Wow, this was good, really good. I blew through Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal reaaal quick!! It read in past and present with multiple POVs, which I love!

So, what’s it about? A scandal!! Drama, lies, and betrayal. Ooh so juicy!! Sophie’s husband, James, is charming, powerful, and sexy. With all those great traits, he is being accused of an awful crime. Sophie is standing by her man. She believes in his innocence. Then, we have Kate, the prosecutor of sex crimes, who is tough, bold and extremely intelligent. She believes deeply that James is guilty.

Anatomy of a Scandal was very entertaining. I enjoyed reading about the court system that is set in London. I also enjoyed reading everyone’s perspective, though towards the end I was wanting to slap someone in the face to wake them up, lol. Definitely recommended!! 4.5 Stars.


I received an advanced copy from the publisher, Atria/Emily Best Seller Books, via Netgalley. Many thanks.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Sarah Vaughan, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

Sophie’s husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes. Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how easily pleasure could tip into tragedy. Most people would prefer not to try to understand what passes between a man and a woman when they are alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in an elevator… Or alone in the moonlit courtyard of an Oxford college, where a girl once stood before a boy, heart pounding with excitement, then fear. Sophie never understood why her tutorial partner Holly left Oxford so abruptly. What would she think, if she knew the truth?

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL was such a thrilling read (with a fantastic title!). The plot was complicated but well-drawn out. I easily followed the web of deceit the author wove. I'm not a reader who tries to figure out the ending before I get there organically, so I didn't have any issues with the ending. I suppose if you're a close reader, you may see where the game is going. But to me, this book was unputdownable.

WOW talk about a suspenseful novel about the British elite and the secrets they keep hidden deep in their closets!

Sophie is married to James, the "perfect" husband. He is a good father, very easy on the eyes and a successful public figure. But James is now being accused of a horrific crime. Sophie is standing by her man and is convinced he didn't do it and she is trying to keep her family together and protected.

Then there is Kate. She is hired to prosecute the case and feels that James is 100% guilty and she wants to be the one to make sure he pays for his crime.

SOOOOOO who is right about James?!?!

Back to my WOW this book! Sarah Vaughan does an amazing job with this book! It totally makes you question...what would you do and who would you believe. I was truly glued to my kindle from like 5% to the very last word. The Anatomy of a Scandal was one of my favorites book in 2017 and I look forward to read more from Sarah!

A fast paced novel about London's elite. You will keep flipping pages to be there!

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan is an interesting mix of courtroom drama and domestic mystery. Set in the UK, it follows a top politician/media darling’s fall from grace. He cheated on his wife with a colleague – that’s confirmed – but when the woman with whom he had the affair alleges that their last encounter was in fact rape, the media storm reaches a whole other level. The ordeal becomes a he says/she says situation as the trial ensues. On the side of the prosecution is Kate, a lawyer assigned to the case who is certain he is guilty. On the side of the defense is Sophie, the humiliated wife who seems more desperate to save face than find out the truth. Both women are connected – but you only find out how as the story progresses. Anatomy of a Scandal isn’t exactly a fast-paced page-turner, but it’s compelling (and certainly timely!) nonetheless.

This story started off so strongly for me. I was very interested in Kate's character and her life as a barrister. Just when things really got going and the story started to pick up when she acquired THE case, the narrative shifts way back in time to her college days. This narrative structure didn't work for me at all and was only effective in breaking up the flow of the story. Then when it also shifted perspectives between several people I was left feeling disjointed and no longer connected to the story. There was an abundance of details that didn't seem relevant throughout and combined with the predictability of the plot, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this debut.

4 Stars
A gripping look at the Haves and Have nots... from the British System and politics. Although my familiarity may not be with the way Parliament works... I can relate to Political Power, Family devotion and then Questions and the all encompassing desire for the Real Truth. All of that is here in this story and it is done so well.

Great title! Loved the two main voices we heard the story from and loved the delicious secret history of Kate. Speaks to our current interest in consent and rape.
Will recommend!

This book was a little hot and cold for me. There were several places where it felt like it dragged, but overall, it was an interesting read. I was hoping for a bit of a stronger ending, but I don't regret reading it.

Sarah Vaughn's novel, <b>Anatomy of a Scandal</b>, is a story of class, wealth, and privilege. The story begins at Oxford in 1992 where a girl from a middle-class background enters the world of wealth and ease. Holly can't believe her neighbor attended Eton and she attended an ordinary government school, thinking she would do a business college course. Her goals did not reach beyond that business college, but through the intervention of her A-level English teacher who saw that Holly had potential, she finds herself at Oxford.

Holly pairs up with Sophie as a study partner and begins to see another side of life through Sophie's eyes. Sophie belongs to the wealthy group, grew up with everything she wanted. Now, Sophie wants James Whitehouse, a tall, gorgeous rower. He is hers for the moment. Holly also gravitates to Allison, a girl she can feel comfortable with, and they become lifelong friends.

The narration goes back and forth between 1992 and 2016, from the heady days of Oxford to the adult world of family and careers. James Whitehouse is a junior minister in the Tory government; his best friend, Tom, from Oxford, is the Prime Minister. Sophie and James have a perfect life with two children and a house in Kensington. It all threatens to crumble when police arrive one morning to inform James that Olivia Lytton, his researcher has accused him of rape

The novel is intricate and complex as are most contemporary stories of abuse when the parties know each other and have even had consensual sex in the past. The prosecution lawyer, Kate Woodcroft, is known for her prosecution of sexual offenses and she works hard in this particular case. I waffled back and forth about whether James had raped Olivia. I wanted Kate to win this case and go on with her life. I turned the pages frantically to finish the novel. It will make a fantastic film!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Vaughn, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I had high hopes for this book but it just didn't deliver. Good writing, intriguing plot and intense courtroom drama scenes. I was at the edge of my seat when the jury came back with a verdict. Had it focused more on the trial and ended on that note, I think I would have enjoyed it more. There were too many directions, POV's, and plot lines that detracted from the story and muddied it. The descriptive internal dialogue at times overwhelmed the plot, which caused me to skim through chunks of prose to get to the story. More editing needed. The reason for my 2 stars as opposed to 3 stars was the ending reveal. Huge let down and didn't make much sense. Characters lacked depth and were a little too cliché for my liking. Didn't really care about any of them. Could be an excellent book but needs more work.

A very compelling read that enlightens on all fronts -- complex psychological drama, interesting characters, and an overlay of the British legal system -- while it also burns with suspense and intrigue.

Intricate, dark, and compelling!

Anatomy of a Scandal is a gripping tale that reminds us that justice may not always be blind in the face of privilege, politics, charisma, and power and that rape has devastating and enduring emotional and psychological effects on its victims.

The story is told from differing perspectives; James, a handsome, entitled politician accused of a heinous crime; Sophie, a dependable, intelligent wife who believes in her husband's innocence; and Kate the tough, tenacious barrister who wholeheartedly knows he's guilty.

The characters are multilayered and well developed with some wounded and resilient and others ostentatious, arrogant, and callous. And the plot uses a past/present, back-and-forth style to create tension and suspense as it subtly unravels the personalities, motivations, and histories of all those within it.

Anatomy of a Scandal is ultimately a novel about marriage, over indulgence, consent, scandal, revenge, deception, adultery, social status, rape, and the British legal system and is certainly an excellent, highly entertaining debut for Vaughan.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan is a true page-turner. I found myself lost in this book, eager to know the reality as I read each person's perspective of the truth. Vaughan is a clever, elegant writer and I'm anxious to read her next book. I highly recommend Anatomy of a Scandal

Good read about a politician accused of raping a staffer. Book explored viewpoints from the spouse and prosecuting attorney, who has some secrets of her own relating to the accused. The middle of the book when looking back to the college days was less interesting, but established perspective.

James Whitehouse seems to have it all. He grew up privileged, went to school at Eton and Oxford, and is now a junior government minister with a promising future. James has a beautiful wife, Sophie, and two sweet children, Emily and Toby - whom he dotes on. For her part, Sophie adores her husband - a tall, handsome, charismatic man who still makes her heart flutter after twelve years of marriage.

Unfortunately, a costly mistake is about to shatter James' world.

James was a 'player' in his youth, and Oxford University was a particularly rich playground. James and Sophie became a couple at college, but James still hooked up with other co-eds all the time - thinking it was his natural right. James and Sophie broke up for other reasons, but met again seven years later - and got married. Once he wed, James made up his mind to be a faithful husband and good father - and he stuck to his pledge for a long time.....until five months ago.

At that time James started an affair with his parliamentary researcher, Olivia Lytton - a lithe, blonde, beautiful 28-year-old. The affair began almost accidentally, but escalated to the point where James and Olivia shared a hotel room at a Tory party conference. James broke off the liaison soon afterward, leaving Olivia bereft and heartbroken. Nevertheless, a week or so later James and Olivia had one last romp in an elevator in Parliament - an equivocal incident that Olivia now views as rape. The authorities agree with her, and James is put on trial.

The story is told from the rotating points of view of several of the main characters, including James, his wife Sophie, and QC Kate Woodcroft, who's prosecuting the case. The story also has flashbacks to the early 1990s, when James and other characters were students at Oxford.

In the present, Sophie is crushed by her husband's perfidy. But she's a political wife, and feels pressured to put the best face on things. Sophie talks about her raw emotions, her concerns about her children, her belief in James' innocence, and the terrible impact the trial has on her. She also remembers back when she was a co-ed in college, where she was a rower with high hopes for her future.

QC Kate is thrilled to have such a high profile case to prosecute. The lawyer is divorced with no children, and devotes most of her time to work. Socially, Kate likes to visit with her best friend Ali, and has the occasional tryst with Richard, her married former pupil-master.

Kate believes that Olivia was raped, and badly wants James to be found guilty. She's aware, though, that a jury will be reluctant to convict a respected government official - especially one as good-looking and charming as James. Thus, Kate's quite anxious about the trial.

For his part, James feels guilty about the affair with Olivia, and wants to make things right with his wife. Assuming he gets exonerated of the rape charge, James thinks he can survive the scandal and rehabilitate his career. That's because James is best friends with the current Prime Minister, Tom Southern.

James and Tom met at Eton, and attended Oxford together. There they belonged to an elite dining club called The Libertines, who were renowned for their bad behavior.....generally smoothed over with large handfuls of cash. In 1993, an unfortunate incident at Oxford left Tom in James' debt. In fact, Tom owes James big time!

The book is largely a character study, showing how people are molded by their life experiences - and how they react to a humiliating public scandal. James' trial and its aftermath are compelling, and I was curious to see the ramifications for everyone involved. I'm not a proponent of 'stand by your man no matter what', so I especially wanted to find out what Sophie does. I won't say any more because of spoilers.

The storyline seems quite realistic, since sexual peccadillos among prominent men are a dime a dozen. Just off the top of my head: Bill Clinton, David Petraeus, Eliot Spitzer, Gary Condit, John Edwards, Mark Sanford, Anthony Weiner.....and fictional Peter Florrick (The Good Wife) and Fitzgerald Grant (Scandal). On that note - except for the addition of the alleged rape - the story in 'Anatomy of a Scandal' isn't that original.

It might be an intriguing change to see a book about an unfaithful woman Prime Minister (or whatever) whose husband has to 'stand by his gal.' (LOL) Still, this type of gossipy tale is always engaging and - for the most part - I enjoyed the book.

On the downside the characters inner musings are excessive, and there's too much minutiae in each of their narratives....too much description of every little thing they say and do. This slowed down the story and made me impatient to get on with the action.

All in all, this is a good suspense novel, and I'd recommend it to fans of that genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Sarah Vaughan), and the publisher (Atria/Emily Bestler Books) for a copy of the book.

I received an ARC via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. There were parts of this book that I greatly enjoyed. It is thoroughly British, and the writing is strong. It is suspenseful, and Sophie and Kate are well-developed characters.

But in the end, the book left me a bit flat. First, by writing one character's chapters in the first person and the remainder in the third person, I think the author tipped her hand about who the reader should believe about James. Second, I felt that the story telegraphed how the verdict would come down. Ironically, I thought that's where the story really picked up, with Sophie's reactions to the verdict and its aftermath, and I wished that more original storyline had been a bigger part of the book.

Finally, I didn't love the ending, where we finally learn the long-teased incident that happened to James and Tom back at Oxford. It seemed so divorced from the rest of the story that it felt like a red herring of sorts. It may have been intended as a clever commentary on today's politics--the types of scandals that bring down the powerful as opposed to the ones that should--but it wasn't very clear if that was the intent. Still, a solid debut by a clearly talented writer.

This novel did not pull me in right away. I would start it, go on to something else and eventually open it again, however, about halfway in, I was hooked. The story of the elite, privileged young politician simply seemed to be something closely related to some of the current events in my country. Amazing how wealth and power come together to create monsters without a conscience at times.

The characters seemed to come to life, although not one of them was particularly likeable. The politicians- liars, the wife- spineless, the attorney- righteous, but obsessed. Only the relatively minor character of the rape victim seemed to have a bit of courage. Things moved along quickly, the shades were pulled from the eyes of Sophie and finally of the country.

Well-written and timely.

Anatomy of a Scandal is a thrill ride of past and present colliding. ~ Heather, White Hot Reads

This was a thrill ride that I didn't expect when I started reading Anatomy of a Scandal. This is something that was exciting to me, especially since the author was new to me. The beginning started out extremely strong as we met the characters and found out the who, what, where, when and why. The story was set up well and I found myself asking a large number of questions as I read.

In my opinion, the middle of the book drug just a bit for my taste, but I kept reading. There were moments I wanted to throw in the towel, but at the same time I needed to know what happened. This is the peril of a reader who falls in love with books, stories and characters. Sometimes the story may not be exactly what we want or expect but it's what needs to be done. In this case the ending fit the story in the best way possible.

Rating: 3.5

This tale of the lives and loves of Britain’s social elite could very easily have taken place in any country where the rich and powerful live by a separate set of rules than the rest of us. Sexual and moral scandals have plagued people in power in most nations of the world from Presidents and Premiers to Prime Ministers and priests since the beginning of recorded time. ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL takes a look one such scandal and its effect on the lives of three people when lines are crossed and the past and the present collide with devastating results.

Take one captivating, entitled and manipulative man who happens to be a very public figure and is accused of sexual misconduct (the names Bill Clinton, John Profumo or Silvio Berlusconi come mind) add to this mix a trusting, devoted wife who makes excuses for her husband’s conduct and prefers to think of him as a near “perfect” man. Enter a female prosecutor who is certain that the man is guilty as charged and you have the provocative ingredients of Sarah Vaughn’s astute and provocative tome as she examines what happens to certain people when the past and the present collide?

This tale of a compromised English politician reveals the on-going treachery, both personal and political that continues to run rampant through society today as it explores themes of marital infidelity, revenge, justice and forgiveness.