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challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I absolutely loved this. I saw the play in the cinema a couple of years ago, and Jodie Comer was fantastic, so I was curious to see how that translated to a novel.
The novel was just as powerful, just as compelling as the play. Especially in the second half, I could not put it down.
Tessa is a criminal defence barrister, who is from a working class background and has, despite all the odds, become one of the best of her generation amongst "thoroughbreds" - people from a background of wealth and influence. She navigates life in a world where there aren't many people like her, and is an incredibly powerful, intelligent and loveable character. In her work, she regularly defends people accused of sexual assault crimes, and knows exactly how to cross-examine witnesses to win the case. But then, when she is suddenly on the other side, in the witness box herself, she sees her assumptions of the legal justice system crumbling around her.
A hugely important and emotional book that I'd recommend to everyone (with the TW: sexual assault and r*pe)
The novel was just as powerful, just as compelling as the play. Especially in the second half, I could not put it down.
Tessa is a criminal defence barrister, who is from a working class background and has, despite all the odds, become one of the best of her generation amongst "thoroughbreds" - people from a background of wealth and influence. She navigates life in a world where there aren't many people like her, and is an incredibly powerful, intelligent and loveable character. In her work, she regularly defends people accused of sexual assault crimes, and knows exactly how to cross-examine witnesses to win the case. But then, when she is suddenly on the other side, in the witness box herself, she sees her assumptions of the legal justice system crumbling around her.
A hugely important and emotional book that I'd recommend to everyone (with the TW: sexual assault and r*pe)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Prima Facie has been on my radar ever since I became aware the theatre production, of the same name, was to be performed by Jodie Comer (Killing Ever fame). Unfortunately, I never got a chance to watch the show but the reception had been massive and I was expecting the same from this novel adaptation.
Prima Facie is the story of Tessa Ensler, an up and coming criminal defence barrister, with a natural flair for strategising the case in the best interests of her clients, she is confident and formidable in the courtroom and respected amongst her peers, considered worthy competition. This is the face Tessa wears professionally, she works hard because she has had to due to her socio-economic background. Born in a working-class family, she was awarded a full scholarship to read law at Cambridge University which has given rise to this prominent identity today that she wears with pride. Tessa strongly believes in the criminal justice system, defendants are innocent until proven guilty. The barrister's job is simply to tell the best version of the story. The aim is never to undermine, but if the stats don't stack up....the narrative will fail on it's own. Tessa plays by the rules, until she finds herself testing the system again, now as a rape victim. Will justice be served?
The stats on rape convictions is not new news, "one in three" women will suffer sexual assault in their lifetime but less are reported and even less result in successful convictions. Suzie Miller presents a chilling, powerful narrative, turning the tale on it's head - with a striking insight into the workings of the legal system and how it is flawed when it comes to proving a lack of consent. Why is it automatically assumed that consent was given? Why is the victim is subjected to proving and evidencing what they did or did not do, to counter this "assumption"? For rape victims, reliving this before a jury is a punishment itself, but to then to be questioned by a well-experienced barrister whose role is to cast aspersions on your truth, a jury's job is to ultimately decide whether they believe you or not - and god forbid, they don't, where is the justice? Something is clearly not right and change is warranted.
By telling the story through Tessa, the reader witnesses this whole ordeal through Tessa's eyes, how society perceives her before and after, how Tessa struggles to challenge a system, despite her profession and a career in defending these very crimes is still not enough to help her separate her emotions from legal instincts. What hope would common individuals have who have no previous dealings with the law?
I was choked at so many points, stumped for words at the injustice and this one will definitely stay with me for a long time. The writer establishes a balance between the law and a highly emotive story which will resonate with many women, in particular, but male allies who are needed to change a historically white-cis male dominant industry, where a women's version of the truth was never meant to be accepted. The fact that rape in marital relationships was not recognised as a crime until 1991 in English law speaks for itself. I loved supporting characters, Tessa's family, Adam and Mia are true gems.
This was a gripping, thought-provoking read, exceptionally well-written and a book I will always recommend. Thank you for writing this one Suzie.
Thank you to NetGalley and especially Random House UK, Cornerstone for the arc in exchange for an honest unedited review.
Prima Facie is the story of Tessa Ensler, an up and coming criminal defence barrister, with a natural flair for strategising the case in the best interests of her clients, she is confident and formidable in the courtroom and respected amongst her peers, considered worthy competition. This is the face Tessa wears professionally, she works hard because she has had to due to her socio-economic background. Born in a working-class family, she was awarded a full scholarship to read law at Cambridge University which has given rise to this prominent identity today that she wears with pride. Tessa strongly believes in the criminal justice system, defendants are innocent until proven guilty. The barrister's job is simply to tell the best version of the story. The aim is never to undermine, but if the stats don't stack up....the narrative will fail on it's own. Tessa plays by the rules, until she finds herself testing the system again, now as a rape victim. Will justice be served?
The stats on rape convictions is not new news, "one in three" women will suffer sexual assault in their lifetime but less are reported and even less result in successful convictions. Suzie Miller presents a chilling, powerful narrative, turning the tale on it's head - with a striking insight into the workings of the legal system and how it is flawed when it comes to proving a lack of consent. Why is it automatically assumed that consent was given? Why is the victim is subjected to proving and evidencing what they did or did not do, to counter this "assumption"? For rape victims, reliving this before a jury is a punishment itself, but to then to be questioned by a well-experienced barrister whose role is to cast aspersions on your truth, a jury's job is to ultimately decide whether they believe you or not - and god forbid, they don't, where is the justice? Something is clearly not right and change is warranted.
By telling the story through Tessa, the reader witnesses this whole ordeal through Tessa's eyes, how society perceives her before and after, how Tessa struggles to challenge a system, despite her profession and a career in defending these very crimes is still not enough to help her separate her emotions from legal instincts. What hope would common individuals have who have no previous dealings with the law?
I was choked at so many points, stumped for words at the injustice and this one will definitely stay with me for a long time. The writer establishes a balance between the law and a highly emotive story which will resonate with many women, in particular, but male allies who are needed to change a historically white-cis male dominant industry, where a women's version of the truth was never meant to be accepted. The fact that rape in marital relationships was not recognised as a crime until 1991 in English law speaks for itself. I loved supporting characters, Tessa's family, Adam and Mia are true gems.
This was a gripping, thought-provoking read, exceptionally well-written and a book I will always recommend. Thank you for writing this one Suzie.
Thank you to NetGalley and especially Random House UK, Cornerstone for the arc in exchange for an honest unedited review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Far out. A must read.
A story of the difference between legal truth and actual truth.
“Why do we believe consent exists until it is taken away? … could we not start with asking … What did he do to determine consent existed in the first place?
The novel of the award winning play, this is an expertly structured story of a defence barrister skilled at defending sexual assault cases who ends has to decide if she will testify about her rape despite the minuscule probability of such cases succeeding.
A story of the difference between legal truth and actual truth.
“Why do we believe consent exists until it is taken away? … could we not start with asking … What did he do to determine consent existed in the first place?
The novel of the award winning play, this is an expertly structured story of a defence barrister skilled at defending sexual assault cases who ends has to decide if she will testify about her rape despite the minuscule probability of such cases succeeding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oof. This book hit hard - as it should, and as it’s designed to do. It’s the story of Tessa, a brilliant young barrister who is very talented at finding areas of doubt in the cases she is defending. One night she goes on a date with a colleague and he rapes her. She decides to file a complaint and ends up in court as a prosecution witness, an experience which shows her the many ways the court system is ill suited to ensuring justice in crimes of a sexual nature.
The book opens strongly with the reader in Tessa’s head as she’s in court defending a client. She’s at the top of her game, totally in control of the court process and using all her training, skills and tricks - a term I used deliberately and advisedly - of the trade to lead a witness to make a slight slip, to create just enough doubt that the prosecution case fails. The contrast with the court scenes at the end of the book, when she is being cross examined by a defence lawyer and feels powerless, confused, flustered, under attack and vulnerable so that she says thing she doesn’t necessarily mean and struggles to remember, could not have been starker. As a defence lawyer she had total faith in the legal system ; as the victim of a sexual crime she experienced how flawed, inadequate and traumatising it was; how totally unlikely it was to deliver a fair, just and correct verdict.
The other thing this book did really well was explore the issue of class and what it means to come from a working class background, attend a prestigious university and work in a prestigious profession, surrounded by colleagues who are virtually all from an upper class background, who have experiences and advantages you can’t begin to imagine, to feel like you don’t belong, to be on the receiving end of various micro aggressions that say you and your family are less than, to desperately watch others to learn the accepted way to dress and behave.
This book started out as a highly regarded play and one scene in particular was so easy to envisage on stage. It was powerful to read. I can only imagine how much more powerful it would
The book opens strongly with the reader in Tessa’s head as she’s in court defending a client. She’s at the top of her game, totally in control of the court process and using all her training, skills and tricks - a term I used deliberately and advisedly - of the trade to lead a witness to make a slight slip, to create just enough doubt that the prosecution case fails. The contrast with the court scenes at the end of the book, when she is being cross examined by a defence lawyer and feels powerless, confused, flustered, under attack and vulnerable so that she says thing she doesn’t necessarily mean and struggles to remember, could not have been starker. As a defence lawyer she had total faith in the legal system ; as the victim of a sexual crime she experienced how flawed, inadequate and traumatising it was; how totally unlikely it was to deliver a fair, just and correct verdict.
The other thing this book did really well was explore the issue of class and what it means to come from a working class background, attend a prestigious university and work in a prestigious profession, surrounded by colleagues who are virtually all from an upper class background, who have experiences and advantages you can’t begin to imagine, to feel like you don’t belong, to be on the receiving end of various micro aggressions that say you and your family are less than, to desperately watch others to learn the accepted way to dress and behave.
This book started out as a highly regarded play and one scene in particular was so easy to envisage on stage. It was powerful to read. I can only imagine how much more powerful it would
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Gaslighting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A gut wrenching but important read: although we know the story & where it‘s headed it doesn’t make it any easier 3👩⚖️
Wished this story was set in Australia like the original play - annoys me that Aussie material is always adapted for US/UK audiences. Susie Miller literally practiced law in Sydney!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This is simply one of the most incredible books I think I have ever read.
Having not been lucky enough to see the Jodie Comer version on stage but hearing all the rave reviews about it, I was eager to dive into this book. I knew it wouldn't be an easy read, books like this rarely are, but it was important and poignant and just plain incredible.
The look into the justice system and how lawyers, barristers, solicitors etc, try and defend what most of us will probably see as indefensible was so important in the build up of this novel. Tessa is everything that we see in the before and after of things like this happening to them. She was fearless, driven, striving for the best. Then it happens. She's withdrawn, afraid, feels unsafe.
What I absolutely adored about this is that the things that happened to her doesn't change her at the core. She fights, just like she's been trained to do. She was fearless and wanted justice and that's how she remained.
Massive thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an eARC of this book. I'd let my heart break all over again to read something as incredible as this for the first time.
Having not been lucky enough to see the Jodie Comer version on stage but hearing all the rave reviews about it, I was eager to dive into this book. I knew it wouldn't be an easy read, books like this rarely are, but it was important and poignant and just plain incredible.
The look into the justice system and how lawyers, barristers, solicitors etc, try and defend what most of us will probably see as indefensible was so important in the build up of this novel. Tessa is everything that we see in the before and after of things like this happening to them. She was fearless, driven, striving for the best. Then it happens. She's withdrawn, afraid, feels unsafe.
What I absolutely adored about this is that the things that happened to her doesn't change her at the core. She fights, just like she's been trained to do. She was fearless and wanted justice and that's how she remained.
Massive thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an eARC of this book. I'd let my heart break all over again to read something as incredible as this for the first time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I picked up the audiobook of this after learning it was narrated by Jodie Comer, who did a show-stopping and heartfelt adaptation of the play this novel is based on. I will try my hardest to review the book and not let the play influence my thoughts on this. but first: a word on Jodie Comer;
if you have the opportunity to listen to this on audio, do not hesitate. Comer knows this work so well and makes this long and heavy book palatable in a way that it wouldn't be if I had to hear my own voice describe certain parts of this book. She is able to dip in and out of emotion so fluidly that it is truly beautiful to listen to. If the Grammy Audiobook category wasn't so rigged and skewed heavily towards celebs reading their own memoirs, this would certainly be a contender as she does a stellar performance. She is a mother to millions without ever giving birth, a friend to all without ever knowing you, the literal love of my life. If you have the opportunity to watch NTL's Recording of Prima Facie staring Jodie Comer, please do so.
I was enthralled by the play Prima Facie and was curious to see how the 90 minute play would be adapted into a 300+ page book, and felt that the author did this beautifully. She was able to build a world around Tessa that gave us more insight into her motivations for wanting to be a lawyer, her past, her background, her friends that I didn't need before but appreciated none the less. The writing in this book is so profound and beautiful, I feel this book should be required reading for everyone. Miller doesn't shy away from the gritty scenes of sexual assault, and while I don't always appreciate it in books, I can understand why it needed to happen here. She isn't afraid to put in words what most folks know; the criminal "justice" system as it stands was not made to defend and protect most people, especially victims of violent sexual crimes. Miller's writing makes you feel every emotion that Tessa is feeling so viscerally that there were times I needed to step away and watch a movie or something happy to not get bogged down by sadness. This book is -- simply put -- a masterclass in writing.
My real only issue with the book is that it came across a bit preachy at certain points. I say this, knowing that there was a long monologue at the end that makes several important points about sexual assault stats, how the justice system fails victims (and isn't designed for them to navigate), her loss of faith in the law, etc. However, in several points in the book, Tessa just kind of goes on and on about certain topics that makes it feel like an after school special, which puts me off at times (especially with subject matter like this, which I studied for 6+ years so it might just be a me problem). However, if you can overlook that, this book is an amazing, gut wrenching read/listen. Read this with your friends, your brothers, your sons. Thank you, Suzie Miller and Jodie Comer for bringing this to life.
if you have the opportunity to listen to this on audio, do not hesitate. Comer knows this work so well and makes this long and heavy book palatable in a way that it wouldn't be if I had to hear my own voice describe certain parts of this book. She is able to dip in and out of emotion so fluidly that it is truly beautiful to listen to. If the Grammy Audiobook category wasn't so rigged and skewed heavily towards celebs reading their own memoirs, this would certainly be a contender as she does a stellar performance. She is a mother to millions without ever giving birth, a friend to all without ever knowing you, the literal love of my life. If you have the opportunity to watch NTL's Recording of Prima Facie staring Jodie Comer, please do so.
I was enthralled by the play Prima Facie and was curious to see how the 90 minute play would be adapted into a 300+ page book, and felt that the author did this beautifully. She was able to build a world around Tessa that gave us more insight into her motivations for wanting to be a lawyer, her past, her background, her friends that I didn't need before but appreciated none the less. The writing in this book is so profound and beautiful, I feel this book should be required reading for everyone. Miller doesn't shy away from the gritty scenes of sexual assault, and while I don't always appreciate it in books, I can understand why it needed to happen here. She isn't afraid to put in words what most folks know; the criminal "justice" system as it stands was not made to defend and protect most people, especially victims of violent sexual crimes. Miller's writing makes you feel every emotion that Tessa is feeling so viscerally that there were times I needed to step away and watch a movie or something happy to not get bogged down by sadness. This book is -- simply put -- a masterclass in writing.
My real only issue with the book is that it came across a bit preachy at certain points. I say this, knowing that there was a long monologue at the end that makes several important points about sexual assault stats, how the justice system fails victims (and isn't designed for them to navigate), her loss of faith in the law, etc. However, in several points in the book, Tessa just kind of goes on and on about certain topics that makes it feel like an after school special, which puts me off at times (especially with subject matter like this, which I studied for 6+ years so it might just be a me problem). However, if you can overlook that, this book is an amazing, gut wrenching read/listen. Read this with your friends, your brothers, your sons. Thank you, Suzie Miller and Jodie Comer for bringing this to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
This book is about the rape of the main character and the subsequent trial. There are explicit scenes including the rape and trial that may be triggering for some readers who have experience sexual violence and the violence of the court system.