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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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.
An interesting read, but sadly not the satisfying court room drama I was hoping for. Might see how I feel about it in a few days...
For me having some of this book based in Oxford made the story more connectable.
However for me this didn't live up to the hype around it.
Good story but nothing that makes me go wow
However for me this didn't live up to the hype around it.
Good story but nothing that makes me go wow
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
This is a debut novel and it comes from UK- two reasons I am usually willing to give thriller a chance, but I admit that the thing that drew me to this novel was the fact it had a legal case surrounding sexual misconduct done by powerful figure at the center. It's relevant, timely and I wanted to see how will Vaughn address the legal issues of those particular circumstances having in mind current climate.
Unfortunately, that same thing was where this book falls apart for me.
One of the most usual misconception about judicial system I encounter is that people often think that for something to be prosecuted it's enough for crime to be committed. In fact, charges are brought only when prosecutor thinks they have a "winnable" case; that evidence they present is enough to prove why they brought charges against someone and think they may be responsible.
I don't expect the procedural part to be close to reality, but Vaughn didn't just fail to make the case in question hard to win for prosecution, they made me question why on earth would they go to court with this evidence. When you tackle such a powerful figure, the close personal friend of the most powerful man in the country, you need to have something really solid, something that would stand up no matter who is the barrister. This case? It never had a chance.
I actually think I know what Vaughn wanted to do with this: she wanted to show that sexual misconduct comes in other forms and not just rape, that abuse of power comes in different forms, so she didn't make it clear-cut. What was consensual and from what point on it stopped being, the victim who is not "a perfect victim", but rather a very human, likable and messy one. What Olivia in book endured was awful, but not really something I would expect prosecutor to build upon the whole case hoping to win. What Holly went trough, definitely. If anything else, it would establish the pattern. And yet author wanted for me to believe Kate actually has a chance to win this case based only on Olivia's testimony, to reclaim something stolen from her, to get revenge. In truth, she just came into position, but not even close. And herein lies the rub, this just couldn't fly on court with everything else she showed us, or to be more precise, it never brought the suspense you can expect from courtroom drama because you know the outcome. James just had a too clean of a public profile, important people behind him beside money, looks and everything else to go for him- it's how he is written- for me to believe he is in any real danger. I was actually waiting for something to drop, other shoe to fall to tip the scale a bit more in Kate's favor, but it never happened and this is what I disliked the most. If there is supposed to be a social critique which this topic certainly demands, it would be more powerful if it shows that despite something so fucking evident someone well known to be a predator system can still fail to punish. Just look at what had to happen for #MeToo to happen and powerful figures to finally be called on the shit they pull off. Women need to look no further than headlines to see the writing on the wall about how the system works. This case needed to be considerably more convincing for me to understand why
Everything that was possibly interested to explore and offer a valuable critique on gets lost in flashbacks that are more about entitlement of elite and how strong and far-reaching ties between Oxbridge fellows can be, shown through perspective of stereotypical naive girl Holly and rich, beautiful Sophie who is used to everything coming easy to her. And then it was effectively put down with predictable twist akin to [b:Retribution|90334|Retribution (C.J. Townsend #1)|Jilliane Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375371701l/90334._SY75_.jpg|1469352] or [b:Sleepers|292740|Sleepers|Lorenzo Carcaterra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327871596l/292740._SX50_.jpg|2457130].
All in all, I expected more.
Unfortunately, that same thing was where this book falls apart for me.
One of the most usual misconception about judicial system I encounter is that people often think that for something to be prosecuted it's enough for crime to be committed. In fact, charges are brought only when prosecutor thinks they have a "winnable" case; that evidence they present is enough to prove why they brought charges against someone and think they may be responsible.
I don't expect the procedural part to be close to reality, but Vaughn didn't just fail to make the case in question hard to win for prosecution, they made me question why on earth would they go to court with this evidence. When you tackle such a powerful figure, the close personal friend of the most powerful man in the country, you need to have something really solid, something that would stand up no matter who is the barrister. This case? It never had a chance.
I actually think I know what Vaughn wanted to do with this: she wanted to show that sexual misconduct comes in other forms and not just rape, that abuse of power comes in different forms, so she didn't make it clear-cut. What was consensual and from what point on it stopped being, the victim who is not "a perfect victim", but rather a very human, likable and messy one. What Olivia in book endured was awful, but not really something I would expect prosecutor to build upon the whole case hoping to win. What Holly went trough, definitely. If anything else, it would establish the pattern. And yet author wanted for me to believe Kate actually has a chance to win this case based only on Olivia's testimony, to reclaim something stolen from her, to get revenge. In truth, she just came into position, but not even close. And herein lies the rub, this just couldn't fly on court with everything else she showed us, or to be more precise, it never brought the suspense you can expect from courtroom drama because you know the outcome. James just had a too clean of a public profile, important people behind him beside money, looks and everything else to go for him- it's how he is written- for me to believe he is in any real danger. I was actually waiting for something to drop, other shoe to fall to tip the scale a bit more in Kate's favor, but it never happened and this is what I disliked the most. If there is supposed to be a social critique which this topic certainly demands, it would be more powerful if it shows that despite something so fucking evident someone well known to be a predator system can still fail to punish. Just look at what had to happen for #MeToo to happen and powerful figures to finally be called on the shit they pull off. Women need to look no further than headlines to see the writing on the wall about how the system works. This case needed to be considerably more convincing for me to understand why
Spoiler
would Kate risk her career and not recuse herself when she herself points out at the beginning how hard is to prove guilt in her previous case where evidence was much stronger.Everything that was possibly interested to explore and offer a valuable critique on gets lost in flashbacks that are more about entitlement of elite and how strong and far-reaching ties between Oxbridge fellows can be, shown through perspective of stereotypical naive girl Holly and rich, beautiful Sophie who is used to everything coming easy to her. And then it was effectively put down with predictable twist akin to [b:Retribution|90334|Retribution (C.J. Townsend #1)|Jilliane Hoffman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375371701l/90334._SY75_.jpg|1469352] or [b:Sleepers|292740|Sleepers|Lorenzo Carcaterra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327871596l/292740._SX50_.jpg|2457130].
All in all, I expected more.