Anatomy of a Scandal

Anatomy of a scandal is a good thriller. The story kept me on the edge, a real page-turner. I loved that it's written from different perspective. I recommend.

Thank you Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Canada for sharing this ARC.

James, a junior government minister, confesses to his wife Sophie that he has been having an affair with Olivia, a parliamentary aide. Then Olivia accuses James of rape.

The narrative is split between the present day (where we hear about the trial from the perspectives of Sophie and of Kate, the prosecution barrister), and the academic year 1992/3 when James and Sophie first met at Oxford (told from the perspectives of Holly, Sophie's tutorial partner and of James himself). Events that occurred that year throw light on James' personality and on the motivations of one other character.

I was at Oxford myself just before the year these fictional events occur and I found the sense of place and of the unique vocabulary to be very well done. The story as a whole was well-structured and suspenseful. It was also very thought-provoking, raising questions about consent and perception versus truth. It would make a good book club choice.

SPOILERS

Kate/Holly's decisions were interesting to me; I wonder if a different barrister might have been able to get a guilty verdict. Should she not have gone to the police herself? (Although once she had read the brief, she would not have been convincing as a corroborative witness...)

Minor quibbles: the Oxford Sophie was pretty unlikeable and hard to relate to present day Sophie, who was far more sympathetic. Also, Holly seemed to flip from finally having found her place at Oxford to then still feeling like an outsider in the next chapter from her perspective.

Overall highly recommended. I read it in one sitting.

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan is a solid tale that feels like it is taken from a headline that feels very common today. James Whitehouse is a young and charismatic politician who has been accused of rape. The novel is oriented around the viewpoints of various women who are linked to Whitehouse, including his wife, Sophie, and the prosecuting barrister, Kate.

I especially enjoyed the early build up of the case and learning more about those related to the case. There was a moment when a new viewpoint (Holly) was introduced that I felt a bit lost, but this all comes together eventually when these different lines of the story begin to come together. Once some key details are revealed, I found that I wanted the book to move a bit more quickly--overall, the first half of the book was a 4, whereas the second half was a 3. I'm rounding it up to a 4. I think that many will enjoy this timely story.

Tagline: “You want to believe your husband. She wants to destroy him.”

I REALLY enjoyed this gripping … domestic drama?? psychological suspense novel?? savvy courtroom drama?? I don’t know what genre this impressive debut fits into but I do know it’s a great read!!!

“Skillfully interweaving the story of the unfolding scandal, Vaughan gradually reveals just how shockingly high the stakes are…Sinewy…engrossing, twist-filled.” Publishers Weekly

PW got it right! This one kept my interest throughout, the two female protagonists were both sympathetic … and it ended in an unexpected but surprisingly satisfying conclusion. Kudos to Sarah Vaughan on a great debut. I’m excited to see what she does next.

Anatomy of a Scandal is a superbly written novel that immediately pulled me into the story and the characters’ lives. I chose the busiest time of the year to decide to read this book, which probably wasn’t the best decision I could have made because as soon as I began reading it I was hooked. I would tell myself that I would just read one more chapter…then I would read another…and another. It is fast-paced, intriguing, and kept me completely captivated as I witnessed the story unfold.

To outsiders looking in, James and Sophie Whitehouse would appear to have a picture perfect life and marriage. James and Sophie met back in their university days at Oxford. James is a successful, handsome politician who exudes self-confidence and charm, while Sophie is the beautiful, doting wife and mother to their two children. Their lives are turned upside down when James is accused of a shocking crime, one that seems far out of James’s character, social status, and elite upbringing. Sophie is certain that her husband is innocent. How could the man that she has known all these years, the father of her children, have done such a thing? But how well does Sophie really know her husband?

To Kate Woodcroft, the prosecuting attorney, James is a guilty man. It’s her job to try to convince the jury of his guilt, but that’s not an easy feat. A man of James’s stature, who is recognizable to the citizens, and who is a strikingly charismatic family man, is not the usual profile of a criminal.

Anatomy of a Scandal is a timely and relevant book. With all of the allegations that have surfaced in the entertainment industry and in the political landscape over the past year, this book is even more topical than ever. When individuals use their power, prestige, and influence to push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in society and then expect no repercussions for their actions, it brings to mind the old boys’ club mentality, sticking up and defending your own, to the detriment of an innocent, violated victim. The power players who have the firm belief that they are made of rubber and everything will just bounce right off of them.

The book is told from the perspectives of the main characters, from the past to the present day. This allows the reader to get a glimpse into the lives of the characters, to become better acquainted with them, and to have a better understanding of the events that have shaped their lives. I had very strong feelings toward the characters, which exactly what I want from a novel. Good or bad, I want and need to feel something for the characters and their situations.

Sarah Vaughan has written an addictive story that is filled with marital issues, lies, betrayals, courtroom drama, and suspense. It begs the question: how well do you really know your spouse? I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to discover what was going to happen next. This was my first time reading a novel by Sarah Vaughan, but it certainly won’t be my last. Anatomy of a Scandal was a riveting read that won’t soon be forgotten.

*4.5 Stars

Wow.. touchy subject but so well done. Pulled me in and wouldn't let me go till i finished!
Great book!

Thanks to Netgalley for a ARC