I found this to be suspenseful and a slow burn. It is told in lots of different peoples points of views, however, it is easy to follow even when it goes back and forth with timelines. In each chapter we are given a little bit more information which left me wanting to read on to find out what happened. It all led very nicely to the ending, which was very satisfying.

This was very well written and gets you thinking about what you might do if you were found to be in the same situation.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I reviewed Reputation for LoveReading.co.uk and the review can be found on the website. The book has been chosen as a Liz Robinson Pick of the Month.

Many like me really enjoyed Anatomy of a Scandal which is being developed as a series for Netflix, but now Sarah Vaughan with another political thriller Reputation (Simon & Schuster) which is due out in hardback on 3rd March and this I can highly recommend.

Now here is a book a really struggled to leave alone for very long, the story of Emma Webster who is an MP, she is dedicated to her role since becoming elected and also away from her position she is a devoted mother, but what happens when you life is turned upside down when you are a serving Member of Parliament and you feature in a major weekend newspaper with a photograph that seems to incite some on social media let alone some in her own party. There are threats made to her life, and there is even a bottle of water kept on her desk when she holds meetings back in her constituency in case of acid attacks. Some think Emma is fair game, and some take it to the extreme.

There is a real sense of claustrophobia when you are reading the story of Emma’s life, she is in constant fear of being followed even when she is cycling home. But then the story really reaches even new hights when a man dies, and Emma is implicated in the death of the man. What follows is a real tense courtroom drama, but just who is telling the truth?

Sarah Vaughan writes superbly and sets the scene as the drama plays out in court like you are part of the jury. Innocent or guilty you decide when you read for yourself. This is gripping and compelling drama and at times disturbing and makes for uncomfortable reading. There are many themes being discussed within Reputation that include harassment and bullying it is very much a timely novel for the days in which we are living in.

I cannot recommend highly enough how Sarah Vaughan not only creates the settings and scenes in the novels she writes but also how she creates her characters, and this makes for powerful reading. And I for one am pleased I have.

Reputation is a story that will resonate with a lot of women.

As a woman, we are always at risk of a man harming us, either physically, emotionally or by damaging our reputation, so we are seen as 'less than'.

Sarah Vaughan takes the story to a new level, we follow Emma, an MP who labors against revenge porn against women (and men!) and who sees her reputation shattered when she is accused of murder.

I highly recommend this to any one who loves a good story line with believable characters

An ode to female safety and double standard issues which fast becomes a lazy thriller with very few surprises. The message conveyed is worth being highlighted and discussed but this story does focus more on the egotistical pursuit of keeping one’s “reputation” intact. I felt conflicted as even though I understood how public life can be soul destroying , moral values were trumped by self-centered motives. Maybe this is what this book aims at and it definitely makes it memorable, I am just not sure it is for the reasons which were intended..

Reputation starts off slowly by showing the stresses and strains of life as a female backbencher MP; balancing the demands of the job with being a mother to a teenager, the strains it places on a marriage, the intense scrutiny, abuse and trolling and the relentlessness of the 24 hour news cycle and social media. The life of Emma is perfectly observed and researched and the reader can easily visualise the day to day of her life comparing it with other high profile female MPs in the media. Emma is then involved in a crime and the story focuses on the court case. At this point for me, this became a compelling page turner that I raced to finish. This is a clever, well-observed and absorbing read.

Reputation centres on how Emma Webster, an MP and a fierce advocate for women's rights, finds herself slowly drawn into a web of online abuse and suspicion of murder because of an ill-advised action of her fourteen year old daughter. I found the writing to be excellent but the plot to be overly drawn-out as Ms Vaughan repeatedly hammered home her point through the words of the three female characters. An added distraction was the series of online comments sprinkled throughout, a device that is becoming ever more prevalent in modern fiction. The conclusion wasn't very much of a surprise, either. I finished the book but it isn't one that will stand out in my memory.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The question everyone asks about a Sarah Vaughan novel is, does it live up to ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’? This one absolutely does. It has a similarly compelling plot but is a better novel because it shows a more complex and nuanced understanding of character.

From the very first chapter. the writer demands empathy for Emma, her central character, who is facing a murder charge. However, Emma does not always behave well.

Vaughan presents beautifully the contradiction between Emma’s principles and desires. As a public figure, she is surrounded by people who are either jealous or critical of her - sometimes both. Social media trolls undermine her confidence and their toxic online comments are a visceral backdrop to the story, making wider society seem intrusive and threatening.

So, the tragedy is set up cleverly in the first part of the book. It emerges naturally from the clash between Emma’s public and private lives: her relationships with her daughter, her constituents and a pushy journalist. Competitive people force her hand and her own actions aren’t entirely clear as the stakes increase.

There is much to admire in the drama of the court case, which dominates the second half of the book. In particular, Emma’s relationship with her daughter, whose actions in the novel are inextricable from the tragic outcome. Alongside this, the motivation of her ex-husband’s new wife adds a dimension to the story. The tension extends beyond whether or not Emma is found guilty of murder. The dominoes that led to the final confrontation only fall into place after the trial. And the ending is a masterpiece.

Thanks to NetGalley for making an advance copy of this book available to me in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! Well written, thought provoking, and so tense. Insight into the challenges of being a public figure on social media, family dramas, relationship dynamics. Will be highly recommending to my customers.

Thanks to Sarah and NetGalley for allowing me to read Reputation before the publication date.

MP Emma Webster is a divorcee with a 14 year old daughter, Flora.
Her security protocols have been increased since she has experienced threats and an increase of vitriolic and aggressive comments on her social media accounts, particularly when .she champions women's rights.

On a late afternoon in December, she returns to the house she shares with 2 MPs in London to find the door unlocked, the alarm inactive and the lights off.

Why did she not leave and call the police? Instead, she goes into the dark house with only a phone torch and encounters a man.
Now she is on trial for his murder.

A well written book in which Sarah has chosen current topical issues, such as Freedom of the press, Right to privacy, Social Media, Stalking, Bullying, and spun them into a very readable yarn.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. Sarah Vaughan has produced another winner. The story of a female MP who is dealing with difficult real life situations as well as all the on line attacks and abuse that people in the public eye are subject to. We find out right from the start that there's a body at the bottom of the stairs, and then we go backwards to find out who and why. Who's telling the truth? Plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

Outstanding and sadly, absolutely of our time.

This is a cleverly multi-layered story that goes behind headlines, and opinion pieces and at the same time is a riveting read.

MP Emma Webster has become known for championing reform in respect of revenge porn, this, as is only to be expected in the 2020's, causes her to receive threats on social media and even by mail. She sees her role to protect other women's reputations, but what happens when her own is threatened?

This novel is up there with Anatomy of a Scandal. Some elements are the same, a court case, parliament and unwise liaisons but this novel spoke to me on a deeper level. It is a book that should be discussed in book clubs to examine each of the characters whose reputations were challenged and to examine how this is acceptable, and what can be done.

Of course this book wouldn't be anywhere near as good without the brilliant characters, all of whom are flawed but perhaps all the more recognisable because of that.

It is a long time since I have admired and enjoyed a book so greatly.

Thanks to Random Things Tours for my paperback and spot on the blog tour.
I'm pretty sure you can't get a more compulsive read than Reputation by Sarah Vaughan!
This book consumed me for the 3 days I read it, and provided the perfect disctraction from the pain of recovering from a nerve procedure.
I could not stop reading, and was constantly thinking about it. The multiple POVs were wonderfully done, Vaughan managed to get into the minds of several people, both male and female, and with very different ages, and she did it effortlessly.
Now we come to my favourite topic- the plot. As I said, this was compulsive. Thrilling. Adrenaline fuelled cliffhangers at the end of every chapter.
Read it. Breathe it. Live it.

This review will go live at the first link below on 3 March:

I was literally just kicking myself for not listening to Anatomy of a Scandal sooner, when Reputation was up for grabs on NetGalley. I was in such a rush to click that button I didn’t even read the synopsis, sometimes all you need to know is the author’s name, I guess that alone speaks volumes.

Reputation centres around a female MP, Emma Webster, who is the best sort of MP one could hope for, really: she is honest, diligent and truly concerned about her constituents’ wellbeing. Unfortunately, a big tree attracts the woodsman’s axe, especially when it’s a good-looking woman fighting for women’s rights in a man’s world. With threats coming from all corners, slowly but surely Emma descends into a state of almost constant fear.

Meanwhile, Emma’s teenage daughter Flora is being bullied and catfished by the people who are supposed to have her back. At the end of her tether, Flo does something that might be classed as a stupid teenage prank, but of course it’s different when your mum is in the public eye and your random act of foolish vengeange may be used against her.

Part psychological thriller, part political thriller, part courtroom drama, Reputation aptly documents the negative spiral of being under constant attack and wanting to save one’s family and one’s reputation. Sticks and stones, you might say, but words can and do hurt, and how are you meant to do your bit for the good of your constituency if people don’t trust you?

When we first meet Emma she’s this fairly confident politician but we see her (d)evolve into this nervous wreck of a woman, which makes for a truly fascinating character study. Her fear is palpable, and, I think, will be familiar to many women. Haven’t we all felt unsafe walking or cycling home, speeding up, glancing over our shoulders, clutching our keys tightly, just in case? Emma’s also very credible as an MP and as a mother, once again Sarah Vaughan delivers well-rounded, three-dimensional and utterly believable characters. Reputation also nails the prejudices against women in general and women in authority, the lack of political correctness.

I had a great time with Reputation, I was completely invested in Emma’s and Flora’s story and I love that it kept a few things up its sleeve until the very end. If you enjoyed any of Sarah Vaughan’s previous books and/or you’re in the market for a cracking thriller, then I recommend you take a closer look at Reputation!

Reputation is out now in hardcover, digital formats and audio. Happy publication day to Sarah Vaughan!

Massive thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

To my mind, Sarah Vaughan writes the perfect type of suspense - absolute page turners, no doubt, but also full of food for through on the bigger issues plaguing women today. Perfect for both book clubs and the beach, I think Reputation might her best novel yet.

Wow! What a great read. Loved the characters, the politics, it just makes you keep reading and what an ending. Would thoroughly recommend to others.

I absolutely loved Anatomy of a Scandal and feel it's one of the best books I've read in recent years so was thrilled to get the opportunity to read Reputation. Reputation is another masterpiece, a highly topical and insightful novel that paints a stark and honest picture of what it's like to be a woman in politics today . Vaughan brilliantly conveys the misogynistic and toxic environment that women in the public eye experience and brings to life the day to day life of being a female MP. A novel that has stayed with me and led me to reflect on what I would have done in Emma's position. A must read and surely one of the best books I'll read this year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A really intelligent, absorbing, feminist thriller. Extremely relevant and I could see many parallels with modern day politics and tragedies. The writing was just the right amount of gripping. I think the first half of the novel was a little slow for me - took me longer to warm to the characters and the story but I soon was unable to put it down. I'm a huge fan of Sarah Vaughan's writing and this book certainly didn't disappoint.

I must confess an interest, politics and courtroom drama does it for me. Sarah Vaughan's latest, Repututation, had me turning pages like a squirrel burying nuts. Her lead character, Emma Webster, is a politician going places. She puts her effort behind changing the law regarding revenge pron and in so doing feels the wrath of the troll. Meanwhile her daughter is being bullied at school and online. Poor Flora, a bit of a late developer, is teased mercilessly at school and of course via her mobile phone. Would adults give young people loaded guns? Why is it then when teenagers are having their brains rewired by surging hormones do they have the means to destroy themselves and others in a nanosecond of digital gunfire from their very un-smart phones? Maurice Chevalier in the film Gigi sung, "I'm glad I'm not young anymore". Well, I enjoyed my childhood but I certainly would not like to be young these days. In one ill thought moment, Flora exacts revenge for the days, weeks and months she has been bullied and effectively enacts exactly what her mother has been campaigning against. Well, that's the opening gambit but things take a much more sinister turn when Emma's journalist contact takes a fall from grace.
This is a top notch novel with pace and intrigue. It handles some very current topics too but in so doing gives them a truly human perspective. There is some wrapping up at the end which seeks to explain the course of events, after having digested them I didn't really think it added a lot to the story. Emma's planned liaison didn't quite fit with her personality. Hardly any character in the novel comes away smelling of roses, as it is after all about reputation.

Yet again, another scorching thriller from Sarah Vaughan. Another flawed lead in Emma Webster: woman, mother, teacher, MP and vociferous advocate against revenge porn. Emma has risen swiftly to power and her crusade and uneasy relationship with the press leads to an avalanche of trolling and abuse both online and in her constituency. Her fragile teenage daughter is struggling with bullying and a desire to fit in. Emma must protect her at all costs when their two worlds collide. This is such a page turner I couldn't put it down and the court scenes as usual are full of tension. The characters are so authentic and multi faceted, who is a friend? who is an ally? Will women feel solidarity? Surprises abound. The ending is perfect.