This book was a fascinating look at the British political and court systems. It had twists and turns that kept me enthralled long into the night. I couldn't put it down!

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan from publisher Simon & Schuster in return for providing feedback in the form of a review. I might otherwise have missed out on a terrific novel by an author unknown to me if if weren't for NetGalley. And that would have been a shame. I don't generally read legal thrillers, but I was intrigued by the topic of Anatomy of a Scandal, acquaintance rape.

The story revolves around three main characters: James, a member of Parliament and close friend of the British PM; Sophie, James' wife and mother of his two children; and Kate, the lawyer (barrister) prosecuting James in a case of rape of a close associate with whom he had an affair. I was completely engrossed by the story, the character study, and the moral questions raised. The case is one of "he said, she said" and a jury's ability to determine where the truth lies. Further it is a story of one man's moral ambiguity and his wife ability to suss out the true nature of James's character. How well does she really know her husband, and what has she refused to see? The novel alternates between the present and the past, when James and Sophie were students at Cambridge.

Sarah Vaughan apparently came to writing later in life, and I'm glad she found her path. She is an excellent writer, and I look forward to more from her. I highly recommend Anatomy of a Scandal.

"What must it be like to know that, however you err, you will always be forgiven? For your charm to be so intrinsic, so overwhelming, that you know you can rely on it entirely..."
There is a power struggle going on here, the struggle between truth and lies, between forgiveness and revenge, and ultimately that for justice. Anatomy of a Scandal takes apart the lives of its characters, melding them together to craft a brilliant plot. A charming political figure whose behavior has always danced the line, but just how far does he cross? His wife, a lovely girl in her youth, but who has changed and accommodated her husband to the point of losing herself. A barrister who has long lost herself due to the "....pain and self loathing...violated by that act, diminished, reduced, irrevocably altered,..." and who is trying to ultimately save herself.
Vaughan's descriptions are so rich and detailed to the point that you know these people so well, you could slip into their skin and become them each. The depth of emotion that she conveys reaches your soul, as you feel you're experiencing the heart ache, joy, guilt, sadness and arrogance along with these players. Finally, the story itself will have you reeling in surprise and awe, as the unraveling of the truth, with the assassination of the half truths and those that are "near enough", finally come to life. Brilliant.

After reading the first chapter, I knew this book had me hooked. Sarah cleverly unfolds the story through each chapter by using dates and characters. One chapter after another the suspense builds in each character, until the end.

What do you do when something that happens in the present brings up questions and doubts and a secret from the past? At first glance this is a story about a powerful man shaping the truth to fit his version of events. But at its heart it is the story of women and the choices they make to be happy and ultimately survive as they question what is really important and what is their truth.

I loved this book. I thought the perspective of all the characters was beautifully conveyed. It was psychological mystery intertwined with real events as they occurred and events as they were remembered twenty years ago. Always amazing how the same circumstances are viewed so differently. Great book!!

This engrossing, masterfully crafted thriller is a story of money, abuse of power, revenge, and the pursuit of justice. The author, Sarah Vaughan, spent eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent before she began writing fiction. This story feels like it has been ripped from the headlines.

The characters in this book are developed nicely. The main characters are given extra attention and discussion as the reader encounters flashbacks to the college years. The chapters transition between the characters, interspersed with the flashbacks, as the information revealed becomes relevant. There is a huge plot twist about halfway through the book where we learn how the pieces to the puzzled plot fit together. Ghosts of the past are revealed and the suspense ratchets up dramatically.

The trial itself is a classic he said, she said. It will be fought in court, debated in the press, and ultimately left to the jury to decide. However, the actual storyline here goes much, much deeper than that. Allegations of prosecutorial misconduct surface as more ghosts from the past are uncovered. Each character plays an integral part as the story weaves together. The build-up to the conclusion is slow and, while not exactly shocking, leaves the reader fulfilled and satisfied.

I recommend this book to fans of thrillers, suspense, and courtroom dramas. I received this as a free ARC from Emily Bestler Books/Atria Books, Simon & Schuster on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Without a doubt, one of my favorite reads of 2017. I found myself recommending it to someone when I was only halfway through. I knew (and was right) that it would be a 5 star read.

Anatomy of a Scandal is an intense book that grips you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. There were a few particularly powerful moments when I had to close the book and just absorb what I read, but all that did was compel me to read more. This is a wonderfully and brilliantly written novel.

Anatomy of a Scandal reads like something straight of a newspaper. It's relevancy is astounding and perhaps even slightly scary. This is a gripping and realistic look at the line between consensual sex and rape. It's also a heartbreaking look at how these truths define our lives.

Absolutely recommended. I will certainly be looking forward to reading more from Sarah Vaughan in the future.

This book is a dark drama about a British politician accused of sexual assault, his past, the impact on his marriage, the trial, and the aftermath. It is told from the perspectives of the politician, his wife, and the prosecutor, using both third and first-person points of view. Set primarily in present day, it also flashes back to the main characters’ college years. While the plot is focused on the politician, the psychological and emotional elements are relayed through the stories of his wife and the prosecutor.

Due to the nature of the alleged crime, the subject matter is heavy and at times difficult to read. I thought the author handled it well, covering most of the detailed descriptions through clinical courtroom dialogue and internal reflections of the characters. I learned a lot about the British system of justice and trial proceedings, and assimilated a variety of new legal terms previously unfamiliar to me.

This book is a page-turner. The main characters are well-developed, and enough detail is provided for me to relate to their points of view, while the secondary characters appeared to be primarily used as plot devices. Aside from a few over-used words, and some unfamiliarity with British terminology, I found it a compelling read. It’s not for everyone, as some won’t be able to handle the harsh subject matter, but I think it will do well when released (it’s due out in December 2017).

Recommended to readers of courtroom dramas or mysteries with a few unexpected twists. As a warning, this book contains triggers for language, infidelity, and rape. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for feedback and review.

Anatomy of a Scandal is a very appropriate title for Sarah Vaughan's book. James, a public figure in the British Parliament is accused of rape. His wife of many years, Sophie cannot believe that her husband is capable of such an act. Kate is the prosecutor during the trial tries to present evidence and the victim's testimony proving that the rape happened. Who is right? The book is presented by the different protagonists 's point of view and to understand what's happening now, it goes back more than 20 years to James's wild college years at Oxford. Once both sides of the arguments are presented, it is up to the jury to make a decision. In a he said, she said situation, the jury has a tough job and they do the best they can.
The author really analyzes what happened and why and that's why I think the title is very well chosen. There is a lot of surprises, and plot twists, especially in the second half of the book . I finished the second half in one sleepless night. I liked the book, overall 3.5-4 stars. I had some trouble with the British abbreviations and axioms, although I was familiar with some of the terms. It might be helpful for the American audience to have a glossary at the end of the book. (QC, Welles, trainers, etc.)
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author Sarah Vaughan for the advanced copy.

Sophie has never thought of her husband as a liar. She knows he dissembles, yes. That’s part of his job- a willingness to be economical with the truth.

James is quite good at it, playing with the truth. He is charming, handsome, successful, intelligent, a good father, everything that makes him the man people want for their own, or to be! But he is about to plummet from the heights he has attained, accused of a crime, threatening the good life that he and his wife Sophie share. Just how much can privilege protect you from? Could he be a rapist? Are there worse things he has done?

Kate is the prosecuting lawyer, and this case means more to her than simply a win. She is carrying the burden of her own past, weighted with secrets, hungry to see justice served. In her mind, James must be taken down at all costs. Sophie must be blind, or is she? Is James the man he projects out in the world? Could their every intimacy have been lies all this time? Could his life be so secretive that she wouldn’t have noticed the fault lines? What about the betrayals he admits to? Is it just something the wife of such a man should accept? Just because he is guilty of deceiving her, doesn’t mean he could be so brutal as he is accused of being? Every marriage has it’s difficulties, all wives carry their small hurts, and James is so much more than most women are lucky to have. Of course another woman wants to take it away, is out to get him!

How can a moment in Oxford, and a young girls life left devastated by what happened crash into Sophie’s present? The past has it’s hooks in Sophie’s marriage, but will the right person be punished? Who do you believe? Why? What goes on in a marriage can extend outside the bedroom when you invite others in. Power can be protection and a target, as James is about to learn- success comes at a price.

This is about loyalty and love, just how much do we forgive, and should we stand by our spouse regardless of the accusations? It’s about the expectations in a marriage, the things we dismiss that should be confronted. It’s about the abuses of power, the things the elite get away with and how. It’s about life altering moments that create people who seek justice, and how it colors their judgement for better or worse. It’s getting away with things, but the truth always lurks waiting for the perfect moment to rise. The line of sexual encounters is thin, how easy it is to cross what is permitted. In the end, it’s all perspective and one choice comes with ruinous consequences. But for James, is it one big mistake, or many terrible choices that led to this moment? Engaging and provocative.

Publication Date: December 5, 2017

Atria Books

The summary got me and the story kept me. This was a taut story with a he said/she said between former lovers scandal and was also the story of a marriage, friendship, class, privilege and the intersection of the court of public opinion and the actual court. I liked that we got all the sides of the story from the characters point of view. Any time a book gets me talking back to it, I'm invested and I was completely in on this one In addition, there were some characters that we got to know in their past and present. I found I had varying sympathies for some characters depending on the time in the story and that felt just like life. I can't say that the resolutions are surprising but they were well done.

I'd definitely read another by the author. Recommended for the vacationers & staycationers.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for my unbiased thoughts & opinions.

Very well written and perfectly paced. I look forward to reading more by this author. I just couldn't put it down!

This book was both authentic and believable. In many ways, it reminded me of living in England during the 1990s. where class and privilege are alive and well. For me, the characters, the writing and the plot all worked together to deliver a winning read. This is not a book for teens because of the dark and deprsssing nature of the story.

This story just got better and better. I loved it! It asks the question how well do you really know the person you are married to. When Sophie's husband, James, is accused of a terrible crime she is convinced he is innocent. Along comes Kate, a lawyer, who believes he is guilty. As you read this story, the author just draws the reader in as she shares the connection between all of these characters. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Atria Books and Sarah Vaughan for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful novel.

This is a very well-written character-driven novel. It goes to the heart of what we each define as the truth and how well we know those closest to us.

James is a ranked member of the House of Commons and the Prime Minister is his best friend from school. He is also attractive, has the perfect wife and 2 children. All is well until James is accused of rape. How much do those factors influence juries?

Sophia, his wife, can't believe that her husband would ever be capable of rape. However, she is devastated by the news of his affair with the coworker who is now accusing him. Kate is the prosecutor bent on making sure that James pays for his crime.

Told in alternate points of view between Sophia and Kate, as well as different timelines, a gripping story comes out that leads us to question the line between consensual sex and rape, the definition of truth, how much our backgrounds influence our behavior.

This would be a great book club book with lots to dissect!

This book is a page turner. The only difficult part is trying to keep the characters and time frame straight as she goes from character to character. First you have Holly A.K.A. Kate who was so destroyed by her past that she could only survive by changing her name as well as her entire persona. Then you have Sophie who successfully lives her life as the good wife and mother she was bred to be. We then come to James who has gotten through life by being in a group that is basically a rich boy club who survive life unscathed by their actions. The characters intertwine and you eventually watch their story with the help of Ali who is Kate's best friend from college, and the only person that she can have a successful relationship with. After you get past the challenge of discerning which chapter has which person at what time frame, the story will pull you in to the very end. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a good plot.

Review: ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL by Sarah Vaughn

This debut novel by Sarah Vaughn is hard-hitting and fascinating as it unfolds the interconnected lives of three women and one man , in present-day London, and early 1990's Oxford University. The author was formerly a Guardian reporter, and is herself an Oxford graduate. The title encapsulates a London court trial, the accused a junior minister and life-long friend of the current Prime Minister. A theme of this novel is entitlement: the perception of certain individuals and classes of invulnerablity, that they can "do no wrong," or rather that whatever they do is not wrong. Morality, public opinion, ethics, need not apply.

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a thought-provoking novel, one not readily forgotten.

I received a copy of Anatomy of a Scandal through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to Atria Books and Sarah Vaughan for the opportunity.

A married man of privilege and politics is accused of sexual assault. The book is about actions and consequences and all that is left in its wake in the “he said, she said” situation. Told in alternating perspectives of multiple characters such as the prosecuting attorney, the accused, the wife of the accused – the reader gets an inside peek at the British justice system and into the lives of public servants. If you are the wife of the accused, would you believe everything that “he said”?

I wanted more focus on Sophie, the wife of the accused rapist. She is the one that most readers will identify with the most. She unwaveringly stayed by her husband’s side regardless of his infidelity and relationship with a colleague. She put aside her hurt, anger, and grief for her family. She focused on supporting her husband through his criminal trial and put aside everything to be by her man. She maintained her grace and dignity while hearing lurid details about her husband’s affair, and despite all of this, she supports him which many women would not be able to do.

This is not the kind of book that I normally read, and I don’t know if I would have selected it if I had known the full plot, but it held my attention steadily and the last 25% of the book was fast paced.

This book has been compared to the Secret History and I see the resemblances. It blends modern day courtroom drama with a strong character backstory.

If you are a fan of Scott Turow or John Grisham, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you for the ARC!

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

2017

Received as ARC from publishers via NetGalley for review.

What constitutes a scandal? Usually, there are several conflicting views of the same story. What makes one person a more reliable source than another? In this novel, the actions of an Oxford educated politician in Britain's Parliament are being scrutinized. James was raised in a wealthy privileged family which fostered his perception of accountability. Consequently, he has to defend himself against a prosecutor with a big chip on her shoulder. The prosecutor, Kate, had struggled to be a successful barrister defending innocent victims despite her unfortunate past. The story unfolds through alternating POV including, Sophie, the dedicated spouse of James. Like James, Sophie was raised with opportunities and wealth which jaded her view of reality.

This is a well written book which raises questions regarding how well do we truly know other people including those closest to us? There are many layers and opinions regarding a truth that might otherwise seem obvious. I don't like giving spoilers so I will just add that often even the truth isn't necessarily the true story. It is interesting how different people can experience the same situation yet arrive at a completely different and opposing conclusion.

I enjoyed the suspense and well developed characters. Like most scandalous stories there will always be people who strive to seek the truth at any cost. Sometimes, these people can be admired or criticized for their cunning approach in the sake of the truth.