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    Anatomía de un escándalo
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    Anatomía de un escándalo
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    Anatomía de un escándalo
    Ebook409 pages6 hours

    Anatomía de un escándalo

    By Sarah Vaughan

    3.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    ***UNA IMPACTANTE SERIE DE TELEVISIÓN DE NETFLIX, PROTAGONIZADA POR SIENNA MILLER Y RUPERT FRIEND.***

    ***POR LOS CREADORES DE BIG LITTLE LIES Y HOUSE OF CARDS.***

    ***UNA SERIE DIRIGIDA POR S. J. CLARKSON, LA DIRECTORA DE LA ACLAMADA SUCCESSION.***

    Un conocido matrimonio que se convierte en el centro de atención.

    Una abogada que cree que la justicia ha tardado en llegar.

    Un escándalo que sacudirá Westminster.

    Dos mujeres atrapadas en medio de todo este escándalo.

    El marido de Sophie, James, es un padre amoroso, un hombre apuesto, una figura pública carismática y exitosa. Y, sin embargo, se le acusa de un terrible crimen. Sophie está convencida de su inocencia y está desesperada por proteger a su preciosa familia de las mentiras que amenazan con separarla. Kate es la abogada encargada de llevar la acusación en el juicio: una profesional experimentada que sabe que solo se puede ganar el caso a través de una buena argumentación. Pero Kate busca la verdad en todo momento. Está segura de que James es culpable y de que debe pagar por sus crímenes.

    ¿Quién tiene razón acerca de James? ¿Sophie o Kate?

    A pesar de su educación privilegiada, Sophie es consciente de que su hermosa vida no es inviolable. Lo ha sabido desde que ella y James se enamoraron en Oxford, y ha sido testigo de la facilidad con la que el placer puede convertirse en tragedia.

    «Ni planeándolo hubiera escrito Sarah Vaughan un libro más oportuno.» La Vanguardia

    «Se puede decir que es el thriller del #MeToo. Está bien escrito, es elegante y está lleno de giros y vueltas.» Independent

    «Una historia que dibuja a aquellos que creen que tienen permiso para cualquier cosa, en cualquier momento.» El País

    «Explora los abusos de poder y la condición femenina en clave de thriller realista. Tan realista que se confunde con la actualidad.» Woman

    «La novela del #MeToo. El best seller de la temporada.» Telva

    «Un thriller demoledoramente absorbente.» El Mundo

    «Una mezcla entre House of Cards y El secreto de Donna Tartt.» Fiona Cummins

    No dejes de leer Pequeños desastres, la nueva novela de Sarah Vaughan.

    LanguageEspañol
    PublisherRoca editorial
    Release dateJan 18, 2018
    ISBN9788417167288
    Unavailable
    Anatomía de un escándalo
    Author

    Sarah Vaughan

    Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. After training at the Press Association, she spent eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her first two novels, The Art of Baking Blind and The Farm at the Edge of the World, were followed by her first psychological thriller, Anatomy of a Scandal: a Sunday Times bestseller, and Richard & Judy pick of the decade, developed as a Netflix series starring Rupert Friend, Michelle Dockery and Sienna Miller. Her fourth novel, Little Disasters, a Waterstone’s thriller of the month, was published in 2020. Reputation is her fifth novel.

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    Reviews for Anatomía de un escándalo

    3.5/5

    247 ratings39 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Holly kommt dank eines Vollstipendiums aus der nordenglischen Provinz nach Oxford, wo sie Literatur studieren will. Große Erwartungen hat sie an das Studentenleben, doch bald schon muss sie erkennen, dass sie nicht in diese Welt passt. Sie bemüht sich, passt sich an, findet in Sophie und Alison auch zwei Freundinnen. Ein Ereignis am Ende des ersten Studienjahres lässt ihre Welt jedoch zusammenbrechen. Von einem Kommilitonen, der zu den berühmt-berüchtigten Libertines gehört, die sich dank des Geldes ihrer Familien alles erlauben können, wird sie vergewaltigt und ergreift schließlich die Flucht. Zwanzig Jahre später ist sie nicht mehr das naive Mädchen, sondern eine knallharte Prozessanwältin und es scheint als sei endlich der Tag der Abrechnung gekommen. Sarah Vaughns Roman lebt von den unterschiedlichen Perspektiven auf die Ereignisse. Im Wechsel werden die Protagonisten beleuchtet: die Anklägerin, der Angeklagte und dessen Frau. Obwohl es zunächst um den Vergewaltigungsvorwurf gegen den Politiker James Whitehouse geht, wird bald schon klar, dass eigentlich die beiden Frauen mit ihren widersprüchlichen Emotionen und Überzeugungen die interessantesten Figuren sind. Zwei Aspekte hat Vaughan für mein Empfinden sehr überzeugend in ihrer Geschichte dargestellt: zum einen die ausufernden Partys, die die Sprösslinge der Oberschicht in den Elitelehranstalten feiern und die Arroganz, mit der sie schon in jungen Jahren den Menschen gegenübertreten, wo sie selbst noch nichts im Leben geleistet oder erreicht haben. Ihnen gehört die Welt, sie kaufen sie sich und drehen die Wahrheit wie es ihnen passt. Als Studenten und später im Berufsleben. Die dort geknüpften Bande sind hart wie Stahl und durch nichts zu erschüttern. So sichern sie sich gegenseitig ab und garantieren auch, dass niemand den Schutzwall, der sie scheinbar umgibt, durchdringt.Der zweite Punkt liegt in der Figur von Ehefrau Sophie, die zwar nicht die cleverste Studentin zu sein scheint, aber durchaus über ausreichend Weitblick verfügt, zu durchschauen, was James mit ihr macht. Sie spielt mit, weil das die Rolle ist, zu der sie erzogen wurde und kann lange Zeit nicht über ihren Schatten springen, obwohl die Zweifel an ihr nagen. Ein wenig mehr Mut hätte es gebraucht, etwas mehr Rückgrat und die Dinge hätten anders verlaufen können. Ihre passive Schicksalsergebenheit macht sie schuldig. Kein Gerichtsthriller, kein Drama, sondern eine Menschenstudie, die sehr gut gelungen ist und trotz des Hoffnungsschimmers am Ende ein wenig Frust zurücklässt, weil nämlich die Wahrheit nicht immer den Weg ans Licht findet und nicht jede Tat angemessen bestraft wird.
    • 4/5
      The story begins when a married government minister is caught in a sexual relationship with his twenty-something research assistant. Of course, once caught he admits to it, saying it was a mistake in judgement and it has ended. The story stays on the front pages for a few days and falls away. Then comes the zinger: the woman accuses the minister of raping her in an elevator at the House of Commons. He is arrested and taken away from the Commons by the police. The remainder of the book covers his trial on the rape charge and the aftermath of the jury verdict.The story is told from the point of view of the man's wife, the prosecutor, a friend of hers, and the accused man himself. Interestingly, the victim's input is limited to her sworn testimony at the trial. The storytelling goes back in time to college days of the main characters and comes forward to the present in order to demonstrate that some people don't change their behaviour and their past follows them into their future. The trial scenes are noteworthy for their accurate depiction of the interplay between the lawyers and the witnesses, especially on cross-examination. The characters are well-developed and there are some ethical issues facing a couple of them. They handle these in different ways, although each "bends" things from the straight and narrow.In the end, it's a well-done morality tale with interesting characters and told at a brisk pace which can easily hold your interest.
    • 3/5
      This is a story that could literally be about some of the scandalous news items we hear about everyday: a married politician or man in power who has an affair, and is then accused of rape. The story revolves around Kate, the prosecutor who is convinced that James is guilty of this crime, and Sophie, the wife who refuses to believe that her loving husband could do something like this. 

      This is not really a thriller, in terms of pacing or plot. There is no real thrill. Yes, the reader wants to know if James was actually guilty or not. But the story is about more than just that. It is about the abuse of power that we see happening around us all the time. It is about privilege and whether that allows someone to be exempt from facing the consequences of their transgressions. And it is about the people who are affected by one person's selfishness. 

      I'm really glad that the story did not focus on James's character. Apart from a few excerpts that are flashbacks to another incident in the past, James doesn't really get a voice. Kate and Sophie are the alternating narrators of this story, and they each have their unique struggles with this case. I really liked that the author used this method to tell the story because it shifted the focus to the people that mattered most; usually in stories like this, the novel is focused on the accused and tries to make the reader feel sympathy for them. The author does not do that here, and does not excuse James for his alleged behaviour at all. There was a lot of complexity behind the emotions that both of the women felt and I really connected with them. I could understand why they reacted the way they did. I preferred Kate's character to Sophie's because I generally like stronger, more powerful female roles, but both women were well developed. 

      The pacing of this novel is slow, and that is something that readers should be aware of. In trying to explore these different issues, there is less time for a fast-paced story. There was also more of a focus on the British law and government, so if you are not familiar with the way things work there, this might be a bit confusing to read. While the pacing made sense in terms of helping the author achieve her goals with this story, I would have preferred a more high-intensity story.

      To sum it all up, this was a very close examination of the effects that a high-profile affair and rape charge can have on people. I thought the author did a really great job of considering factors like preferential treatment, justice, and privilege - all of which are factors in real-life cases like these. I thought that the pacing was a bit slow and perhaps, not all of the details were needed. But it was a good read and I am happy to give it a 3/5 stars! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author!

      Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      Visit all my reviews here. I love to chat books! Pop by, leave your review links!

      Anatomy of a Scandal is based around three central characters. First there's James, the suave, charismatic family man and politician who is also good friends with the Prime Minister. He's wealthy and over-privileged. Then we meet Kate, the young, ruthlessly ambitious prosecutor, who's determined to see James get the guilty verdict he deserves. She's also good at her job and made her name prosecuting the very worst sexual assault cases. Finally we meet Sophie, James’ wife who has been dating James since college and knows him better than anyone else. All have a vital part to play in this psychological, legal d rama, which starts with a shocking scandal being revealed, which is then dissected in court.

      James is accused of rape one of his assistants, but did he do it? While his wife Sophie is seemingly supportive on the outside, on the inside her mind is going crazy thinking about his alleged crimes and what he could in fact be capable of. Just how long can she remain loyal as the story unfolds?

      We travel from the court case, back in time to Oxford in the 90s and into the current murky goings on within the privileged political world, where money, corruption and power rule the day.

      This is an extremely well written and cleverly plotted, insightful story, which I can easily see adapted into a BBC drama, very much like Louise Doughty’s Apple Tree Yard.

      Sarah Vaughan has mastered a treat for us with Anatomy of a Scandal, a sharp, engrossing and poignant political drama, which highlights some shocking hard-hitting facts with sensitivity and r ealism. Terrific!

      Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy. This is my honest opinion of this book.
    • 5/5
      I'm what you might call a fan of Sarah Vaughan's writing. I read The Art of Baking Blind when it first came out and the same with The Farm at the Edge of the World. I loved both of them so when I heard she had a new book coming out I was eager to get my hands on a copy. What I didn't expect was something so different to her previous books, but what I did expect was Vaughan's usual intelligent and insightful writing style and this certainly shone through in Anatomy of a Scandal.The scandal in question is picked apart with a fine-toothed comb, examined and reconstructed under the careful eye of Kate, the barrister prosecuting MP James Whitehouse as he stands accused of a heinous crime. We follow Kate through the life of the trial and how she deals with it. Her part of the story is told in the first person and yet we also hear from Sophie, James's wife, and James himself in a smaller way, and their parts are in the third person. I liked this change in perspective as I think it helped to experience the courtroom tension through the eyes of Kate herself.And the courtroom scenes do make up a fair bit of the novel. I loved them. I loved how it all unfolded and how Kate approached her case, her opinions of the jurors, her questioning, summing up. And when the verdict was due I felt that flutter in my tummy, that moment of anxiety as I wondered which way it would go. I knew that I wouldn't be able to help my eyes drifting along the pages and picking out the words so I covered them with my hand. I wanted to know the verdict when the characters did, to feel that elation or dismay along with them.This is such an accomplished book. I have said before when reviewing Vaughan's work that she writes books that cannot be rushed. This is true of Anatomy of a Scandal. There is a gradual build up, some might say a slow start that pulls the reader in to the lives of these characters, but then it totally engrossed me and I found I didn't want to put it down. There are back stories from Oxford where some of the characters were students in the 1990s, tales of privilege, wealth, entitlement. These sections are interweaved into the modern day story and provide contrast and an understanding of how they got where they are in the current day. And the storyline as a whole is so relevant, so current, so inspired.There are no great surprises here. Even the twist was one that I guessed but I don't think it's meant to be a book that takes the reader by surprise, more one that creeps up and when you turn that final page you do so with a sort of quiet 'wow' and a feeling of having read something rather special. I think it's safe to say that I would read anything Sarah Vaughan writes and feel certain that I would be getting a cracking good read, no matter what subject matter she chooses. Anatomy of a Scandal is one to watch in 2018 for sure.
    • 4/5
      Timely topic that lacks urgent pacing or any real twist. The novelty is that it's set in the British Parliament among the upper crust. In spite of that, it doesn't really have anything new to say about power and privilege and the limits of marriage. A British legal procedural Mashup with Tartt's Secret History. Not a bad reading investment, but over-hyped and under-satisfying.
    • 3/5
      I came across Anatomy of a Scandal on the BookishFirst website, where chapter two was offered as a sampling. The author's writing style immediately sucked me in, and I couldn't wait to read the book. Unfortunately, while there are flashes of greatness, the book in its entirety didn't hold up to the promise. This story has several narrating characters, alternating throughout. Most are written in the traditional third person. Kate's part is written in first person. These switches are handled well. The main problem for me was the fractured timeline. We start out in the present. Chapter two takes us back six weeks. Chapter three has us back a full year. A few chapters later, we go all the way back to 1992. In that distant past, we keep switching narrators and spending time with them all through their college years. This was where the story lost its footing for me. We meander through each character's drama, with far more detail than needed. These sections tend to drag the story down rather than build suspense. We continue on, switching from the distant past to the recent past. About halfway through, we finally spend a chunk of time in the present. The jumbled timeline made the story as a whole feel jumbled.The section of this book pertaining to the trial is compelling and captivated me in the way of that early chapter I'd previewed. I felt the immediacy of the emotions and the turmoil of the situation.For the most part, the plot is straight forward and the characters behave in exactly the way we'd expect. The strength of this book is in the way the author lays the emotions bare, so that we have no choice but to experience them along with the characters.*I received an advance ebook copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
    • 5/5
      I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. Wow! This is the kind of novel I like to read. James is ‘a real piece of work’ as well as his friend Tom. He likes to live life ‘just on the edge.’ He is accused of rape by a coworker with whom he recently ended an affair. The question is: Did she consent or did she tell him no and he still forced himself on her? He has privilege and power as a prominent minister of Parliament and takes advantage of it. He appears to be a loving husband and father. This story is full of lies, secrets, deceit, and betrayal. The prosecutor has a dark secret that she has kept hidden from everyone for years. This is a well-written novel with an amazing plot and excellent character development. Full of twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down. I love the ending. This timely novel is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Vaughn in the future.
    • 3/5
      Police arrest James charge him with rape. The standard of proof is high in the court. Secure in his place in the House of Commons, testifies to his version of the truth. His wife, Sophie, is supposed to just grin and bear it but the cheating and questionable manner of it eats away at her. This story looks at rape and infidelity from several angles. There is an underling thread of justice or injustice woven throughout. Given the situation, it is easy to predict the outcome.Goodreads Giveaway randomly chose me to receive this book. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 4/5
      Actual rating: 3.5 Stars

      My Takeaway

      Anatomy of a Scandal is full of courtroom drama -- the British way. I feel this book resonates and is relevant to the #MeToo movement currently taking place. Sadly, too often men in influential positions abuse their power and take advantage of others. With Anatomy of a Scandal, Vaughan delivers an intelligent and realistic novel. I do feel the pace of the book is a bit slow, but I still found myself wanting to read well into the night. The novel is well written and I like how Vaughan presents different perspectives of the main characters. All in all a worthy courtroom drama with a solid plot. If you enjoy legal thrillers, this one's for you.

      Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for providing an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. I also was lucky enough to win a hard copy of the book via Bookish First.
    • 4/5
      A well-plotted engaging story of arrogant privilege, youthful folly, gender and class expectations revolving around the timeless sexual assault issue. The atmosphere, dialogue and setting all feel authentic as legal, moral and ethical issues smacks up against the high-stakes reality of the situational shades of grey of the situations.The story became a page-turner for me as tension mounts as more layers are peeled from the secrets surrounding the truth. While most of the actions will not be a surprised to many readers, especially if they have been following similar storylines in the news, this is a perfect book for book clubs as the authors builds the characters so that readers feel empathy for them so you want all involved to be made whole by the justice process. But as in most sexual assault cases, the effects past, present, and future have unexpected consequences.
    • 4/5
      3.5 A case that could be taken from the daily headlines in the United States. A politician is being charged with rape, a man who is a long time friend and has the long time support of the prime minister. A man who is married, with two children, a family who he swears he loves. A man who readily confesses to having an affair with the claimant, but insists the sexual act was consensual.A very slow paced book, in fact I do believe there were some incidences that could have been cut, but that is only my opinion, but one many of my fellow readers in the sisters group shared. The judge, who has a big secret, the wife who can't believe her husband is guilty, and the politician himself who shares a big secret from college years with the prime minister. Though much of the plot followed the expected form, arrogance and shove the law attitudes, but there are some unexpected occurrences that made this more interesting and maddening at the same time.I found the most interesting element was the changes both the judge and the wife go through. Of course, there is one thing that is not credible, and this lessened the impact and shock value of one unveiling of a secret, so this ended up being a good read but one in which the reader has to have some patience and a willingness to go where the author wants to take one.ARC from Edelweiss.
    • 5/5
      Good story full of twists and intrigue. The characters are great. The story moves at a good pace unfolding each layer of the story until the very end.
    • 4/5
      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
    • 3/5
      Anatomy Of A ScandalBySarah VaughnWhat it's all about...Sophie is married to James who is a member of the British government. She has known him since college. They have a lovely life and two young children. Then a scandal hits very close to home. Not only has James cheated but he is now being accused of rape by his ex lover. Sophie is pretty much destroyed and desperately trying to hold her life together. The question for her is forgiveness...is James worthy? Also James...may or may not have had a prior relationship with the prosecutor of this case in their student days...but no one is telling! Can we say vendetta? Why I wanted to read it...This book sounded so realistic...as though this kind of affair/rape could really happen. When does no really mean no? What made me truly enjoy this book...I enjoyed the flashbacks to Oxford days for Sophie. She has a connection to the prosecutor that she is not even really aware of. That part was fascinating. And the prosecutor...had so many issues from her college days...that literally involved Sophie and James. Why you should read it, too...While I didn’t love this book it was interesting. There were not very many characters I was overly fond of. James seemed as though he could manipulate everyone and he did. The characters in this book were more interesting in their youth than they were when they were adults.I received an advance reader’s copy from Atria Books through Netgalley and Amazon in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest reviewThis book will be one I will think about long after today when I finished it. It will haunt me, and it will likely be something I hold all other court-based suspense novels up against. I am a little bit at a loss for words, and don't really know what to say except bravo, to Sarah Vaughan for creating one of the best novels I have and will read in 2017.The pain within this novel is agonizing, and the characters are sharp, and human. It is a brilliant work of fiction that seems all too real in the world we live in today. It is not light reading, but the subject matter within should not be something that one takes lightly.
    • 5/5
      I love books where good battles against evil but who is which changes back and forth as the story develops. I also love stories with unexpected endings. This is why I devour Jodi Picoult books like candy. And now I have a new author to add to that, "buy and read in one setting as soon as they release a new book". Sarah Vaughan's book Anatomy of a Scandal grabbed my attention from the fist sentence and I didn't stop for breath until the last word. Told alternately between modern day and the 1990s, it tells the story of a rape case. But who raped whom? And what actually happened at Oxford back in the '90s? And why do the two things seem to be related? All is revealed, and obscured, and then revealed even more clearly, and then everything falls apart, but not really. A fantastic place to spend a few hours, in the pages of this story.
    • 4/5
      ANATOMY OF A SCANDALSARAH VAUGHANMY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️PUBLISHER AtriaPUBLISHEDDecember 5, 2017A fascinating and suspenseful legal drama about a scandal involving a highly placed British junior minister and the women caught up in its wake. SUMMARYSophie Whitehead’s husband, James is handsome, successful, and a charismatic highly placed junior Home Office minister. Highly placed perhaps because he went to Eton and Oxford with the current prime minister. Their friendship has been intertwined since the age of thirteen. But now James stands accused of a crime. Sophie and James have been married for twelve years, she is convinced he is innocent, and she will stand by him and protect their family. Kate Woodcroft is the Queen’s Counsel lawyer prosecuting the case. She is a criminal barrister and her speciality is sexual crimes. She is an experienced professional who knows the law is all about winning the argument. She had just lost her last case and she desperately wants to win this one. Kate is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crime.If James is found guilty, Sophie’s world will be turned upside down, and their two children will pay the ultimate price, but if he gets off it may just devastate both Kate and his victim.REVIEWANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a well-written intimate look inside a crime most of us would rather not think about. It’s a compelling legal drama about the difference between persuasion and the truth, and how we often shape the truth to suit our needs. It’s also about how our background influence our behavior, and how difficult it is to overcome the dark secrets of the past Chapters nicely alternate between the perspectives of Kate, Sophie, and James. SARAH VAUGHN has woven a thought-provoking drama involving these three characters, that easily jumps between the halls of parliament, the Old Bailey courtroom, Oxford college, and the aftermath of a trial. A gripping read, highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley, Atria and Sarah Vaughan for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      Interesting book, fairly paced to keep the reader entertained a light enjoyable read. It is not on par with some thrillers, there is no shocking twist at the end, the thoughts of the books could have been rearranged to make it a 4star book
    • 1/5
      James Whitehouse is a loving father. He's handsome, charismatic, and he's a successful public figure. But he's been accused of a terrible crime. His wife, Sophie, is convinced he's innocent and will do anything to keep their family from being torn apart by lies. But Kate Woodcroft, the lawyer hired to prosecute the case, is certain that he's guilty and determined to make him pay for his crimes.

      I was looking forward to reading this one and was excited to get an early copy. Unfortunately, I hated everything about this book. I didn't like it from the very beginning, but I figured it would turn into something really good later on. I was wrong. I found it very boring and repetitious. I didn't like the characters or the writing. Even the twist didn't do anything for me. Around the halfway mark I started skimming. This one was a big disappointment.

      Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC.
    • 4/5
      Good, suspense thriller that involves Britain's elite. The story revolves around two women. One is Sophie. Her husband James, is a minister of parliament. James has been accused of raping the woman he has been having an affair with. The other woman is Kate. She is the prosecutor in the case. As the story unfolds, Sophie begins to doubt everything she knows about her husband. When the chapters switch to Kate's story, we slowly learn that there is a event her Kate's life that has defined who she has become today. The tension mounts with every page you turn. Well written and a great read.
    • 4/5
      Talk about a book that reflects what's in the headlines this month! This is a story about privilege and rape and treatment of women. I'm sure when the author wrote the book she wasn't aware of how timely it would be.Kate is a barrister in London and has the opportunity to try a very headline grabbing case - that of a high profile politician (and one of the PMs best friends) and one of the members of his staff who claims that he raped her. They had been having a consensual affair but after it was over, he attacked her on an elevator - according to her story. According to him, the encounter on the elevator was wanted by both of them. Also tied up in the story is James' wife Sophie who has to decide who to believe and if she should 'stand by her man'. Who knows the real truth - Kate or James or Sohpie? or is the real truth somewhere in-between.Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      James and Sophie Whitehouse have the perfect life. They live in a wonderful home, have great children and a social life to envy. James has an important role in government and a close relationship with the prime minister. They were a couple in college, although they broke up for a period of time before reconnecting and marrying. Their college days thought were not perfection - they had a dark side, mainly due to the horrible behavior of James and his pals. One of the victims of James behavior was a quiet girl named Holly Berry, Sophie's tutorial partner. Sophie barely remembers Holly, until James is accused of rape, and memories begin to surface. There are lots of interesting twists in this tale of power, the benefits of great wealth, crime and coverups. It was a surprising end that I truly enjoyed!
    • 4/5
      I was expecting this one to be another book about an abusive husband, but it's more about sexual assault and victim shaming. It approaches the topic from multiple points of view and it plays out more as a court room drama. I loved the barrister Kate's sections best. It kept me interested as the story unfolded. Also, I think the book's cover is completely confusing and has nothing to do with the plot.
    • 5/5
      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. SPOILERSKate/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.
    • 3/5
      ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL certainly comes out at a propitious time. It’s almost like Ms. Vaughan is prescient.James Whitehouse is a member of the privileged class in England. He’s had a fairly easy life to this point. He’s charming and oozes confidence. How can you not like Me?Sophie is his wife. They met in Oxford and have 2 children. She’s supported James and his career from the beginning.Kate is the lawyer attempting to convict James of rape.ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL bounces between the present, recent past, and Oxford in the early ’90’s. The class divide is sharply presented, especially in the Oxford setting.Even when we try to relegate the past to the past, it usually stays with us or comes back to haunt us. Ms. Vaughan does an excellent job proving that adage. The characters are finely drawn, there’re drama and tension-particularly in the courtroom scenes. It’s easy to get caught up in the characters lives, but harder to really like them. Empathize, yes, but I didn’t like any of them. ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a good solid read and it kept my interest. However, it was predictable. No twists or surprises, but still engaging.Reviewed for Miss Ivy’s Book Nook Take II & Novels Alive TV
    • 3/5
      James Whitehouse is a successful politician and close friends with the Prime Minister. Sophie is his faithful wife. Then a scandal breaks, James is accused first of having an affair with a member of his staff, then of rape. Sophie desperately needs to believe in her husband’s innocence. Kate Woodcroft, the prosecuting attorney, sincerely believes in his guilt. As the case moves on, secrets from the past threaten to come to light.This is a slow-building thriller that explores the nature of love and truth, privilege and power. Vaughn does a splendid job of alternating between the past and present, and between husband, wife, and prosecutor. We explore each person’s life, and see what a fragile thing truth really is.The book builds slowly, which can be frustrating for those who want the plot to go-go-go. And any one experiencing psychological thriller fatigue (like me), can find the slower pace a bit trying. But in all, Vaughn’s exploration of how privilege impacts truth is a vital and important topic in this day and age. I would recommend you give it a go.An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 2/5
      I am in the minority here with this book. There was nothing suspenseful about this book. Even before I opened this book, I thought that it would be like Fatal Attraction. Yet, it was nothing like that. It was early on in the story where I saw this how this storyline was going to end. There was no surprises.What was a disappointment the most about this book are the characters. There was nothing endearing about any of them...both the accuser and the abuser. Actually, I was kind of on the side of the abuser. This is because I did not believe that the abuser was guilty. The accuser came off as vindictive and wishy washy. Then there is the wife. Her voice was fine but I did not care what her stake in the game was. This is cause, even though I was on the side of her husband I still did not share any love for him. The story was too drawn out with not a lot of suspense.
    • 5/5
      A charming MP is accused of rape, a female barrister is determined to win a guilty decision, the loyal wife is confronted with her husband's infidelity in a media spotlight. All have a privileged Oxford past.Fascinating and utterly believable courtroom drama. The procedure was so realistic that I googled Vaughan to see if she was legally trained. Not so, but she did graduate from Oxford and was a political reporter. All experiences used to the full here resulting in a compelling contemporary, nuanced tale of entitlement with well-drawn characters.