"Sophie has never thought of her husband as a liar."

Anatomy of a Scandal was a book that interested me but didn't grip me. I enjoyed it while reading but it wasn't unputdownable. A solid effort, B+.

The writing is effortless and easy to read, slipping from one point of view to the other. Stock characters make up the main cast, but that's kind of the point; the politician, supportive politician's wife, naive student and ambitious lawyer. They're characters that we come across a lot on literature, and in life, but I think that's deliberate on Vaughan's part as she goes behind the typical players in a scandal like this. They felt believable and Vaughan has added characteristics that flesh them out.

Anatomy of a Scandal is a very apt book for our times when sexual harassment amongst powerful, arrogant men is somewhat prevalent.
This is one of the themes of the book but there are others that are current, such as class. The class system to most seems like it's breaking down, but in somewhere like Oxford University, and conservative political circles, the Eton boys' club is clearly still the ruling elite. It was interesting to get a glimpse into this life and attitude.

Vaughan also explores the issue of consent with, I think, clarity and sense.

Though I did enjoy this book, I thought the big reveal which comes in the middle of the book is pretty obvious, and a little unbelievable. It let the story down a bit and I think it would have been better if this was something the reader knew from the start.

It's still a good read, a very contemporary one yet one that deals with subjects that are as old as time.

My Rating: 3 Stars

I received a copy of Anatomy of a Scandal, via NetGalley, in return for an honest review. My thanks to the author and publisher.

Read my full review: http://readingwritingbooking.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/anatomy-of-scandal-by-sarah-vaughan.html

This is a great story and one that kept me gripped throughout.
It is told from two different perspectives - Sophie, James’ wife and Kate, the prosecuting barrister.
Whilst some of it is set in the court room, the real story comes out in the revealing chapters in between.
James is accused of something and Sophie has to decide whether to stand by him or not.
I really liked Sophie and was on her side throughout, and I really felt for Kate too.
This is a really fantastic read and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for sending me a copy to read and review.

A timely tale that kept me enthralled , the author really has a finger on the pulse of current events. At first glance this is a he said, she said courtroom thriller. Successful barrister Kate is prosecuting a controversial rape case, involving a serving minister for parliament and his former mistress. James, the minister in question is relying on his charisma and public image as a loving father and husband, to show that the allegation is nothing more than an attempt at revenge from a woman scorned. His wife Sophie is devastated as her world comes crashing down around her, but still clings to her belief that the man she knows and loves could never do such a thing.
Though the story is told largely from the perspectives of Kate and Sophie as the trial progresses, the author uses flashbacks to their pasts as a way of showing us how events have shaped these women very differently and shedding light on their respective stances as the trial goes on. Both characters are strongly and believably developed and fleshed out, making it easy to empathize with them and adding to the strength of the emotions portrayed in the book. The pacing throughout is excellent, and the gradual reveal of what really happened is skilfully handled in a way that definitely held my interest as the book twisted and turned. The courtroom setting adds immensely to the drama, and the tension in some of the scenes is palpable. I particularly commend the author for her realistic handling of the often unpleasant way victims in sexual harassment and abuse cases are treated, the hard hitting nature of the testimony scenes had a memorable impact.

Kate Woodcroft is a tough barrister, dealing mainly with prosecution of violence within a sexual nature. A new case lands on her desk, Tory junior minister James is accused of raping his assistant. James is one of life’s privileged, everything always goes his way, he has a good wife and children and a close friendship with the Prime Minister.
Chapters are from James, Sophie (his wife) and Kate from university days to present day. I thought this was very well put together and particularly liked the chapters by each of the 3 main characters including their university days. After finishing this I needed a feel-good read, as this kept me at the edge of my seat all the way through. Well worth a read, can see this as a drama series too.

I enjoyed how this book went from past tense to present, filling in different aspects of the story along the way.The description of Oxford was particularly pleasing to me personally despite the colleges mentioned actually being fictional.The author has shown that there will always be those with a privileged life that think they can get away with anything,regardless of who they have to hurt along the way,before hopefully getting their comeuppance.They have also shown that those who are not as privileged and suffer adversity,can succeed in life,despite having a troubled mind.The author has gone into detail about everything including the court case,which made the book interesting.Its a book about how secrets and lies will always catch up with you however hard you try to ignore them.How lives and relationships can be destroyed so very easily.

There is a lot of hype from fellow book bloggers about Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan, this can be a good thing as hype doesn’t happen over an average book but it can also be a bad thing, having heard all the hype it is easy to have high expectations and be disappointed by a book.

Having seen nothing but 5* reviews for this book I had high hopes, but did it live up to my expectations? Well, the answer is yes, and no. One pretty amazing thing about this book is timing, given how long it takes to write a book, edit it and get it ready for publication the timing of the release is pretty perfect as the story is so so current.

With the recent flurry of stories coming from Westminister about sexual assaults and people taking advantage of junior staff this book is timely and certainly gives food for thought.

The story of James, the apparently loving family man, is accused of a serious crime by his former mistress. The fact that they previously had a consensual sexual relationship does muddy the water slightly as he can easily claim revenge for breaking up with her.

The book is well written and the characters have a great backstory and their actions are in the main believable. It is a great book and well worth reading but for me, it lacked the wow factor that other readers have felt when reading it. Who knows why, but it’s still a great read that I’d definitely recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! An excellent courtroom drama that slowly unfolds drawing the reader into the lives of James, who has been accused of raping his colleague who he has been having an affair with, his loyal wife Sophie, and Kate, the prosecuting barrister.
James studied at Oxford and was a member of the Libertines, a group of self entitled, rich, aspiring Tory politicians who treated everyone else like dirt. I am positive their antics were based on a certain pigs head incident involving a previous Tory prime minister! Thinking he is invincible, James becomes a politician, with his wife standing by him mainly to protect their young family. However, when barrister Kate is given the case to prosecute, she is determined that justice will be achieved and past deeds will be punished. The characterisation is superb and the story is so well written, this is a fantastic book which I would certainly recommend.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a tale about a scandal that happened years ago and I absolutely loved it. Very cleverly written and kept me gripped to the end

If you loved Louise Doughty's Apple Tree Yard, like I did, then I am sure you will like this. The two novels are easy to compare, both focusing around a court case even though this one has no murder. Instead, Sarah Vaughan's novel focuses on a sex scandal involving a prominent junior minister in the British government. Even the prime minster has a bit part to play. The case concerns an alleged rape, and although the novel is set in the present day there are chapters set in 1993 when the alleged rape took place.
The story is told through different voices, including the prosecutor, the minister and his wife being the main ones, complete with an interesting plot twist about half way through.
I will not go through any more of the plot, but once you start this book, I am sure you will want to get to the end and the truth.
The writing is very good, telling the story through the different characters, and you really feel you get to know them properly.
This will definitely be one of the biggest novels in the psychological thriller genre for 2018, and it is certainly in my top ten reads of 2017 thanks to receiving an arc.
Well recommended.

I'd heard so many great things before starting Anatomy of a Scandal, and really hoped it would live up to the hype.

It definitely did!

This is a novel that manages to combine sensitive (and very topical) issues with a gripping, scandalous storyline, all without being too over-dramatic, glib or thoughtless. The balance is just right and the writing itself is brilliant.

There are plenty of very convincing-feeling characters who I hugely enjoyed reading about, even though I didn't necessarily like all of them. The themes are very pertinent to today's issues and it's quite hard to read at times, but I loved the way Sarah Vaughan has you questioning right from the off who is telling the truth, making me as the reader swing between believing one side or the other, between anger towards certain characters and the world they live in, and sympathy for others. It's also interesting to read about someone married to the accused, as you don't always see things from their point of view and understand how very confusing and hard that must be. I loved both Kate and Sophie, though neither were perfect people, and found myself rooting for them at different times and for different things.

I absolutely loved the structure of this novel, with its combination of courtroom drama and homelife of the various characters, as well as jumping backwards in time to certain character's younger years. I don't want to give too much away but everything comes together so brilliantly, and though at times I felt real anger that things progressed as they did and cursed the British justice system, other parts made me feel very satisfied.

Anatomy of a Scandal is a rollercoaster of a read at times, but one I hugely enjoyed, already making me desperate to read Sarah's future novels!

Kate is a successful lawyer dealing in sex cases and her latest assignment is to prosecute a politician on trial for rape. It should be straightforward but, with continual flashbacks, the story turns out to be far more complicated than it originally appears.
This is obviously a topical subject - yet another politician accused of a sexual scandal. Nothing very new in that. The difference in this story is that its roots begin with the lives of a set of students in the Oxford of the 90s, where the accused minister, James, his wife, Sophie, the Prime Minister and various other characters meet up and are thrown together.
The trial for rape is described in great detail, but so also are the flashbacks to Oxford where the damage to all their lives begins. Peeling back each layer of the onion, we learn of events that cause heartbreak, loss, anger, uncertainty, fear and a wish for revenge. Over twenty years this legacy corrodes each individual. When the trial is over and the verdict was given, those involved try to get on with their lives, but the damage has been done and there is one more surprising twist at the very end.
The author knows her background well, particularly the details of Parliament. The conduct of the case is authentic and the lives of the Oxford undergraduates seem real enough. The emphasis on class and the snobbism affecting these lives made me a bit uneasy, and although substitutes were given for Oxford college names and the famous men’s club, Eton was still the obvious school to use and the gap between the privileged and those from poorer backgrounds was perhaps over-used. However, the lasting impact on those involved in rape cases was well described and, quite rightly, played an important part in the story.
My main criticism was that the characters, particularly the men, were rather stereotyped, except for that of the lawyer, Kate, who did seem more rounded and interesting.
But the book is a page-turner and the story has enough twists in it to make it a good read.
Jane
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

When a book has a lot of hype surrounding it on social media, I usually sit back and worry ever so slightly, multiple questions running through my mind.
'Will this book live up to the hype?' 'Would I be the only one to dislike the book?' 'What IF I dislike the book, would people come after me holding burning torches?'. 

I am sure that a lot of bookworms, like myself, have been known to think that and yes, I'll be honest, those questions above did run through my mind when I saw Sarah Vaughan's, 'Anatomy of a Scandal' in the spotlight on social media. But, despite my worries, I felt a large surge of intrigue build up inside of me. I just knew that I had to read this book before it made it into the big wide world. I needed to see for myself what this book was all about and, you know what? In my opinion, 'Anatomy of a Scandal' not only lives up to the hype, it also surpasses it a million times over. This book blew me away and left me wanting more. Never have I ever read a book which not only ticks every box surrounding modern-day society, it also ignited a fire in my belly which hadn't been lit for many, many years.

Without giving too much away, 'Anatomy of a Scandal' has a theme which is highly in tune with society right now. Yes, certain parts of the theme make for uncomfortable reading, but seeing as this sort of thing happens to thousands upon thousands of people, I am certain that us readers feeling a smidge uncomfortable reading it, is nothing compared to what the people involved felt. 

There's a scandal in Westminster (shock). A person who has a high status and probably thousands of pounds in the bank, alongside a person whose life has been governed by certain eventualities. Who would they believe? A person with status, or a person who was being perceived in a certain way due to looks and lower status? Of course, not every single person can work in Westminster, can they?

I could relate to so much of this novel. I can't say WHAT I related to as that would give the story away, but let's just say that I related to the overall theme itself, especially how one character in particular felt.

To be perfectly honest, I think that Sarah Vaughan is incredibly brave for writing a book about a subject which is staring everyone straight in the face, knowing full well that it could bring some rather questionable comments to light. Not only that, I think that this author is inspirational for writing this book as well as, probably without even knowing it, she has become the voice of reason for many people in a similar situation due to what she has written her book about. 

Sarah Vaughan has hit the (albeit sickening) nail on the head with 'Anatomy of a Scandal' because everything about this storyline screams reality. It doesn't seem to matter what the truth is anymore, all that seems to matter is how much money people can throw at a situation, regardless of whether they're in the wrong or not. Since when did honesty come with such a disgusting price tag?

I am going to put this out there and say that yes, 'Anatomy of a Scandal' is a guaranteed must read for 2018 and beyond. I absolutely loved every single thing about this storyline. It was addictive. Intriguing. Honest. Real. Hard hitting. Emotional. Raw. Gritty. This is a book that I would be prepared to walk around my town with in the freezing cold, shouting loud and proud whilst also demanding people to buy it. I'm being serious!

'Anatomy of a Scandal' is everything I could have wished for and more. The storyline flowed like a waterfall - perfectly and utterly beautifully. I'll even go as far to say that Sarah Vaughan's novel should be made into a T.V. drama without a doubt. This book really needs to be on everyone's book shelves, in everyone's minds, in everyone's hearts. Just...everywhere.

I've said it once but I'll say it again - this book blew me away in more ways than I could ever imagine. Just, wow. It goes to show that I adored this book if I am struggling to convey my thoughts!

A phenomenal, beautifully written, hard-hitting and poignant novel which will leave a mark not only on your mind, but also your soul. A novel which highlights what is wrong with this world and some of the people in it, whilst also highlighting the strength of a lot of people in this world and how they go through life despite being on the receiving end of devastating situations.

If you need a confidence boost - this book is for you. If you're needing a reality check - this book is for you. If you're needing a book to lose yourself in - this book is for you. I really can't recommending 'Anatomy of a Scandal' enough. Everyone should go and pre-order this book right now because I'm telling you now, I am most definitely buying the hardback of this book when it's released, because it is a book which everyone should put on their bookshelves with pride.

Out-flipping-standing. Sarah Vaughan is an author to watch in 2018.

Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster.

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan focussed on a junior minister, James Whitehouse in Westminster. A former member of Oxford University’s elite he’s suave and self-assured. Yet here is stands in a court of law accused of a heinous crime. Sophie his wife is convinced he’s innocent. Kate has been hired to disprove this as she is certain he is guilty.

This book is well written, going between present day and the past. Each scene is set beautifully and he back stories unfold with ease.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author for the chance to review.

I have not read this Author's work before but the synopsis of the story intrigued me, it did not disappoint.

James Whitehouse, a Junior Minister in the House of Commons, is accused of rape by a Parliamentary Researcher, Olivia Lytton, in his office. This is not as clear cut as it sounds. James, a handsome, successful family man had been having an affair with Olivia! Kate Woodcroct, a high-powered Barrister is given this case as Prosecutor.

The story takes us back to the privileged, fun-filled, wild university lives of James and his friends. Married now to Sophie with two children and living a so-called happy family lifestyle, can James be guilty? The character I was most interested in was the Prosecutor, Kate. She was a strong and determined woman who like to win. This is an extremely well-written courtroom drama and the twist very clever.

I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more of this author's work.

What a clever courtroom drama! Couldn't wait to finish it! The characters truly came to life in this story of intrigue and secrets. It's a great plot with a twist I didn't see coming.

James Whitehouse is a politician who has it all. He had a privileged upbringing, is successful in his job,
and has been married to his beautiful wife Sophie for over 10 years with two kids. They are a good looking couple, who both attended Oxford and are well respected in their community. But one day James is accused of rape. Of someone from his office he had an affair with. An affair that ended abruptly two weeks before the alleged rape happened.

This book is all about the different characters, Kate the prosecutor, James the accused and Sophie, his wife, the Court system in the UK and about the matter of consent. It has flashbacks to the past and is narrated from the different points of views.

I thought it was an interesting read, full of suspense, that will keep you absorbed.

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.

I found this a competent and intriguing drama and I mostly enjoyed this book, and although there wasn't a grand finale it ended satisfactorily, but I did feel the villain got off somewhat likely, but perhaps this was a little more closer to real life.

Fantastically gripping book from the first page until the last. The story centres on James a Government Minister with ties to the Prime minister and the internal struggles in his marriage to Sophie. James is fighting for his political life and Sophie is fighting to protect her family and keep them safe.

The cautionary tale is told from the perspective of Sophie and Kate the barrister who is prosecuting James. It is beautifully well written and very clever and drags the reader in and compels them to find out how the story ends. There are many twists and turns before the whole sorry tale reveals itself. A stand out book with an explosive ending that I am sure will be picked up for the screen.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me have an advance copy.

What a read! This is an excellent, crisply-written thriller that turns on power, privilege and revenge.
At the centre of the story is James, a suave MP, who seems to have led a charmed life so far: the public school, an Oxford first, a wife and two beautiful children. But now he's been accused of rape... and it turns out that the barrister leading the prosecution, Kate, might just have a vested interest in the case. As his wife Sophie witnesses the courtroom drama playing out, she finds herself starting to doubt her own husband. Surely the horrific accusation can't possibly be true?
I really enjoyed this book. The courtroom scenes are authentic and convincing, and the tension never lets up. I believed in all the characters - flaws and all - and was gripped as the story unwound like clockwork. I'm sure it's going to be a huge hit - and deservedly so.