Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughn is a 2018 Atria/Emily Bestler Books Publication.

Timely, with a few very intriguing twists!

When the Junior Member of England, James Whitehouse, is caught out in an affair, it looks as though he will weather the storm, both professionally and personally- until his mistress, Olivia, comes forward with an accusation of rape.

Kate, a prosecutor/barrister believes James is guilty as sin. But, his wife, Sophie, despite enduring the humiliation of his affair, doesn’t think her husband is capable of sexual assault. She plays the part of the supportive politician's wife- a cliche if there ever was one, going along with James' management team, saying and doing what was expected of her, while she denies the lie her life has become.

During the investigation and subsequent trial, Sophie, Kate, and James all reveal their inner thoughts, revealing their innermost secrets, some of which are explosive, dangerous, and raise many questions about ethics, about the rape culture, the way the courts handle rape cases. It examines the mindset of the elite and entitled, the nature of politics, and the rationalizations people make, the lies they tell to maintain a way of life they are accustomed to, or to have a taste of power. It also examines gray areas of human nature, which can make the reader think- "What would I do in that situation?"

The story grabbed my attention right away, although the story moved in a predictable fashion, at least in the beginning. But, then a very, very, unique twist develops along the way, which puts a fresh spin on a familiar plot. This revelation creates a suspenseful situation that had me holding my breath, sitting on the edge of my seat. I love courtroom dramas and am always especially interested in the court systems outside the US, so I found the trial segments of great interest, as well.

Usually I’m not a big fanof multiple POV novels, but in this case, it was quite effective and really gave readers deep insight into the characters moral code, the lines they draw in the sand and the ones they are willing to cross- for revenge or for justice.

I thought this book was thought provoking, and of course, it’s very timely and emotional topic. The pacing drags in some places, but other than that, the book is polished, well- constructed, with a unique style and presentation. Legal thrillers have been too few and far between for a long time, so it’s good to find one that well and truly fits into that category!

4 stars

Smart, compelling, and at times, uncomfortably real. I'm glad I read this. It was really interesting to piece together the different parts of the story, and how each character knew each other. I would gladly recommend this to others.

Captivating, clever and current. I really enjoyed Anatomy of a Scandal. Wonderful characters and many interesting twist and turns. The plot was built up in an easy to follow way, making this book feel fast and intriguing. Thank you NetGalley for this e-reader copy for my review. All opinions are my own.

This is a very prescient novel and also a very good read! It’s about Sophie, a woman whose husband James has been accused of rape. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute him. It’s a novel where you don’t know who’s telling the truth until later on so are seeing the story unfold trying to decide who the victim is. It’s a very believable novel and one for our times! It’s a gripping, emotionally resonant novel and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This certainly is a timely subject and I looked forward to reading this book. I was a bit disappointed as I read the book, as I found it hard to connect to the characters and also felt the pacing was off. Just “okay” for me.

There were a few things that almost turn this novel in a DNF. Although I love the different perspectives from the characters, it was hard to tell who was who at times. Also, the pacing shifted so many times, went from a nice fast and intriguing pace to wordy and boring a few times. Unfortunely, this one wasn't for me but maybe I’m on the minority side here who knows!

James Whitehouse grew up an only child in a privileged home. He is smart, handsome and feels entitled. When he sexually assaults he is unaware how his actions affect others. So he gets away with it. Or does he? It's all how you define what you have to lose.

I particularly interested in Holly's story.but was disappointed in Kate's prosecution skills

Didn't love this book honestly. I never really felt connected to any of the characters or their actions. No one felt in the right here, but the story will keep you guessing.

The subject matter of this book is timely in the age of #MeToo and I enjoyed it from that angle. I struggled with the characters:. James was completely unlikable throughout the story with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever. I had little respect for Sophie, as she knew exactly what she was getting into when she married James. I wasn’t particularly keen on Kate, either, so there wasn’t much going for me in terms of characters.

I liked the plot line and the resolution of the case, and didn’t mind the conclusion. What I didn’t like what how I figured out the “twist”, although maybe the careless throwaway was cleaned up in the final copy; I also thought the author made weird comments based around androgyny that seemed unnecessary.

This is an interesting procedural thriller, but surprisingly lacking in emotion. I found it difficult to feel any sort of empathy for any of the characters, and the overall tone of the novel is quite cold. The author is a capable writer, but I found myself wishing for more depth of feeling.

Sophie and James have a picture perfect marriage. He is a politician, she is a homemaker and mother to their two children. His career is rising fast, especially since he is close friends with the prime minister, a fellow Oxford classmate.



One night James comes home and admits to having had an affair with a young woman who worked in government with him. This is bad in and of itself, but even worse, the woman is now accusing him of rape.



Sophie's world is suddenly torn apart. She is distraught over the affair but horrified and humiliated over the rape charges. James will now have to stand trial, subjecting their family to further scrutiny. She believes James is innocent of rape.



Prosecutor Kate is sure he is guilty and will do everything in her power to make him pay for his crime.



But who is right? And who is Holly, a young woman from their Oxford years, who has her own story to tell, set during their time at school? How does she fit into James' life and how will her story impact his trial in the present time?



"Anatomy of a Scandal" was a riveting novel about the implosion of a marriage. I was left wondering if you ever truly know another person, no matter how much time you spend with them. Kate and Sophie were fascinating characters, both shaped by events in their past.



I tore through this novel and highly recommend it. It isn't really a thriller as it's marketed to be, but it's a total page turner that I couldn't put down.

I DNF'ed this book because it was really heavy in British law and I have no interest in that at all.

Anatomy of A Scandal is the story of four people. James is a privileged, charismatic, successful member of Parliment and is accused of raping his mistress. Sophie is devoted and devastated wife, they have been together since University and she feels his betrayal deeply, but she is not willing to throw away their relationship - yet. Olivia is the "other woman" who told James "no" in the lift (elevator) and now is on trial just as much as James. There are many who believe that she is just a scorned woman seeking revenge. And Kate is the woman prosecuting him for rape. She has her own history that she is trying to not let it cloud her judgment and efforts in this case. But, make no mistake. She believes that James is guilty of rape. In fact, she knows he is. The trial is a sensational one and is all over the media. Will James get away with rape or will justice be served? And how will the verdict change the lives of all of those involved?

I don't think that a more timely novel has ever been written. An Anatomy of a Scandal is a book about privilege and power. I actually read this book in November when the headlines were full of sexual harassment and misbehavior by men of power in all sorts of high profile industries. Now it is January and the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements are going strong. James is an arrogant man who believes that no woman would want to resist his advances. I immediately disliked him and that dislike grew into hate throughout the book. His wife, Sophie, is quite likable, but I found myself questioning her own strength when she allowed her husband to get away with such bad behavior in their marriage. The book is told from alternating viewpoints with alternating timelines. As more of the past is revealed it is even more clear that James is a douchebag. He doesn't believe that he has done wrong - ever. I thought that the end was going to be disappointing - but there is a redeeming twist that made it all worth it. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS

Bottom Line - Sarah Vaughan has written a story that could have been ripped from the headlines. An Anatomy of A Scandal exposes sexual assault for being more than just a moment in isolation. It is a culmination of behaviors and attitudes leading up to that moment and involves more than just the victim and the assaulter. An Anatomy of A Assault is a very well written book but should come with a warning that some readers might find the subject matter to be difficult to read.

Details:
An Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan
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Pages: 400
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: 1/20/2018
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2/5 not my typical read. I wish the characters were more developed and the story line was a little quicker.

RATING: 3.5 STARS
​(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY​)​
(Review Not on Blog)

I liked that this one was set in Britain and we got to see the British law at work. I initially rated this book 3.5 stars rounded up, but then changed my mind as I started to write this review. I finished this book without forcing myself so I wanted to give it a higher rating. Then when I think about what I liked about it (only the sound of crickets...just kidding, mostly) I don't really come up with many reasons. I found that the alternating storyline gave away a lot of the story, and the predictability of the ending left me frustrated. I did like the plot and the what the author was going for. I would try another novel by Vaughn..

I jut loved it , so well written and had me gripped..Brilliant what more can you say !

Not quite what I was expecting but overall an enjoyable read. A bit repetitive at times and long on description, I felt like it could have been a hundred pages shorter. The two different storylines around James felt separate not related .

Well written thought provoking. Living in US these days is tough so it was fun to read about somewhere else and what they deal with!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

An interesting and well crafted read that maintained my interest for the entirety of the book. The characters are well-developed and interesting. It is a court room drama that raises issues about sexual misconduct that are very pertinent right now. What is consent? What is a lie? It examines men in power who alter the truth to serve their best interest. It examines women and their weaknesses and strengths. It is an absorbing read that leaves lots to consider even after it has been read.

This book is more than just an edge-of-your-seat legal drama about a high profile sex scandal; it's also a look at trauma and the long lasting effects of sexual assault. Sarah Vaughan balances a quick-paced suspenseful plot with commentary on rape culture and legal "gray areas". This is a dark book, and it may be triggering for some readers, but overall it handles very tough subject matter in a respectful and productive way. With the #metoo movement bringing sexual harassment and assault to light, this book is a timely and moving story.