of ways. It’s uncomfortable, for example, to be reading about things you could so easily see yourself doing for a friend while at the same time knowing how wrong it is.

How it didn’t just jump on the PC bandwagon…When it was easier to go along than say no…when men knew that too…

In these most welcome times of greater understanding about consent, when the correct answer to ‘Don’t be a prick tease’ is ‘Don’t be a rapist’, it is also worth remembering how we weren’t always so clear minded about helping ourselves. As the women in this novel are brave enough to acknowledge, there are times when just going along with it seemed easier than saying no. #MeToo

There is a lot more I could say about this novel. But since it will be one of the most read, and most talked about, books of 2018, I’ll keep some back for then!

With thanks to the publisher for letting me see an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan
What an amazingly gripping novel Sarah Vaughan has written in Anatomy of a Scandal! I found myself totally caught up in this pyschological drama and found it impossible to put down.
This absorbing, tensely constructed story tackles an important area of modern life and gives a dramatic and clear insight into the workings of the adversarial British trial system, showing how justice is not always achieved.
The voices of the two main female characters, Sophie and Kate, are skillfully interwoven to heighten the tension surrounding their lives, both during their time as undergraduates at Oxford and later during the trial of Sophie’s MP husband and fellow Oxford graduate, James.
Anatomy of a Scandal examines the devastating and destructive effect of a charismatic, narcissistic man on the lives of three women and gives great insights into the thoughts, motivation and feelings of the main characters. It should be required reading for everyone with an interest in interplay of men and women from different social classes and the psychology of people’s sense of privilege and entitlement.

Anatomy of a Scandal hooked me in from the start and I was utterly engrossed and entertained. The topic is so relevant, as in the news more politicians and famous people are being uncovered for sex scandals.

The book is pacy as well as well written, with some wonderful descriptions and great characters. You got the sense of who each character is, and through flashbacks, find out how they had become the people they are. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The court case was so tense and atmospheric - so absorbing.
Being hyper-critical, I would have like to see a bit more of a conclusion/wrapping up at the end, however I suspect everyone who reads a book will have an opinion at how it ends...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the book.

This has to be one of the best books I have read this year. Tightly structured, the characters recognisable, the plot impying rather than telling...it unfolds in a fascinating and credible way. Truth versus convenience; truth versus not-quite-truth; what is right versus what suits the occasion...all collide in this compelling narrative.

Wow what a page turner this book was. I read this within a day as I really couldn’t put it down, wanting to find out what exactly had been going on. As soon as I started reading this I could see everything that was happening in my mind’s eye. The characters all felt like real people and I could unfortunately imagine the whole scenario playing out in real life.

I really liked Kate the lawyer. I loved the fact that she wanted to find out the truth and to bring about justice for her clients. I really didn’t like James and his privileged background, I wouldn’t have made a fair juror at all that’s for sure. Sophie was okay, although at times she really annoyed me.

There was a very clever twist in this book that I didn’t see coming, as it slowly crept up on me. Sarah Vaughan is definitely an author I’ll be reading again in the future.

This book has made me realise that I do enjoy a courtroom drama, and I would recommend this for readers who enjoy this genre.

What a read! Gripping, tense, clever, thought provoking. I was hooked - it is so well written!

There was a twist hinted to throughout the book and I guessed it wrong - love it when this happens. Will definitely be recommending to others.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and to Sarah Vaughan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely brilliant read. Anatomy of a Scandal had me gripped right from the start, and it didn't let up. Fast-paced, intelligent and intriguing.

This is a gripping and compulsive read - I found it hard to put down. It’s told from several points of view: Kate, a barrister prosecuting a man accused of rape; James, the accused and a high profile politician; Sophie, his wife; and Holly, a young woman who was Sophie’s tutorial partner at Oxford. The book jumps back and forth between the present day and their time at Oxford, and at first it’s not clear what the link could be. But as the story begins to fall into place, dark secrets are revealed. The book is clever and sharp, and deftly examines the politics of privilege, the devastating impact of sexual assault and how hard it is for survivors to come forward. It also focuses on the power of female friendships and the strength of women.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley.

Sophie has the seemingly perfect life, a loving yet occasionally emotionall absent husband and two wonderful children. When Sophie’s husband James is accused of a serious crime, and as James is a public figure, their lives are sent into turmoil. Sophie believes her husband is innocent yet the prosecutor Kate is convinced he is guilty. I found myself rushing through this book as its so well written and a pleasure to read. The subject matter and views concerning it are so relevant to the current times, I think that its about time we talk about these issues and will definitely be discussing this book with others.

A fast paced book covering rape allegations and trial. Kate, the prosecution barrister is certain the perpetrator James is guilty. Is this just on the evidence before her, or is there history there? Perhaps James is not quite what he seems, and his past emerges.This is fast paced, with lots of twists that keep you guessing, a great read.

Superb book, one of the best I have read in 2017. Nuanced, layered writing, with beautifully drawn characters. The storyline is very topical, draws the reader in, and doesn't let go. One of those books that you keep thinking about for days after. Don't hesitate, get it however you can.

This book focuses on a court case of a charming politician accused of rape and the different perspectives and view points. It sounds serious but is gripping and a great read!

This is one of the best books that I’ve ever read. It’s intelligent, well written and gripping.
You really feel for all the characters and it’s believable too.
I cannot wait for her next book!

What a book! This novel twists and turns through a multi-person narrative which layers the plot in a stylish and compelling way. Sarah Vaughan has approached a difficult subject matter with aplomb and hasn't shied away from tackling it head on. I really enjoyed the time jump between modern day and 1990s Oxford University and the nods to political deal makers and power players. The characters were expertly drawn and I loved that they were multi-faceted - it would have been easy to have created wholly villainous or angelic protagonists. I predict that this will be one of the books of 2018 and i'll be posting a review on my blog, Amazon and Goodreads on publication day. I'll also be shouting about it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Thank you so much for the ARC, it was a gripping read.

I had high expectations for this book given the other reviews but unfortunately for me I felt this did not deliver. I found it quite confusing and muddled with too much unnecessary descriptive information. I did however think the main storyline was good and unique and it was well written

This book is not actually published until January, but such has been the success of the pre-publication promo and of word-of-mouth for it, I’ve no doubt that it will be a success. However, whilst I can clearly see its subject matter is timely and relevant, I found the writing itself more mixed.

The story is set around a rape. One of the government’s junior ministers (and a close friend of the PM), James Whitehouse, is accused of raping one of his researchers, Olivia. However, James is a married man with a history of infidelity and it transpires that he was having an affair with Olivia, which he was keeping from his wife, Sophie. And the accusation of rape only came after he had finished his affair.

So, is James lying? Did he rape his former lover? Or is this one of those rare cases of a woman alleging rape as a means of revenge?

Certainly, that is the challenge facing Kate, the talented barrister who is given this case to prosecute. She is a woman who has built her fearsome reputation on prosecuting men for rape and sexual assault, committed as she is to getting justice for women. She believes Olivia. But can she convince the jury too as there are holes in the prosecution?

So, as you can tell, hugely timely. Weaving in themes of rape, male privilege, believing women, and the corruption at the highest levels of power, so much here ties in with the news and current wider discussions in society. Add to that the author Sarah Vaughan blends in a subplot set in the past, where James and the PM were members of the Libertines (read, The Bullingdon Club) an exclusive all-male club at Oxford University with a fearsome reputation for indulgence, abuse, and boisterous rituals, and it’s all very much on the money.

What I really liked about this book was the decision to tell the story – both the present timeline and the subplot set in the past (two stories which, of course, converge) – from the point of view of the women. The story is told completely from Sophie and Kate’s point of view. We get to experience the agonies of the wife and the battles of the barrister up close and personal. And I loved that decision; an undeniable huge plus.

What I struggled with were parts of the writing. I’m rather surprised to see so many five-star reviews (though I’m always pleased to hear people enjoy books). The book is mostly internal monologues, the two central characters wrestling with their agonies – and these do go on. Every single thought or possible fear is examined out in immense detail, and that does slow the book down and you do find yourself glazing over a bit.

I also found the author’s desire to describe all details of a character and a setting in minute detail frustrating. Each character’s hair and eye colour are given – even peripheral characters – and settings are described extensively (there’s one particular stand out example of the sky being described as mango sorbet colour with raspberry ripple waves, shot through with caramel, which is a bit much.) This enthusiasm for too much detail actually pushes the reader out as it prevents us engaging through our imagination – we are not encouraged to think and be drawn in; everything is told to us.

But, like I said, I’ve no doubt this will be a success. It’s an engaging read on a timely subject. A strong piece of commercial fiction.