Review: Anatomy of a Scandal

Posted 17th January 2018 by Emma in Reviews / 0 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Anatomy of a ScandalAnatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan
on 11th January 2018
Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Pages: 388
Format: ARC
Source: from the Publisher
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Sophie’s husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And 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 rip them apart.

Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes.

Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how easily pleasure could tip into tragedy.

Most people would prefer not to try to understand what passes between a man and a woman when they are alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in an elevator… Or alone in the moonlit courtyard of an Oxford college, where a girl once stood before a boy, heart pounding with excitement, then fear. Sophie never understood why her tutorial partner Holly left Oxford so abruptly. What would she think, if she knew the truth?

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my proof copy of this book. I got sent a copy of this book back in around March/April 2017. I had heard so many good reviews that I knew I had to bump it up my TBR pile. I planned to read it over the Christmas break but there were so many festive stories that it took a backseat. As soon as the new year began I made it my mission to read it.

It’s very hard to talk about this story without any spoilers so I apologise now if my review makes very little sense. The main thing you should take away is that this is a book you NEED to read.

Not only is this story addictive and gripping it is also extremely relevant right now. When you look to the media we see stories just like this one. Which of those are true and which of those are not can only be known by those involved.

The book is told in the third person. I liked that the chapters were headed with the date and the name of the character the chapter was about.  I really enjoyed the differing views and time jumps  in this book.

Kate and Sophie are two very different women but who have a lot of similarities. Kate at first glance seems strong, hard nosed and ice queen. Sophie on the other hand seems like a loving mother who wants the best for her family. As we delve into the story there are more and more layers to these women and the things they have experienced.

This book is full of twists and turns that you won’t guess until the author wants you to.

This book was my first 5* of the year and I know right now it will be in my top books of the year post. I have already been telling all my friends that this is a must read!

About Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to be a journalist. After training with the Press Association, she worked for The Guardian for 11 years as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent before leaving to freelance. She started writing fiction the week she turned forty. Anatomy of a Scandal is her third novel and will be published in January 2018 by S&S in the UK, US and Canada, plus other commonwealth countries. It will also be translated into 16 languages. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and two young children and is currently writing her fourth novel.

Emma

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:


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