The book is a really good read but I now want to see Jodie Comer perform this. No doubt she was brilliant in it as she is in everything.

Tessa is a barrister who has not come from the same privileged background of her peers but has worked hard to get where she is. The story is an interesting view into the legal system and covers the difficult subject of a sexual assault charge and how this affects the victims when it comes to court.

A powerful story and one I won't easily forget.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the DRC

Prima Facie is a powerful and important novel that I raced through, at times filled with dread anticipating what was to come.
Tessa Ensler is a junior barrister, Cambridge educated and working class she’s spent years trying to prove herself in a male dominated, moneyed world. Tessa has always believed in the power of the law but when she is raped after a date with a colleague she experiences how the justice system works against women
This was an intense and emotional read, told from Tessa’s point of view and moving from present day to the past when Tessa starts at Cambridge university. Tessa’s voice is authentic and I found the legal insights fascinating. I finished the novel feeling angry but also hopeful knowing that women like Tessa will continue to speak out.
Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Prima Facie has been on my radar ever since I became aware the theatre production, of the same name, was to be performed by Jodie Comer (Killing Ever fame). Unfortunately, I never got a chance to watch the show but the reception had been massive and I was expecting the same from this novel adaptation.

Prima Facie is the story of Tessa Ensler, an up and coming criminal defence barrister, with a natural flair for strategising the case in the best interests of her clients, she is confident and formidable in the courtroom and respected amongst her peers, considered worthy competition. This is the face Tessa wears professionally, she works hard because she has had to due to her socio-economic background. Born in a working-class family, she was awarded a full scholarship to read law at Cambridge University which has given rise to this prominent identity today that she wears with pride. Tessa strongly believes in the criminal justice system, defendants are innocent until proven guilty. The barrister's job is simply to tell the best version of the story. The aim is never to undermine, but if the stats don't stack up....the narrative will fail on it's own. Tessa plays by the rules, until she finds herself testing the system again, now as a rape victim. Will justice be served?

The stats on rape convictions is not new news, "one in three" women will suffer sexual assault in their lifetime but less are reported and even less result in successful convictions. Suzie Miller presents a chilling, powerful narrative, turning the tale on it's head - with a striking insight into the workings of the legal system and how it is flawed when it comes to proving a lack of consent. Why is it automatically assumed that consent was given? Why is the victim is subjected to proving and evidencing what they did or did not do, to counter this "assumption"? For rape victims, reliving this before a jury is a punishment itself, but to then to be questioned by a well-experienced barrister whose role is to cast aspersions on your truth, a jury's job is to ultimately decide whether they believe you or not - and god forbid, they don't, where is the justice? Something is clearly not right and change is warranted.

By telling the story through Tessa, the reader witnesses this whole ordeal through Tessa's eyes, how society perceives her before and after, how Tessa struggles to challenge a system, despite her profession and a career in defending these very crimes is still not enough to help her separate her emotions from legal instincts. What hope would common individuals have who have no previous dealings with the law.
I was choked at so many points, stumped for words at the injustice and this one will definitely stay with me for a long time. The writer establishes a balance between the law and a highly emotive story which will resonate with many women, in particular, but male allies who are needed to change a historically white-cis male dominant industry, where a women's version of the truth was never meant to be accepted. The fact that rape in marital relationships was not recognised as a crime until 1991 in English law speaks for itself. I loved supporting characters, Tessa's family, Adam and Mia are true gems.

This was a gripping, thought-provoking read, exceptionally well-written and a book I will always recommend. Thank you for writing this one Suzie.

Thank you to NetGalley and especially Random House UK, Cornerstone for the arc in exchange for an honest unedited review.

𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮…. 𝓛𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽, 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓮𝓯𝓽….

𝓡𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮

A really powerful statistic after reading this book. Tessa is a criminal law defence barrister who is exceptionally good at her job. She is a normal working class individual who was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study at Cambridge. She is brilliant!

This book has been fascinating, it has been hard in places but Miller has executed this perfectly. We get snippets of law, a glimpse into Tessa both before and after the event which changed her life.

This is a great look into the courtroom and one which really hooked my interest. There are some interactions which give the reader specifics around law. The assault itself is brutal and terrifying. Miller has exposed an experience of many women in this one. Tessa does report this and eventually has to face her attacker in court.

This is insightful and incredibly powerful. There has been no part of this that has disappointed. The courtroom shows us a no holds barred approach which really shines a light on the specifics of these cases.

I was completely caught up in this as I read these scenes. Miller has really shown how ineffective the law is in providing justice in these cases. As a reader, we get to know Tessa before and after. We are able to see the change as this progresses.

This book is brilliant! Emotive and gripping. I was pulled in instantly and devoured this book in just hours. I literally have nothing negative I can say about this gem.

This is a book I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since I finished. I absolutely recommend this book to everyone.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A powerful story about rape and sexual assault and the justice system.

Tessa has made her way from her working class background into a successful chambers. She has found the world of law difficult to adapt to but her performances in court are proving her to be a clever and successful barrister.

But a sexual encounter with a colleague thrusts Tessa into the other side of the justice system. Her sense of self and her confidence in the law are thrown into disarray.

The story benefits from showing Tessa’s passion for the law and her motivations before her world is turned upside down. The nepotism and sense of privilege amongst those at the height of the profession are also clearly displayed.

Tessa’s growing doubts about the efficacy of the legal system are encapsulated in a moving and erudite speech in court. The finale reflects the grim reality for the majority of rape victims but offers a glimmer of hope for change.

I'd meant to go see Jodie Comer on stage, and then Jodie Comer in the recorded version of the National Theatre, and then finally I ended up reading this book instead.

The first half of this book is very slow, at times almost boring. The second half of this book is fantastic; intriguing but also heartbreaking. I loved the behind the scenes of the legal system, the inside look at cross examination and defense work. The writing in both parts sometimes felt a bit script-like in how descriptive some of the scenes were, like instructions to a cast, rather than a story, so I found myself imaging some of the scenes on a stage. I'll definitely go watch the movie now.

My main qualm with the story was the inconsistency in Tessa's belief system. Tessa comes from a lower class family, and her brother has had run ins with the law. She is well aware of classism, sexism, and the ways both have affected her and her community. However, she is somehow still commited to the idea that the law is fair, and that it will find "the truth". "The system is bigger than just whoever has the money and power", "I have to believe that the system of law works both for true victims and for those wrongly accused", "Have faith in the system finding the truth". Prima Facie takes place in our current age. Racism, sexism, classism are still very much alive. Bias and discrimination affect policing, lawyers, judges and juries. It makes absolutely no sense that Tessa is not aware of this. She even says at some point "the belief that when you do the right thing, have good representation, and tell the truth, then all the discrete moving parts of the legal system will come together, and justice will be served." Having good representation is entirely dependent on economic privilege. Considering that Tessa attended Cambridge on a scholarship and that her brother had been arrested as a minor, and was living with the consequences well into his thirties, this naivete is absurd.

So why the four stars? Because Prima Facie tells a story about something that should not happen, but in reality happens every single day to women all over the world, and it does it very well. It's a manifesto that every man and every woman should read. It should be taught in schools until the day it transfers over to the fantasy section of the library. We are currently heading in the exact opposite direction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Cornerstone for the e-arc!

This novel adaptation of the stage play of the same name is a necessary, visceral unravelling of the justice system and the ways in which it fails victims of sexual assault. Tessa Ensler, criminal defence lawyer, is authentic and believable in every situation that Miller expertly writes her into, and following her story as the law that she has fought so hard for fails her is as gut-wrenching as it is eye-opening.

Some of the scenes in this book, particularly the assault itself, are graphic and uncomfortable, but they needed to be. Miller does not shy away from the gravity of the topics she discusses in Prima Facie, and we follow Tessa through every step of her journey, from the time before her assault when Tessa knew success and trusted the justice system, right through her trial.

The writing here is powerful and vivid, and Prima Facie is a book that I will be recommending to as many people as possible. For those who missed the stage play, trust that this is a wonderful adaptation that is thought-provoking and visceral in its own right; for those who saw the play, trust that this is still absolutely worth the read and will bring something different to the character work of those within the story.

Overall, this will go down as one of my favourite books of all time. The duality of Tessa Ensler as both lawyer and victim, and her assaulter as both lawyer and perpetrator, perfectly illustrates the shortcomings of the justice system, and I’m so glad that this story is here and highlighting these issues.

From the very first page, I was immersed into a world of intrigue, courtroom drama, and moral dilemmas that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. A tenacious young attorney, navigates through the complexities of the legal system while facing personal and professional challenges. The portrayal of the legal world felt authentic and well-researched, adding depth and credibility to the narrative. The writing is crisp, engaging, and filled with suspense, making it difficult to put the book down.
"Prima Facie" tackles thought-provoking themes such as justice, morality, and the pursuit of truth, prompting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values.
In conclusion, "Prima Facie" is an outstanding legal thriller that excels in every aspect – from its compelling storyline and well-developed characters to its insightful exploration of complex themes.

"One in three is a lot of women who have something to say. Too many to ignore."

TW: Sexual violence

Tessa Ensler is a top criminal defence barrister, working hard to free her clients, including those accused of rape or sexual assault. After all, everyone deserves to have their story heard. That is how the system works. That is what makes the system fair. Or so she thought.

When Tessa is raped, she doesn't know whether to report the crime or try and carry on with her life. Ultimately, she decides, she cannot let her attacker do the same to another woman, and she goes to the police. But from the moment she opens a case, she realises the system is not there to help victims: it only serves to re-traumatise and vilify them. Now, she has to fight the very system she helped build.

Wow, what an intense and difficult read. This book, based on a Tony and Olivier Award-winning play, had me in tears at times. Tessa is initially hard to sympathise with. I admired her ambition but she came across as someone who blindly believed in justice for all, even when the system is so rigged, particularly against women. But you can't help but feel proud of her immense strength, in pursuing her attacker, in being a survivor. It takes a lot of courage to stand up under the kind of awful scrutiny a system designed by men places women, who have been sexually assaulted, under. It wasn't easy reading about the rape and yet I feel like the author treated Tessa with the utmost care and respect while undergoing her ordeal.

I did feel like I could tell this was based on a play that was later fleshed out to become a book and not the other way around. The first half of the book spends a lot of time just focusing on the British legal system, how Tessa navigates it and what her beliefs are. I wanted to delve deeper into her relationships with others, to understand her more, and while we get a lot about her background, it didn't help achieve these things for me.

A powerful, important and prescient read.

Prima Facie is a sucker punch of a novel.

I think we have all seen the adverts for the play starring the amazing Jodie Comer. Here is the novel for those who, like me, did not manage to get to see it and oh wow does it land.

The novel was a bit of a game of two halves. I found that I struggled with the first half but I think it was because I knew something big was about to happen and I was chomping at the bit to get there. Once I was fully there I was invested and I couldn't put it down.

Prima Facie is a searing look at the shocking system of how we view victims of sexual assault and how archaic impressions leave a victim feeling like they are on trial and guilty of committing a crime that has been perpetrated on them. It was harrowing at times but mostly it is important!

I fully recommend this novel. Go buy a copy now.

Prima Facie by Suzie Miller is available now.

For more information regarding Suzie Miller (@SuzieMillerWrtr) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Random House (@penguinrandom) please visit their Twitter page.

I had high hopes for this book, but I feel it does not translate well from being a play to becoming a novel. The premise sounds intriguing, but the dialogue, where there is dialogue, is unnatural and stilted. I just could not get on with the style of writing, sadly.
Another reviewer said that the book changes from one star to five star around the 50% point. That may well be the case, but I’ve read to 35% and very little of interest has happened.
I much prefer to read a book which interests me from the first page, and continues to hold my attention through to the end, even if it may be a slow- burn progression. This book did not do that. A disappointing DNF for me, unfortunately.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Definitely a book of two halves with the second half being a great improvement on the first half. So I can only think that the author got a great plot idea but had no clue how to get going with it. So whilst I do think the story redeemed itself I’m imagining a number of readers might well simply give up!

This is one of the best books I've ever read, beautifully written and a painfully honest look at the english justice system

I absolutely loved this. I saw the play in the cinema a couple of years ago, and Jodie Comer was fantastic, so I was curious to see how that translated to a novel.
The novel was just as powerful, just as compelling as the play. Especially in the second half, I could not put it down.

Tessa is a criminal defence barrister, who is from a working class background and has, despite all the odds, become one of the best of her generation amongst "thoroughbreds" - people from a background of wealth and influence. She navigates life in a world where there aren't many people like her, and is an incredibly powerful, intelligent and loveable character. In her work, she regularly defends people accused of sexual assault crimes, and knows exactly how to cross-examine witnesses to win the case. But then, when she is suddenly on the other side, in the witness box herself, she sees her assumptions of the legal justice system crumbling around her.

A hugely important and emotional book that I'd recommend to everyone (with the TW: sexual assault and r*pe)

I'm most frequently asked to recommend a really good pageturner and Prima Facie (a legal term derived from the Latin, meaning "on the face of it") very much meets that brief (pardon the legal pun). It's a slow-burn thriller, social commentary and courtroom drama that will get readers talking.

Starting off life as an award-winning play in the West End and then Broadway, playwright and author Suzie Miller turned the play into a novel. It takes a knotty subject - the brutally low conviction rates for rape - and turns into a powerful story that will hit the reader between the eyes. It delves into the legal world in London, a patriarchal system in which rape victims have to be made feel terrible under cross-examination in order to have any chance of securing a conviction against their rapist.

Tessa Ensler is a working class, Cambridge-educated junior counsel working in criminal defence. She has a room in chambers, a plentiful supply of work and has carved out a reputation for herself as one of the best young barristers in her field. Tessa believes in the law and the justice system but everything that she upholds as true and just is obliterated when she is the victim of rape.

In a story that unfolds slowly (it only really gets going halfway through the book) but then rapidly becomes unputdownable, Miller has written a play (and now a book) that has already had an impact on how rape cases are heard and prosecuted in the UK. In Northern Ireland, a judge has put in place a system where all judges have to watch the filmed play before they're able to sit on a rape case. UK courts have to tell the jury that just because the complainant doesn't deliver their evidence in a neat parcel, it doesn't mean they're lying.

As a lawyer myself, I felt the story perhaps took a little too long to get going, focusing on the minutiae of day to day life as a barrister, but it does help to build a picture for the reader of the arcane structures in place and what women are up against. I also think non-lawyer readers will enjoy this insight. A brilliant book that I'm so glad to have read and would highly recommend. 4.5/5 stars

*Many thanks to @hutchheinemann for the arc via @Netgalley. Prima Facie was published this week. As always, this is an honest review.

Prima Facie the novel by Suzie Miller

Publisher: Hutchinson Heineman

Isbn:1529153646

It is estimated that 1 in 3 women have suffered sexual assault and that very few report to the police and of those brave enough to do so a small percentage make it to court and many are unsuccessful in getting a prosecution.

A phenomenal, gripping and exhausting read, this novel hooks you from the beginning. Having seen the play, a one woman tour de force from Jodie Cromer, I was excited to see how Suzie Miller could expand it into a full length novel. I was not disappointed. It is beautifully written, honest and detailed in its insight into how the law can fail women. Told from the point of view of talented rising star, succesful defence barrister, Tessa, we see how even someone with all the knowledge of how the justice system works, when confronted with male privilege, women are disadvantaged from the start. Tessa is really proud of her success and the story begins describing the clever techniques she uses to discredit the testimony of a rape victim. Then something happens to her which completely changes the way she views the way the system operates.

This is an essential read for all women, and for those involved in policing and the law.



Many thanks to Suzie Miller and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this beautifully written book.



Lynne Collinson

‘Prima Facie’ by Suzie Miller is a superb novel version of their smash hit play (seen on both the west end and Broadway).

The novel form is still as gutwrenching as the play, highlighting the mistreatment of sexual assault victim by the police and society and tells the story of Tessa, a barrister who faces her own trial of seeking justice for her own rape.

The novel form, allows for more of a fleshed out backstory of Tessa, which I felt was a superb addition to the story. It’s a story which will stay with you.

This was a compelling and thought provoking read which examines a subject that is not often discussed. How the law treats women who are raped, who accuse a man of sexually assaulting them. In a legal system devised by men, women who are victims, are questioned in court as if they are the guilty ones whilst their attackers are free not to stand up at all.
This is the story of Tess, a defence barrister who has managed to achieve great things, despite her humble background. A law degree from Cambridge and a position as a Barrister in a London chambers are her proudest achievements.
However when she is raped by a colleague she is completely broken, She decides to take him to court and puts her trust in a legal system she believes in.
This was a well written and highly charged book. I really liked Tess and felt immense sympathy for her. She was truly courageous in her endeavour to get justice and as the tension built during the court case and the cross examination I really wasn’t sure how it would go.
The author knew an awful lot about the criminal justice system and the way cases are conducted in court which leant a real legitimacy and power to the plot.
The entitlement shown by other barristers including her attacker was startling but only too believable.
Of course at the end of the day it was her word against his and it boiled down to whom the jury believed.
“Prima Facie” was an excellent read but also a real page turner which really made me think even after I had turned the final page. It will certainly stay with me long after I have finished it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

What a powerful, heartbreaking, emotional and thought provoking story.

Tessa Ensler is a brilliant barrister who’s forged her career in criminal defence through sheer determination. Since her days at Cambridge, she’s carefully disguised her working class roots in a male-dominated world where who you know is just as important as what you know. Driven by her belief in the right to a fair trial and a taste for victory, there’s nothing Tessa loves more than the thrill of getting her clients acquitted. It seems like Tessa has made it when she is approached for a new job and nominated for the most prestigious award in her field. But when a date with a charismatic colleague goes horribly wrong, Tessa finds that the rules she’s always played by might not protect her, forcing her to question everything she’s ever believed in….

It’s brilliantly written, a real page turner, I couldn’t put it down. It’s told in a before and after narrative, through Tessa’s own words.
All the characters feel so real, the way they are described you can become immersed in their life’s.
A really enjoyable, if very difficult at times, read. It definitely didn’t disappoint.
Highly recommend.
With thanks to #NetGallery @RandomHouseUK @Cornerstone for an arc of #PrimaFacie in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 14 March 2024.

This is the novel adaptation of the author’s award winning play of the same name. I haven’t seen or read the play so I went into this with no pre conceived ideas and I was blown away by what I read.

It is an intimate yet powerful story which lays bare the treatment and perception of female sexual assault victims by the UK legal system and by society.

In the first half of the novel, Suzie Miller presents to us a legal system that is entrenched in tradition, history and privilege and describes the difficult journey working class women like Tessa face, trying to find their place in such an esteemed institution.

Tessa wants to make a difference, she believes in what she does, she is proud to be a part of the justice system but then the events of one night spin everything and we soon realise that the ‘traditions’ and ‘practices’ which Tessa revelled in are actually archaic and outdated as she finds herself fighting against them.

Suzie Miller does a brilliant job of presenting the varying opinions and views which surround sexual assault cases, you find yourself questioning your own views and considering how you would react. We all like to think we would do ‘the right thing’ but as this story shows it’s often not that black and white, especially when the odds are stacked overwhelming against the victim.

This is a really important and powerful story that needs to be shared, it needs to be used to spark conversations and discussions. I can’t recommend it enough.