Anatomy of A Scandal deserves to be one of THE books of 2018. This gripping and beautifully written story tells of the privileged, handsome, charismatic MP James Whitehouse, close friend of the PM and happily married to Sophie with two young children he adores. Twelve years into his marriage his appetite for sex leads him into a five month affair with Olivia, a junior member of his staff, but after he breaks up with her they have a brief sexual interlude in a lift at the Palace of Westminster and she accuses him of rape.

So far so normal. The prosecuting counsel, Kate, is determined to do everything in her power so that Olivia has justice. But, as we read the back story to the case which involves James' time at Oxford twenty years before, we see that this is no ordinary rape trial.

Anatomy of a Scandal is perfect for readers of Apple Tree Yard and He Said/She Said. I look forward to reading more from Sarah Vaughan. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster UK Fiction and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this terrific book.

This book contains a storyline of rape, the UK legal system and it's abuse by people in high power. I was very hopeful at the outset that it could be a compelling read. However, overall I found it to be predictable and disappointing. The characters were quite one dimensional and I never really cared about any of them, despite the difficult and emotional subject matter. Also the storyline felt long and drawn out, rather then suspenseful and 'tight'.
I appreciate the copy from Netgalley, Atria and Sarah Vaughan.

An absolutely gripping tale about crime and justice told from the perspective of the main characters. James is a charismatic and entitled Member of Parliament who is accused of rape by a young research assistant. Kate Woodcroft is the QC tasked with representing the victim and I loved this character particularly during the trial scenes.
We also follow the story through the eyes of Sophie, James' wife who has complete confidence in her husband's innocence.
This novel is so much more than a "He said/She said" tale as many more past secrets come to the fore and is ultimately an examination of the British justice system and how the scales of justice are not always equally weighted.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the advance review copy.

Have achieved very little else these past couple of days as I've been utterly glued to this book. The kind of book "page turner" is meant for.

Anatomy of a Scandal gives you the the inner workings of the Eton-Oxford- Conservative MP establishment ( Think The Party by Elizabeth Day for comparison), crossed with a very fine contemporary courtroom drama in the style of Apple Tree Yard with the extra dimension of the secrets with in a marriage. It is a very powerful combination that is commmercial dynamite.

Told from multiple viewpoints, an element of unreliable narrator creeps in to keep us on edge. Whilst the twists and turns are not the most surprising, they work well and the pace is utterly maintained throughout.

This will be a big seller! Can't wait for more people to read it

There were some obvious similarities between this book and Apple Tree Yard, but to me this is a more enjoyable read. I found the characters more appealing and as a result felt invested in the outcome. The book had great pace but I didn't rush through it because I wanted to fully understand the nuances of the plot. The legal procedure aspect was interesting without being cumbersome and was clearly well-researched. This isn't an 'edge-of-your-seat' thriller but still has all the makings of a great TV adaptation.

A well written, clever debut from Sarah Vaughan. A gripping tale of politics, privilege and power.
The story involves a handsome, successful and charismatic member of parliament, married with 2 young children, whose affair with a young woman becomes public followed by an accusation of rape by the same young woman.
Although at times I felt uncomfortable reading as it delves into dark subject matter I did enjoy the book. A solid 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

A great read that I absolutely raced through. Well written for fans of Jodi picoult.

Really enjoyed this very clever and highly engaging thriller. Fascinating premise. Definitely one to discuss with friends after you get to THE END.

This was an interesting read, and one I would recommend, but it's overall rating just slips slightly as there were certain parts I felt weren't fully utilised.

It was well-written and captivated me throughout, but I felt the climax and ending were a little disjointed and not fully capitalised on.

Nevertheless this is an interesting review and analysis of a rape case, how it's dealt with by the authorities and justice system, and how it affects and reverberates onto all the people involved.

What happens on campus, stays on campus…but for how long?
James Whitehouse: Oxford graduate, privileged member of parliament, loving husband and dad of two beautiful children. Sophie: his wife, their relationship dating back to university days. She knows him better than anyone (doesn’t she?) and when the charges of rape are levelled at him she is reluctant to believe that he could possibly be capable of such an act. But as the trial goes on, the questions start to form in her mind and the doubts creep in.
I love the structure of this story, as the main storyline makes up only one part of the jigsaw as a whole. In the early stages of the book there is very little mention of the antics of James and his best friend, future prime minister Tom during their Oxford university days. The significance of the antics only comes into play in the latter stages - after the jury has made their decision and the trial is over.
The characters all have their strengths - and weaknesses - and are not always what they initially seem. Whilst reading I was surprised that the author did not focus more on the character of the mistress and alleged rape victim, parliamentary researcher Olivia but by the end of the book this kind of made sense.
This is a tale of the privileged middle classes who make up a large proportion of high profile politicians and such like, and how their ranks can close when times are troubled. However there are also people amongst those same ranks who are unwilling to let the events of times gone by go unpunished. The quiet ones, the ones who slip under the radar of “the Populars”, the ones who watch from the sidelines. They’re the ones who ultimately hold the power.
A great book, which admittedly made for uncomfortable reading in parts, it made me consider the sense of entitlement that seems to go hand in hand with the moneyed classes, and whether I would really want to be a part of it even by association.
This review will be posted nearer publication day on my blog www.sandiesbookshelves.blogspot.co.uk

Original. Clever. Addictive. This would make a fantastic TV drama

Really enjoyed this book, a great read, it kept me gripped from the start. The characters are well written and the tension keeps you turning the pages. Recommended for sure.

This is one of a number of books which are challenging old stereotypes of rape as something which only happens in dark alleys and between strangers. Vaughan is particularly concerned here with that slippery issue of where consent turns into non-consent.

Alongside this vexed topic is a depiction of how elitist social privilege is institutionally perpetuated (Eton, Oxbridge, House of Commons, government) and might engender a sense of invincibility and being above or beyond the law.

The first half of the book follows the high-profile case of a handsome Tory MP whose affair with his researcher turns toxic when she accuses him of rape. We're introduced to his wife who unquestioningly stands by her man, and the hard-line prosecutor who is determined to have him convicted. Not ground-breaking but a good set-up for a tense courtroom drama.

Only, at about halfway through, we're treated to a cheap 'twist' that a) readers of 'psychological thrillers' will have spotted a mile off, and b) cheapens the whole thing (view spoiler)

There is much that I enjoyed about this fly-on-the-wall book but the enticing set-up starts to collapse and drama turns to melodrama. All the same, I like Vaughan's attention to issues of class and inequality, the covert ways that privilege is passed on. A quick and snappy read.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley

I was really looking forward to reading this - while I didn't know a great deal about it, what I did know sounded right up my street. I love a good courtroom drama, and if there's a current political angle, so much the better. All that is certainly there, but we also have a nuanced portrait of a marriage and a thoughtful depiction of thorny issues of rape and consent.

In the present day, we follow dedicated barrister Kate, prosecuting sexual offenders but feeling increasingly frustrated at the difficulty in gaining convictions. Meanwhile, there's Conservative junior minister James Whitehouse, handsome, charming and tipped for success - a close personal friend of the Prime Minister (who's called "Tom" but is hard not to picture as David Cameron). Then there's James's adoring wife Sophie, in some ways a typical Tory wife but with much more depth in her portrayal than that might imply.

In a further strand, intelligent but under-confident Holly starts at Oxford in 1993, fresh from her Liverpool state school and feeling out of place among the mainly privately educated students who have no conception of life outside their privileged bubble. Among the most privileged of all is James, who belongs to a group of equally arrogant, entitled and frankly obnoxious young men called the Libertines: a not even thinly disguised Bullingdon Club, even down to that notorious photograph on the steps.

As the strands intertwine and sometimes collide, this is a fascinating, enthralling and often thought-provoking read.

Review will also be published on my blog: http://atickettoeverywhere.blogspot.com.

This book is a page turner that has you hooked from the start.
James, a politician,priveledge,a spoilt rich boy with charm and bluff. Attractive but is he honest?
We know he isn't as he has admitted an affair but what depths will he go to to stay current and keep his political job?
When James is charged the life he has led up to this point is examined and a maze of charachters who have been touched by this manipulative charmer come in to fucus,making you ask and question whether he is guilty or not.
As you take this ride through his life you see the effects on his wife Sophie and wonder why a woman who could attend Oxford can be the way she is.you want her to snap and take him on ,I will not say what she does. You pity this woman,shout at her and champion that she will be courageous.
Then there is Holly and Alison,no priveledge but a will to succeed and attain a place at Oxford,but do they belong? What are there struggles and how does this impact upon their lives then and now?
Kate the trip barrister- I have to be careful not to add spoilers here,a character that has your heart and you want her to succeed and whether she does may just not have anything to do with James but because of her crossing paths with him her self awareness and worth are explored and reflected upon.

I found this book to be so very accurate.I have been that juror on a rape case and the sad accuracy of what occurs is astounding. This book is well worth the read.
Thanks to Netgalley,the author and publisher for providing this ARC for an honest review.

I read his in two days despite many distractions occurring such was the quality of the writing.

A public school and Oxford University education that encourages James to believe he is invincible and can influence events.
A clever wife who decides to turn a blind eye in order to keep her husband and comfortable lifestyle.
A barrister prepared to risk her career to prosecute a case.

As the court case plays out the actions they took in the past are slowly unveiled.
A modern take on the age-old story of privilege versus right. The story is well written and flows well. The twist part way through is a obvious but doesn’t stop it being a good read.

I have heard so much hype about this book that I spent the whole book waiting for something amazing and before I knew it was finished and was left thinking is that it. Maybe if I hadn't heard so much about it I would have enjoyed it more. It was a good read which tried to be twisty but I could see each part coming. To begin with I found it hard to get into but then when I got used to the flashbacks and forwards I did immerse myself in it but just felt fairly underwhelmed.

3.5 stars.
I was very excited to read this book - a great title, beautiful cover, an intriguing blurb and courtroom thrillers are my preferred genre. It started well and generally was a solid read, well written, well researched, with well drawn characters. However, I found it quite slow and repetitive in places, the main twist wasn't that much of a surprise and by the time the final secret was revealed, it has been mentioned so many times that I just wasn't interested any more. I'd say it's more of legal/political/domestic drama rather than a thriller. Overall, it was just an okay read for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.

This is a novel which will raise issues and a lot of discussion I think. What constitutes rape and a scandal? In the present day news bulletins where people in high places are being taken to the cleaners for one reason or another, this is an aptly drawn account of one potential case. It feels real, it sounds real and it could be - that’s the point. We all think we know how we’d react and judge but who do you believe and why?

the settings are the world of wealth and privilege from Oxford to London - the real journey here is through the court systems and the trial. This is no easy read but it’s a fascinating one. !0 people in a room asked a question about the same situation will give ten very different views. What is right and where is the line between right and wrong?

Uncomfortable reading at times but it’s very similar to Apple Tree Yard but with a twist. There’s plenty of scandal and you really do feel you’ve been to a autopsy and that scalpel cuts deep.

I've just finished this book and have to say what a tense roller-coaster ride it has been.

During the court case, I was reading and felt really tense. That is just how gripping it really was. The writing is so good and the author has clearly done her research that I was utterly gripped throughout it.

I enjoyed the different points of view and liked that you are never entirely sure who is telling the truth.

Great book - I can see this being a best seller!