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    Anatomy of a Scandal: Now a major Netflix series
    Unavailable
    Anatomy of a Scandal: Now a major Netflix series
    Unavailable
    Anatomy of a Scandal: Now a major Netflix series
    Audiobook10 hours

    Anatomy of a Scandal: Now a major Netflix series

    Written by Sarah Vaughan

    Narrated by Julie Teal, Luke Thompson, Esther Wane and Sarah Feathers

    4/5

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    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this audiobook

    THE WORD-OF-MOUTH SENSATION
    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
    A RICHARD & JUDY BOOKCLUB SELECTION
    NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES

    'Timely and compelling' Shari Lapena
    'Impressive' The Times
    'Gripping' Observer
    'Sensational’ Clare Mackintosh

    A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight.

    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.

    Praise for Anatomy of a Scandal:

    'Magnificent' Marian Keyes

    'Intelligent, subtle and thought-provoking' Louise Candlish

    'The definition of a page-turner' Elizabeth Day

    'Almost impossible to put down' Louise O’Neill

    'Once the trial of MP James Whitehouse starts, you could not have prised the book from hands for love or money' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express

    'An absolute masterpiece – prepare to be very impressed' heat

    'A lot of reviews claim that a novel has them ‘hooked from the start’ – but with this story, it’s painfully true' Grazia

    ‘A timely thriller about marriage, but also about power, who wields it, and how that affects who we believe’ Stylist

    ‘Well-written, pacy and full of twists and turns’  Independent

    'New Netflix series lays bare the toxic privilege of those in power… Friend’s performance is eerily plausible. His Whitehouse is charismatic and smoothly persuasive, his eloquence barely concealing his arrogance… Equally strong is Miller as Sophie, who is forced for the first time to examine her own cosseted way of life and the principles she has sacrificed to preserve it' Financial Times

    'This drama will immediately entire fans of House of Cards, Apple Tree Yard and The Undoing…. Miller is excellent as the elegant, brittle Sophie, who is forced to watch her beautifully organised house fall out of order, the heart of a drama that manages to feel both aesthetically glossy and morally gritty' Sunday Times Culture
     
    'Feels like it could have been ripped from the headlines' Evening Standard
     
    'A cautionary tale for our times' Daily Telegraph

    **OUT NOW: REPUTATION, THE THRILLING AND TIMELY NEW NOVEL FROM SARAH VAUGHAN**
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio UK
    Release dateJan 11, 2018
    ISBN9781471167010
    Unavailable
    Anatomy of a Scandal: Now a major Netflix series
    Author

    Sarah Vaughan

    Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. After training at the Press Association, she spent eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her first two novels, The Art of Baking Blind and The Farm at the Edge of the World, were followed by her first psychological thriller, Anatomy of a Scandal: a Sunday Times bestseller, and Richard & Judy pick of the decade, developed as a Netflix series starring Rupert Friend, Michelle Dockery and Sienna Miller. Her fourth novel, Little Disasters, a Waterstone’s thriller of the month, was published in 2020. Reputation is her fifth novel.

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    Reviews for Anatomy of a Scandal

    4/5

    396 ratings60 reviews

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    • 2/5
      A very good and promising idea, however terribly executed. Not one of these characters is likeable and someone you can root for. There is no sense of an actual plot - things happen because author wishes them to do so. You won’t miss much if you skip this one.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book. Yes have also watched the tv series, but the book is gripping and so well read. A must listen.
    • 4/5
      4 stars for the writer always used only this sentence structure throughout the book.
    • 3/5
      good plot too much detail seemed jnterminable and a bit boring in places Surprised we did not get to know about what they had for breakfast
    • 5/5
      Brilliantly written, compelling!
      After watching the Netflix series trailer I knew I had to read/listen to the whole book.
    • 4/5
      enjoyed it. i like the way you hear the thoughts of the main subjects but not so convinced by the credibility of the court case or the 'incident'. the narrators and production was superb.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant intrigue! So well written, showing a deep understanding of entitlement, boys clubs and arrogance of the privileged that so often fills the halls of those in places of power. Sad indictment of the world of politics.
    • 4/5
      Didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Great book.
    • 3/5
      Sarah writes really well, it was so lifelike and I could feel myself present in court with Kate. However it felt very anticlimactic and somewhat predictable. Still..a very good read.
    • 5/5
      Intriguing story, kept me gripped until the last page. Was a little long winded at times and I may have struggled to read it in a text format. Listening was excellent, well narrated with different readers for the different parts
    • 5/5
      Loved this story! Such great characters fully rounded,real and true.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable, holiday type read, definitely worth a listen. I will check to see other books written by this author.

    • 5/5
      Excellent read, kept my attention throughout and handled such sensitive topics wonderfully
    • 4/5
      This book is a dark drama about a British politician accused of sexual assault, his past, the impact on his marriage, the trial, and the aftermath. It is told from the perspectives of the politician, his wife, and the prosecutor, using both third and first-person points of view. Set primarily in present day, it also flashes back to the main characters’ college years. While the plot is focused on the politician, the psychological and emotional elements are relayed through the stories of his wife and the prosecutor.

      Due to the nature of the alleged crime, the subject matter is heavy and at times difficult to read. I thought the author handled it well, covering most of the detailed descriptions through clinical courtroom dialogue and internal reflections of the characters. I learned a lot about the British system of justice and trial proceedings, and assimilated a variety of new legal terms previously unfamiliar to me.

      This book is a page-turner. The main characters are well-developed, and enough detail is provided for me to relate to their points of view, while the secondary characters appeared to be primarily used as plot devices. Aside from a few over-used words, and some unfamiliarity with British terminology, I found it a compelling read. It’s not for everyone, as some won’t be able to handle the harsh subject matter, but I think it will do well when released (it’s due out in December 2017).

      Recommended to readers of courtroom dramas or mysteries with a few unexpected twists. As a warning, this book contains triggers for language, infidelity, and rape. I received an advanced copy of this book in return for feedback and review.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book! I have had this book on my shelf for years but never got around to it for some reason. I recently heard that there is now a Netflix show based on this book so I thought that this would be the perfect time to finally pick it up. I liked this book from the start and had a hard time setting it down when life got in the way. I am so glad that I finally gave this book a try.This book is told from several different points of view. James is a married father of two that holds a prestigious position in government. Sophie is his wife who feels that she must stand behind her husband even though he hasn’t been the best partner. Kate is the lawyer who is bringing a case against James. This book is a legal thriller with much of the book occurring around events in court. In addition to the scenes in court, we see how the key players are being impacted by the case. The book also delves into the past to really give the reader all the backstory needed to understand how things evolved the way they did.I think that the book had a realistic feel to it. It was a story of power and privilege featuring flawed characters. James was easy to hate but Sophie and Kate seemed to be trying their best to deal with the situation that they found themselves in. There were some twists and turns in the story that I did not see coming which kept me glued to the story. I thought that this book did a great job of dealing with some difficult issues in a realistic and entertaining manner.I thought that the cast of narrators did a great job with this story. Each narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. I liked having different narrators read the various points of view since it made it very clear when the perspective had shifted. They all had very pleasant voices and were able to add just the right amount of emotion to their reading.I would definitely recommend this book to others. I was pulled into this story right away and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out for the key players. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.I received a review copy of this book from Atria Books and borrowed a copy of the audiobook.
    • 4/5
      This is a very gripping political and legal thriller.The scandal of the title refers to an affair between James Whitehouse, a Conservative Mp and junior minister and one of his research staff. The novel opens with the news of the affair breaking. Whitehouse’s wife is expecting him to return home on a Friday evening in time to get changed and then head out to a dinner party. Instead, he turns up late, and has to tell her that the following morning’s newspaper’s will be carrying stories about the affair. The seriousness of his position intensifies when the researcher alleges that, after he had ended the relationship, in a subsequent encounter he raped her. The bulk of the book covers the progress of the subsequent trial, with flashbacks from various characters.Sarah Vaughan’s management of the plot is excellent. The story develops, following various sinuous twists but always remaining highly plausible. It also allows for a stark exploration of the attitudes of entitlement among strata of society, and an almost wilful inability to see things from another person’s perspective.The descriptions of Westminster and the byways of parliament with which I am familiar through my job as parliamentary clerk for my Civil Service department, are spot on. That verisimilitude lends strength to other aspects of the plot.I don’t want to say much more about the story for fear of inadvertent spoilers. It is, however, utterly engrossing and highly convincing.
    • 4/5
      ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL really is what its title says it is: an anatomy, or analysis, of a scandal. The story is told from the viewpoints of the various people who are involved in the scandal, directly or indirectly, although the actual scandal is not dealt with until about page 200. You might say, then, up until that point is setup that goes too long. You would be only partially correct. If this is to be an anatomy of a scandal, analyses of these people are necessary.James is a handsome, charismatic politician in England. His is the scandal to be analyzed. So we go back to his college days and those of his future wife, Sophie, and some of the people they went to school with. These are people in the 1990s who will be directly or indirectly involved in the scandal about 20 years later.In 2016 James is accused of rape by a woman he had been having an affair with. The case goes to trial, and the viewpoints of various characters, including the prosecutor, Kate, are given postscandal as well.I was surprised by Kate. I feel like I shouldn’t have been, though. You may catch it before I did. I enjoyed this book, although perhaps the word really shouldn’t be “enjoyed.” The subject matter wasn’t exactly happy. My only criticism of ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is its punctuation. Semicolons are misused all over the place. I am a retired editor, and these errors glared at me.
    • 3/5
      Interesting book, fairly paced to keep the reader entertained a light enjoyable read. It is not on par with some thrillers, there is no shocking twist at the end, the thoughts of the books could have been rearranged to make it a 4star book
    • 3/5
      This is a tough one to review. Once again I just really did not connect with any of the characters. The story wasn’t that exciting to me, with the exception of a few parts. Overall, this book just didn’t do it for me - just wasn’t for me.
    • 4/5
      Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah VaughanEmily Bestler Book, December 2017Disclosure: I received a review copy.Anatomy of a Scandal is a courtroom thriller more than anything. James Whitehouse, a member of Parliament is on trial for raping a young staff member, and the story switches between Kate's(the prosecutor) and Sophie's (his wife) perspectives, with a bit from James's (the accused) point of view. The story also cover the contemporary criminal case and everyone's college years.The cover of my review copy is misleading, a quibble I often have with books. “You want to believe your husband. She wants to destroy him.” That is not this book. There is no direct confrontation between Kate and Sophie. Vaughan does not play clear favorites between those characters. She's more interested in how everyone is affected by James, both during the criminal case as well as before and after. She's more interested in how women live in a world where men abuse women both criminally and psychologically. It's very reflective. The humiliated politician's wife shows up in movies and in real life over and over, and this book gets at Sophie's struggle. And it's very perceptive about the slitheriness of James, the accused. The longer I am away from the book, the more impressed I am by how damning this story is to him.
    • 4/5
      The first half kind of dragged and then BAM! Picked up and flew to the end.
    • 4/5
      Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

      2017

      Received as ARC from publishers via NetGalley for review.

      What constitutes a scandal? Usually, there are several conflicting views of the same story. What makes one person a more reliable source than another? In this novel, the actions of an Oxford educated politician in Britain's Parliament are being scrutinized. James was raised in a wealthy privileged family which fostered his perception of accountability. Consequently, he has to defend himself against a prosecutor with a big chip on her shoulder. The prosecutor, Kate, had struggled to be a successful barrister defending innocent victims despite her unfortunate past. The story unfolds through alternating POV including, Sophie, the dedicated spouse of James. Like James, Sophie was raised with opportunities and wealth which jaded her view of reality.

      This is a well written book which raises questions regarding how well do we truly know other people including those closest to us? There are many layers and opinions regarding a truth that might otherwise seem obvious. I don't like giving spoilers so I will just add that often even the truth isn't necessarily the true story. It is interesting how different people can experience the same situation yet arrive at a completely different and opposing conclusion.

      I enjoyed the suspense and well developed characters. Like most scandalous stories there will always be people who strive to seek the truth at any cost. Sometimes, these people can be admired or criticized for their cunning approach in the sake of the truth.
    • 2/5
      Anatomy of a Scandal has it all. Vaughan has managed to start off my 2018 with a book that has already left such a big impression on me. This is the second book I've read this month with the theme of rape, and I'm thankful that Vaughan handles the topic with grace and a straight-to-the-facts personality that shows us how deeply this can affect someone one it happens to them.James is a politician who has been accused of rape. His wife wants to believe he's innocent, but as time goes on the less she's convinced. Kate is the lawyer who has been hired to try to pin James with a guilty verdict, and she's more than one hundred perfect convinced that he is guilty.A courtroom is the perfect setting for this book, as it blends well with the topic at hand. We get multiple perspectives of different people, and see how looking past past crimes can come back to haunt people if they're not taught a lesson when it happens the first time.With more women and men speaking up about their past run-ins with sexual harassment or rape in the news today, Vaughan has managed to come up with a book that's both timeless and trendy that packs a real lesson to all of us.5/5 read. I recommend it to anyone who wants to start their 2018 with a book that they're unable to put down. I gobbled it up in two days tops.Disclaimer: I received this book from BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. All opinions herein are of my own and are not swayed by any outside factors.
    • 3/5
      I like to read a page turning thriller once in a while. I'd say out of the 25 or so books a year I read - maybe 2 or 3 fit that description. I usually pick them with some care because I read so few I try to read ones that have been well reviewed by a lot of people. I am not sure where I got the recommendation for this one but it does seem to have quite a following. I was disappointed. I feel like this book was a bit of a slog and pretty far fetched. Far fetched to the point that i found it sometimes exasperating to read. I have a hard time when people make non-sensical decisions in books when their character is supposed to be smart. There was so much here that was crazy in terms of people taking risks that seem insane when their jobs are so important and then making it worse. I know we see some of this behavior in the crazy world we are living in today but in a novel to make the story work I feel like you have to have some consistency in behavior and motivation in characters. Anyway, I made it all the way through, it was fine but I really wanted something I would feel like tearing through.
    • 4/5
      Holly kommt dank eines Vollstipendiums aus der nordenglischen Provinz nach Oxford, wo sie Literatur studieren will. Große Erwartungen hat sie an das Studentenleben, doch bald schon muss sie erkennen, dass sie nicht in diese Welt passt. Sie bemüht sich, passt sich an, findet in Sophie und Alison auch zwei Freundinnen. Ein Ereignis am Ende des ersten Studienjahres lässt ihre Welt jedoch zusammenbrechen. Von einem Kommilitonen, der zu den berühmt-berüchtigten Libertines gehört, die sich dank des Geldes ihrer Familien alles erlauben können, wird sie vergewaltigt und ergreift schließlich die Flucht. Zwanzig Jahre später ist sie nicht mehr das naive Mädchen, sondern eine knallharte Prozessanwältin und es scheint als sei endlich der Tag der Abrechnung gekommen. Sarah Vaughns Roman lebt von den unterschiedlichen Perspektiven auf die Ereignisse. Im Wechsel werden die Protagonisten beleuchtet: die Anklägerin, der Angeklagte und dessen Frau. Obwohl es zunächst um den Vergewaltigungsvorwurf gegen den Politiker James Whitehouse geht, wird bald schon klar, dass eigentlich die beiden Frauen mit ihren widersprüchlichen Emotionen und Überzeugungen die interessantesten Figuren sind. Zwei Aspekte hat Vaughan für mein Empfinden sehr überzeugend in ihrer Geschichte dargestellt: zum einen die ausufernden Partys, die die Sprösslinge der Oberschicht in den Elitelehranstalten feiern und die Arroganz, mit der sie schon in jungen Jahren den Menschen gegenübertreten, wo sie selbst noch nichts im Leben geleistet oder erreicht haben. Ihnen gehört die Welt, sie kaufen sie sich und drehen die Wahrheit wie es ihnen passt. Als Studenten und später im Berufsleben. Die dort geknüpften Bande sind hart wie Stahl und durch nichts zu erschüttern. So sichern sie sich gegenseitig ab und garantieren auch, dass niemand den Schutzwall, der sie scheinbar umgibt, durchdringt.Der zweite Punkt liegt in der Figur von Ehefrau Sophie, die zwar nicht die cleverste Studentin zu sein scheint, aber durchaus über ausreichend Weitblick verfügt, zu durchschauen, was James mit ihr macht. Sie spielt mit, weil das die Rolle ist, zu der sie erzogen wurde und kann lange Zeit nicht über ihren Schatten springen, obwohl die Zweifel an ihr nagen. Ein wenig mehr Mut hätte es gebraucht, etwas mehr Rückgrat und die Dinge hätten anders verlaufen können. Ihre passive Schicksalsergebenheit macht sie schuldig. Kein Gerichtsthriller, kein Drama, sondern eine Menschenstudie, die sehr gut gelungen ist und trotz des Hoffnungsschimmers am Ende ein wenig Frust zurücklässt, weil nämlich die Wahrheit nicht immer den Weg ans Licht findet und nicht jede Tat angemessen bestraft wird.
    • 4/5
      Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughn is a 2018 Atria/Emily Bestler Books Publication.Timely, with a few very intriguing twists!When the Junior Member of England, James Whitehouse, is caught out in an affair, it looks as though he will weather the storm, both professionally and personally- until his mistress, Olivia, comes forward with an accusation of rape.Kate, a prosecutor/barrister believes James is guilty as sin. But, his wife, Sophie, despite enduring the humiliation of his affair, doesn’t think her husband is capable of sexual assault. She plays the part of the supportive politician's wife- a cliche if there ever was one, going along with James' management team, saying and doing what was expected of her, while she denies the lie her life has become. During the investigation and subsequent trial, Sophie, Kate, and James all reveal their inner thoughts, revealing their innermost secrets, some of which are explosive, dangerous, and raise many questions about ethics, about the rape culture, the way the courts handle rape cases. It examines the mindset of the elite and entitled, the nature of politics, and the rationalizations people make, the lies they tell to maintain a way of life they are accustomed to, or to have a taste of power. It also examines gray areas of human nature, which can make the reader think- "What would I do in that situation?"The story grabbed my attention right away, although the story moved in a predictable fashion, at least in the beginning. But, then a very, very, unique twist develops along the way, which puts a fresh spin on a familiar plot. This revelation creates a suspenseful situation that had me holding my breath, sitting on the edge of my seat. I love courtroom dramas and am always especially interested in the court systems outside the US, so I found the trial segments of great interest, as well. Usually I’m not a big fanof multiple POV novels, but in this case, it was quite effective and really gave readers deep insight into the characters moral code, the lines they draw in the sand and the ones they are willing to cross- for revenge or for justice. I thought this book was thought provoking, and of course, it’s very timely and emotional topic. The pacing drags in some places, but other than that, the book is polished, well- constructed, with a unique style and presentation. Legal thrillers have been too few and far between for a long time, so it’s good to find one that well and truly fits into that category! 4 stars
    • 5/5
      Visit all my reviews here. I love to chat books! Pop by, leave your review links!

      Anatomy of a Scandal is based around three central characters. First there's James, the suave, charismatic family man and politician who is also good friends with the Prime Minister. He's wealthy and over-privileged. Then we meet Kate, the young, ruthlessly ambitious prosecutor, who's determined to see James get the guilty verdict he deserves. She's also good at her job and made her name prosecuting the very worst sexual assault cases. Finally we meet Sophie, James’ wife who has been dating James since college and knows him better than anyone else. All have a vital part to play in this psychological, legal d rama, which starts with a shocking scandal being revealed, which is then dissected in court.

      James is accused of rape one of his assistants, but did he do it? While his wife Sophie is seemingly supportive on the outside, on the inside her mind is going crazy thinking about his alleged crimes and what he could in fact be capable of. Just how long can she remain loyal as the story unfolds?

      We travel from the court case, back in time to Oxford in the 90s and into the current murky goings on within the privileged political world, where money, corruption and power rule the day.

      This is an extremely well written and cleverly plotted, insightful story, which I can easily see adapted into a BBC drama, very much like Louise Doughty’s Apple Tree Yard.

      Sarah Vaughan has mastered a treat for us with Anatomy of a Scandal, a sharp, engrossing and poignant political drama, which highlights some shocking hard-hitting facts with sensitivity and r ealism. Terrific!

      Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy. This is my honest opinion of this book.
    • 2/5
      At first, I rated this book 4 stars, but after reviewing it some with my book club, I realized I jumped the gun. It needs work.

      I read this book and it seemed interesting at first with its main story of a rape scandal in the British government. This issue I had with this book was the writing style. The over explanations and confusing situations made it very difficult to really invest in. I did really enjoy the storyline, but I feel it could have done with more dialogue and more depth, with fewer explanations and details.

      I would still recommend this to someone who is interested in British lawyer fiction or a good starter book for getting back into reading. I honestly don't know if I can see myself reading another book from the author.
    • 5/5
      Good story full of twists and intrigue. The characters are great. The story moves at a good pace unfolding each layer of the story until the very end.
    • 4/5
      I was expecting this one to be another book about an abusive husband, but it's more about sexual assault and victim shaming. It approaches the topic from multiple points of view and it plays out more as a court room drama. I loved the barrister Kate's sections best. It kept me interested as the story unfolded. Also, I think the book's cover is completely confusing and has nothing to do with the plot.