Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

Book Review

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

Anatomy of a Scandal will be published in the UK on 11th January 2018. It is written by Sarah Vaughan and published by Simon and Schuster.

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+.

BLURB

Sophie’s husband, James, is a loving father and a successful public figure. Yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to engulf him. She’s kept his darkest secret ever since they were first lovers, at Oxford. And if she stood by him then, she can do it now.

Kate is the barrister prosecuting his case. She’s certain that James is guilty and determined he should pay. No stranger to suffering herself, she doesn’t flinch from posing the questions few want to hear. About what happens between a man a woman when they’re alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in a lift . . .

Is James the victim of an unfortunate misunderstanding or the perpetrator of something sinister? Who is right: Sophie or Kate? This scandal – which forces Sophie to appraise her marriage and Kate her demons – will have far-reaching consequences for them all.

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.

Follow Me On Bloglovin'