I was not able to complete this book - I feel horrible that I couldn't finish it, but without a connection to the story, the characters I could not move forward.

I was so confused with both the British legal system (solicitors vs. barristers, both defending and accusing, etc) and the political systems (parties, levels, customs, rules) that my head exploded over these things. Compound that with the first chapter from James' POV and you have one unsympathetic reader how hopes he gets the book thrown at him.

This debut is slow and somewhat predictable. The only “twist” takes place halfway through the novel and doesn’t really make up for the sluggish pace of the story. It delves somewhat superficially into the lives and thoughts of the characters but not enough to really make us invested in them. It is not a bad novel but I had hoped for better.

With all the recent publicity about sexual abuse and harassment, this story could be taken from one of todays’ headlines. The main characters are James, a politician and Sophie, his wife. As the details of her husbands infidelity becomes clearer, Sophie stands by him at first, and then begins to wonder how much of what James said is true; has he been lying all along and hiding other occurrences of sexual abuse from her.

The author portrays Sophie’s decline from a high-profile, perfect wife to a woman who is starting to drink and pull away from the husband she is losing faith in. On the other hand, she struggles with breaking up a marriage that includes young children.

The book is filled with detailed sexual situations and rape. It is a huge part of the plot. Some of the scenes are unsettling, and at times this is definitely not an easy book to read. But then again, it’s not easy to see all the current headlines either.

Thanks to Net Galley & Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Brilliant story, was hooked from chapter one and hating leaving this book down.
Sophie wants to believe in her husband, she has always loved him, James is handsome, fit from his college years rowing and a politician. He has lived a privileged life. The have 2 children and Sophie,s life is perfect until her husband arries home late from work and drops bombshell. He had been having an affair with one of his young assistants. The story when it breaks is big, but is Sophie thinks things couldn’t get any worse, she is mistaken.
Olivia her husbands young mistress is accusing her charismatic handsome lover of rape.
The gripping court room drama iunfolds, Kate, the barrister prosecuting should ethically have passed on this case as James is known to her from her term at Oxford. Who will the jury believe. It’s James word against that of Olivia his former mistress.
A fast paced read and the story keeps the reader intrigued right to the end.

This was well executed, though I got frustrated at some of the hapless behavior exhibited by the women in this book, but I did think the overall story worked really well.

Sophie has done and been all the right things in her life: pretty and popular in college, athletic, well-liked and dating the most handsome future husband, James. They’ve created the perfect family in the perfect home; she’s a stay-at-home mom while he’s a well-respected Tory Junior Minister. All is not as it appears, though, and Sophie’s time of pretending to be oblivious to the cracks and faults in their foundation is drawing near.
James has been accused of rape by his former mistress. He willingly admits the months-long affair but insists the events the evening of the rape were consensual. The lead prosecutor, Kate Woodcroft, a London barrister, reacts unusually when given the case and it’s not for quite a ways into the circumstances before we realize the full picture.
Flashing back to their privileged college days in Oxford where Sophie is dating James, who is a member of the societal club aptly named “The Libertines” (one who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters), we are introduced to the friends of each. But there’s something more to James’ friend and enabler Tom and Sophie’s friend and enabler Holly.
While reviewing the facts of the “so-called rape”, you begin to question if it’s a false claim made by a jilted lover. But as you’re allowed the brief glimpses into the earlier Oxford days of their youth, you begin to question the innocence of not only James but Sophie too. You will not be able to look away as the train slowly crashes.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for making it available.)

This book was just not my cup of tea and I was not able to finish it. Thank you for this opportunity, though!

Sophie is the wife of a high profile politician who has been accused of rape. When does belief in him turn to doubt?
I usually like character driven books but I found it very slow going in the first half of the book while the author was setting up the story. The story alternates between the present and the college years in 1993 and it was early in this that I could see the direction of the story. The court room scenes move quickly and are compelling but I think I have come to the conclusion that as a reader, I much prefer ‘police procedurals’ rather than ‘court room dramas/legal thrillers’.
While this book was a good read, I wasn’t enamoured with it as I had hoped to be.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.

An Anatomy of a Scandal is a gripping story that transcends the typical he said, she said scenario. Sarah Vaughan has created a story that exposes the effect traumatic situations have to change some and expose others. By changing point of view the reader gets the unique experience of seeing all sides of the story. I enjoyed the the mild twist and reveal, but mainly the intense court room scenes and complex characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review. This book was excellent. The story felt like nonfiction told from a fictional point of view. It was about a scandal in London's House of Commons. A politician who is childhood friends with the prime minister is accused of rape by someone that he was having an affair with. It is told from his point of view (although only briefly), his wife's and the prosecuting attorney's. There are also some other guest POVs that are added to flesh out the story. Can someone be too rich and influential to ever really get punished for a crime? I definitely read the book quickly to find out the answer to that and to see if everyone could work through their individual issues.

A high 4 stars!

So incredibly timely... Sarah Vaughan may have been prescient when she decided to write Anatomy of a Scandal, but this book sure resonates with the MeToo surge of focus on sexual assault and harassment, especially involving men abusing positions of power.

But no one should be deterred from reading this one for fear that it's an easy attempt to cash in on a hot topic or for fear that it's violent or graphically exploitative of the topic. On the contrary... Vaughan took care in writing this well crafted story. Part of the story takes place at Oxford in the mid 1990s and part of it takes place today in London. It's not really a mystery or a thriller, but there are elements best discovered as you read, so I don't want to say too much about the story. But I will say that it focuses on the triangular dynamics between a very privileged man, his protective wife and the women he sees as being at his disposal. The dynamics are depicted as they existed in the 1990s and again as they are replicated today. Vaughan gets into everyone's head, not making excuses but exploring the arrogance and denial that come with privilege, and the twisted guilt and uncertainty that can come with being a victim. Vaughan is a strong engaging writer. Highly recommended, and again there's no need to worry about graphic violence. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

WOAH. This book was a rush. I flew through it and I can tell this is one that will stick with me for a while. Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan is set in London and follows a cast of characters, Sophie, James, Kate, Holly, and Alison. After owning up to an affair, prominent government worker James gets accused of rape and must face trial for his supposed actions. Told in both present day and flashbacks, the reader soon realizes that there are more ties that bind this group together than originally thought, and that everyone is not always who they seem to be.

This novel deals very heavily with sexual assault and rape. As this is a prominent topic in our society today, I think this book is both timely and necessary. Revealing how deeply a rape can impact an individual, how celebrity and prominence can play a role in prosecution, and how easily someone's guilt can be questioned, it speaks to the deep set issues that for many years our society has ignored that are finally coming to light.

While this was a tough topic to swallow, I loved everything about this book. I loved the characters, especially Kate. The plot was fast moving and interesting, and even though there were flashbacks it was very easy to piece together. The ending was so satisfying as well, even if it isn't what you initially expect it will be, and there are a few plot twists along the way that keep you engaged. Each character's section was the perfect length, enough to let you know what was happening and what they were thinking but not too long to get bored of them before moving on, and I really enjoyed Vaughan's detailed yet simple writing style.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A huge thanks to Atria and Goodreads for allowing me early access to an ecopy of this fantastic read.

When Sarah Vaughan began writing Anatomy of a Scandal and Atria Books decided to publish it, they had no idea they would be releasing a book about a conservative politician accused of rape smack in the middle of the #MeToo moment/movement. When Sophie’s husband James confesses to an affair with a subordinate named Olivia, she forgives him. When Olivia accuses him of raping her, Sophie stands by him. But she begins to question their relationship, how could she not?

Kate is the barrister prosecuting the case. She is single-minded and driven to win. She is an all-work woman except for the few hours she spends with her best friend, Ali who was her best friend in college.

The story jumps back to those college days often, following the main characters during the course of one year. The viewpoint switches from the barrister Kate, her friend Ali, a first-year college student named Holly, whose study partner was Sophie, and even James himself. The narrative follows the trial as well as that decisive year in college. Kate and Sophie are very clearly the core of the story, connected in ways that are never acknowledged.



The pace of Anatomy of a Scandal moves quickly and it is engrossing. There’s close attention to the realities of a trial and the finer points of law that make it very difficult to win a conviction. The most impressive part of the book is how Sophie gradually realizes James common statements such as “women don’t know what they want” and others reveal a misogyny she had never recognized, her recognition that she has allowed him to erase her individuality, her self. Sophie is incredibly believable, a loving wife who wants to hold her family together and slowing waking up. Kate is more one-dimensional, a driven woman haunted by a painful past.

The weakness of Anatomy of a Scandal is its association of rape with desire, not power. This leads to the tried and true blaming women for being raped. This is realistic, women do blame themselves. I expected Kate to be more careful and aware of rape being about power and violence, not about lust and desire.

I received an e-galley of Anatomy of a Scandal from the publisher through NetGalley.

Anatomy of a Scandal from Simon & Schuster/Atria Books
Sarah Vaughan author site

The title of this one is right on the money. Anatomy of a Scandal describes the book perfectly. A high-ranking member of Parliament, James, has an affair with his researcher, Olivia. Once James ends the affair, Olivia accuses him of rape. His wife, Sophie, must deal with her own feelings about the accusation. Olivia's attorney, Kate, is determined to make the allegations stick, not only for Olivia - Kate has her own motive. James' past comes back to haunt him.

This is an intensive, in-depth dissection of this case from various characters points of view. All are affected by this trial differently. The story takes place in the past as well as the present, and the author seamlessly transitions between the periods. There is some suspense, but not a lot of action. This novel focuses mostly on the feelings of the various characters - and does it well.

I enjoyed the book, even though at times it was a little slow. With the accusations of sexual harassment splashed across the headlines recently, this book is very timely.

Thanks to Sarah Vaughan and Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cleverly written mystery from the beginning. It kept me turning pages.

Sophie's husband James is a good father, handsome husband and a public figure who is accused of a heinous crime. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute him. Kate thinks he's guilty, but Sophie doesn't. Or does she and she's afraid to admit that to herself.

Lots and lots of things going on here. My one issue was I had a hard time liking Sophie. To me she was lacking common sense. She was an Oxford grad, but after meeting James she become clingy and dependent. I really didn't like her. All I all I liked the book, but would have liked a more independent character.

Thank"s NetGalley for sending the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story that is told from the perspective of several characters and across different timelines.  The trial of a Junior minister, James, for the rape of a colleague, but it is a tricky case as they had an affair that had recently ended.  We are introduced to Kate the Prosecuting Barrister, Sophie who is James's wife, and a few others, but these are the main ones.  

This is at times a hard read as there are sexual references made.  Also at times I thought a little slow and repetitive at times as the story progresses.  But; that being said,  I really enjoyed the different story  lines, they have been well developed and intertwined around the various characters.  They give an insightful read showing how they have changed over the years, why their opinions, demeanour and outlook on life is what it is.  But like most people they have skeletons in their closets, and these are now about to see the light of day, and they are going to have repercussions.

I really liked the character of Kate, by far my favourite one.  She has a strong persona but underneath is vulnerable and emotional.  Sophie felt like a real sap, over the years she has lost her identity, then there is James, what a slime-ball of a man.  Kate has a different background to the other two so I think this is why I liked her, a black sheep of sorts in the social ranks of Oxford University.

I would recommend this book to readers of Courtroom Drama, Women's Fiction with elements of suspense.  I will add that there are sexual references that may offend some readers.

Unfortunately, Anatomy of a Scandal was a huge disappointment for me. While I typically enjoy courtroom dramas, this one did not hold my attention the way others have in the past.

There are (2) main issues of why this one was a letdown. The first is there were too many descriptive details for my liking. I understand that Vaughn was using this technique for character development, but it didn’t work for me. I found myself skim reading through much of the book to actually get to the “meat & potatoes” of the story.

The second is that I pretty much had the story figured out. It could be that I read too much in this genre, but it was glaringly obvious (to me) what the connections were. Once my suspecions were confirmed, I no longer had any interest in the story and had to really force myself to finish.

The other (minor) issue I had was with the characters themselves. They were all so cliché. The hardened lawyer, the handsome playboy and the happy to look the other way so long as it doesn’t disrupt my life, wife. I love to see characters that catch me off guard, but Kate, James & Sophie were simply just like the rest.

I understand that I am in a huge minority in my assessment and enjoyment of this book, so if you do enjoy courtroom dramas, you still may want to give this one a go. Finally, I DID finish the book, so there was definitely a level of enjoyment on my part or else I would have DNF’ed it. But all in all, it just wasn’t for me.

Very entertaining as several people from an Oxford College play out their life today, all involved with each other without even knowing it. There are those who believe they are invincible, rich. egotistical men and women who are able to wing their way through life believing their own versions of anything that 'happened'. .There is the person standing behind her husband when the word rape is brought before the court, even as she remembers other questionable 'moments' in time. There are the people things happen to, one unable to be rid of the memory and one trying to get justice for what was done to her.
These characters are very well-developed as we let in layer by layer until there stands the person they have become today. The storyline is excellent, weaving seamlessly between time, an intriguing story of revenge, hope and heartache.
I thank Netgalley, author Sarah Vaughn and publisher Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a copy of the arc of this wonderful story, from which I give my honest review.

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a very timely novel with a front page, above-the-fold sexual harassment told in a thoughtful and clear manner. It’s a book that’s thoroughly engaging: filled with the mysteries of human nature bundled in some tawdry wrapping revealed by legal wrangling and then hidden by upper class privilege. But was it just sexual harassment or was it actually rape, between the British elected official and his employee, who may or may not have ended their affair? The fair-haired elected official is a long-time friend of the prime minister and is quickly rising himself in politics. He seems never to have had a bad day in his life. But as we have come to learn in our own public sphere, accusations such as these, rarely come in single form. As the inevitable trial progresses, his dutiful wife reflects on their life together and starts to detect a pattern she finds increasingly uncomfortable. Will she stuff these thoughts back down, and live with the denial that has served her since their college years? The book is a fascinating exploration of these issues and a grand mystery as well. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This story fits it’s title. ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL takes place in the UK. It is about a Junior Minister who is being accused of raping a young parliamentary researcher that he works closely with. This story includes points of view from the wife of the accused, the prosecutor of the accused, and the accused himself.

ANATOMY OF A SCADAL explores how well we really know people. At what point can consent for sex be revoked? What is excusable behavior? This novel explores all these topics within a character driven plot.

First of all, I want to talk about how cool it was for me, an American, to see into what a British courtroom looks like. I loved the costumes and the language. It was just interesting to see how different, and the similar, the courtrooms and players are in the UK. The hierarchy of power is still there but goes by different names. Instead of a president, we have a prime minister. The junior prime is the prime ministers right hand man. This probably seems silly, but most of the courtroom dramas I have read have taken place in America courts.

This story starts with the prosecutor’s POV. Kate Woodcroft is a barrister for the queen’s court. She has climbed the ranks in her field and is one of the most respected prosecutors. She works with domestic and sexual assaults almost exclusively. We don’t find out why until we get to know Kate a little bit better. Kate is convinced of James’ guilt and puts her career on the line to prove it.

James Whitehouse is an egotistical politician working closely with the prime minister. The prime minister just happens to be his best friend. James has a short affair that ends with his mistress accusing him of rape. He has worked hard to be where he is and has a lot to lose. His wife Sarah will probably forgive him this indiscretion, but will his career survive this?

Sophie met her husband, James, at Oxford. He was a bit of a player in school and it wasn’t until they reconnected years later that they fell in love and married. Their marriage consists of 2 children. Sophie is the perfect politician’s wife. She is smart but not outspoken. She believes in her husband’s innocence even if he had a short affair. Surely this is something they can work out as long as James can prove his innocence.

This story, although it contains a lot of drama and some courtroom action, is very character driven. Each of these characters is dragged through this scandal and has something to gain or lose from it. This story includes flashbacks that give more of a backstory to each character. There were more than a few shocking revelations in this story. I think the author handled the recreation of the incident without spoon feeding the intention behind it to the reader. I enjoyed the story and felt justice was served.

My only real issue with this book was the abrupt ending. I didn’t see this book ending like that. I also kind of feel that courtroom drama is an acquired taste. You either like it or you don’t. I don’t usually, but the newness of the UK style of court saved this for me. I would recommend this to anyone looking for courtroom drama and a story that sounds like current events.