Welcome to my review of Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan. I saw this advertised as a TV Series but thought I recognised the title as a book, so I went to check it out and have a read while watching the series. I knew the premise from the advert and the beginning of the series, so I knew what it would be about, and while I enjoyed both, I think the book had the edge (of course!).
A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight.
A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight. A wife, determined to keep her family safe, must face a prosecutor who believes justice has been a long time coming. A scandal that will rock Westminster. And the women caught at the heart of it.
Anatomy of a Scandal centres on a high-profile marriage that begins to unravel when the husband is accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them. Kate is the barrister who will prosecute the case – she is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.
Sarah Vaughan is the international bestselling author of the Number one Netflix TV series, Anatomy of a Scandal, and four other novels. A former journalist, she read English at Oxford before training at the Press Association and spending 11 years at the Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent. After having her second baby, she left to freelance, and eventually to write fiction. Two women’s fiction novels followed before Anatomy of a Scandal, her 3rd novel and her first courtroom drama/psychological thriller, heralded a new direction and became an instant international bestseller. Sold to 24 countries, it was also a Sunday Times top five bestseller, spending 10 weeks in the top 10 charts; a kindle number 1 bestseller; and one of Richard & Judy’s best dozen books of the decade. In April 2022, it dropped as a six-part Netflix mini-series, written by David E Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, and starring Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, and Rupert Friend. In its first 3 days, it debuted at number 3 worldwide and was the number 1 most watched Netflix TV show in multiple countries, including the UK and US. In its first 3 days alone, it notched up 40.28 million viewing hours.
Little Disasters, published during the first and third lockdowns, was a Waterstone’s Thriller of the Month and is in the process of being adapted for a UK broadcaster. It was also WH Smith paperback of the month, a Kindle bestseller, and has been published in the US and various other countries. Reputation, published in March 2022, has also been optioned by the team behind Anatomy of a Scandal with a view to being developed for TV. It will be published in the US in July, and in various other countries throughout the year.
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Anatomy of a Scandal focuses mainly on two women, Sophie Whitehouse, the wife of the scandalised MP James and Kate Woodcroft, the prosecuting QC. Many questions are posed by the Anatomy of a Scandal, mostly around rape, its after-effects, the difference in points of view, privilege and power.
Kate is divorced, without children, and she lives alone. As an experienced lawyer, her work is her life, but she needs something big to propel her to more extraordinary things, just as her clerk, Brian, has found her.
Sophie has been married to James for twelve years, and they have two children. They have been together since their days at Oxford University. James comes home late and confesses to his affair with Olivia, a work colleague, and admits the story is about to break that he is being charged with her rape.
From here, we follow the rape trial and events surrounding it from the perspectives of Kate and Sophie. While this is a bit of a slow burn, we learn about the characters, secrets come out, and we see differing perspectives on particular aspects through flashbacks.
The rape trial is interesting. As with most of these trials, there are no witnesses; it’s a case of what he said/she said and how each party interprets what happened. While the case seems initially straightforward, it posed so additional questions, was Olivia lying because of who James was, scorned from being dumped or had James forced her or not listened when she said no. Everything plays out in the giant spotlight of every newspaper and broadcast. Lives are changed and nuances examined.
“He is watching me closely, and it’s as if he knows exactly what I need to hear. And, though I know the law does not always punish the guilty…I also know that, in the court of public opinion, things are rather different and more than one morally questionable act seems more than a coincidence can-if uttered sufficiently often and loudly-completely ruin a man. “
Sarah Vaughan, Anatomy of a Scandal
The plot flows well. It’s a character-driven novel that is intelligent, thought-provoking, and timely. A story about sex, entitlement, and power. It shows that we don’t know as much as we think we know about those around us, even those we live with. There are many legalese and courtroom showcases, but that’s what brings this to life.
The characters are well-drawn. I felt I knew them well and understood their motives and privilege, how they thought that they may be above usual standards because of that privilege. What secrets do people hide from others, and how far they will go to protect the status quo or their future aspirations.
Unfortunately, the book’s pacing dragged a little in places, but it was well constructed, polished and had a unique style. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the TV series, which is currently on Netflix.
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| Title | Anatomy of a Scandal |
| Author | Sarah Vaughan |
| Series | N/A |
| Format | Kindle |
| Page Count | 399 Pages |
| Genre | Psychological Fiction |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster UK |
| Release Date | 11th January 2018 |
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