You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was good but I had a hard time getting super into it for some reason.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
See this review and others on my blog-https://fizwrites.wixsite.com/website/post/i-read-anatomy-of-a-scandal-and-conversations-with-friends-then-watched-their-adaptations
Anatomy of a Scandal was an amazing book. I really love books that indirectly criticise society and I felt that this did exactly that. It gave an insight into British politics and how ‘rules apply to everyone else but not them’ it explores elitism and entitlement, they abuse the power, the status, the privilege they have. I loved this book even more because it was such a page-turner, you want to know what happens in the trial-love courtroom drama- and with the back stories, flashbacks and twists and turns you just couldn’t put this book down. Okay so let me give you an overview of the book.
A popular, handsome, successful public figure, James Whitehouse is accused of a crime that he denies his loving childhood sweetheart Sophie stands by his side and believes James is innocent. QC Kate Woodcroft is the defence in this high-profile trial, Kate is an experienced prosecutor who has a reputation for winning cases and defending the victims of said crime. As the trial proceeds secrets that were once buried rise, memories come back to haunt, and the truth… well that will have to be found, how will this trial end? Will Sophie remain confident in her husband, will James who has his reputation to protect, his job, career, wife and support, backing and friendship of the Prime Minister be found guilty or not guilty, and will Kate demand the justice she so desperately requires.
I hope I didn’t give too much away there. This book was so clever, and you really do go between he is definitely guilty… to okay maybe he might be telling the truth. The story has different timelines and different times in the character's life, the majority of it takes place at Oxford University, and in the present day. It made me really uncomfortable to read about James’ time in Oxford the club he was a part of the ‘Libertines’ and the entitlement and privilege that came with it. Their education, the connections they made, and their wealth all were factors in the futures that were already made for these boys. Fun fact the Libertines echoes the Bullingdon club which included the likes of Boris Johnson and David Cameron. The parties provided the boys to switch off with the help of an excessive amount of alcohol, and drugs and of course, treat the waiting staff specific the women waiting for staff… well I guess you can figure it out yourself.
I think rape is such a sensitive topic and this book made me realise that it does have more than one victim. Sophie’s breakdown is really heart-breaking and the fact that their children and their childhood will be tainted by this. For Sophie did she not always suspect this when the story unravels I really like her p.o.v and she has to confront all that she knows about him, she loses her trust and faith in him and realises that he used the truth to contort it to fit his own story and use it to his own benefit. The ending was really good and so satisfying. The twists and turns for me in this book were great, is Kate really just a QC why is this trial so personal to her why is she convinced he is guilty. Why is James and Sophie’s time in Oxford a factor in this trial and Holly, what happened to Sophie’s tutorial partner, could her husband really be guilty of what he is accused of, and could he really have ruined a women’s life? I definitely want to read more by this author, it was riveting and thought-provoking. I loved the insight into UK parliamentary and the ‘office culture’ it actually scares me because of the current exposure-obvs different topics- but it is timely and relevant a disturbing and provocative political thriller that I highly recommend.
Anatomy of a Scandal was an amazing book. I really love books that indirectly criticise society and I felt that this did exactly that. It gave an insight into British politics and how ‘rules apply to everyone else but not them’ it explores elitism and entitlement, they abuse the power, the status, the privilege they have. I loved this book even more because it was such a page-turner, you want to know what happens in the trial-love courtroom drama- and with the back stories, flashbacks and twists and turns you just couldn’t put this book down. Okay so let me give you an overview of the book.
A popular, handsome, successful public figure, James Whitehouse is accused of a crime that he denies his loving childhood sweetheart Sophie stands by his side and believes James is innocent. QC Kate Woodcroft is the defence in this high-profile trial, Kate is an experienced prosecutor who has a reputation for winning cases and defending the victims of said crime. As the trial proceeds secrets that were once buried rise, memories come back to haunt, and the truth… well that will have to be found, how will this trial end? Will Sophie remain confident in her husband, will James who has his reputation to protect, his job, career, wife and support, backing and friendship of the Prime Minister be found guilty or not guilty, and will Kate demand the justice she so desperately requires.
I hope I didn’t give too much away there. This book was so clever, and you really do go between he is definitely guilty… to okay maybe he might be telling the truth. The story has different timelines and different times in the character's life, the majority of it takes place at Oxford University, and in the present day. It made me really uncomfortable to read about James’ time in Oxford the club he was a part of the ‘Libertines’ and the entitlement and privilege that came with it. Their education, the connections they made, and their wealth all were factors in the futures that were already made for these boys. Fun fact the Libertines echoes the Bullingdon club which included the likes of Boris Johnson and David Cameron. The parties provided the boys to switch off with the help of an excessive amount of alcohol, and drugs and of course, treat the waiting staff specific the women waiting for staff… well I guess you can figure it out yourself.
I think rape is such a sensitive topic and this book made me realise that it does have more than one victim. Sophie’s breakdown is really heart-breaking and the fact that their children and their childhood will be tainted by this. For Sophie did she not always suspect this when the story unravels I really like her p.o.v and she has to confront all that she knows about him, she loses her trust and faith in him and realises that he used the truth to contort it to fit his own story and use it to his own benefit. The ending was really good and so satisfying. The twists and turns for me in this book were great, is Kate really just a QC why is this trial so personal to her why is she convinced he is guilty. Why is James and Sophie’s time in Oxford a factor in this trial and Holly, what happened to Sophie’s tutorial partner, could her husband really be guilty of what he is accused of, and could he really have ruined a women’s life? I definitely want to read more by this author, it was riveting and thought-provoking. I loved the insight into UK parliamentary and the ‘office culture’ it actually scares me because of the current exposure-obvs different topics- but it is timely and relevant a disturbing and provocative political thriller that I highly recommend.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Anatomy of a Scandal is a tense novel about power, privilege, and knowing the secrets from someone’s past. James is a politician on the rise, a family man with a long-standing connection to the PM. His wife Sophie has known him since they were both at Oxford and thinks she knows all the skeletons in his closet. However, when he is accused of a crime that cuts right into Sophie’s vision of her husband, she must consider whether she will continue to stand by him. And Kate, the barrister prosecuting James, has a past of her own, and is certain James is guilty, willing to put her all into getting him convicted.
Vaughan weaves together these main characters into a drama that jumps between the courtroom, the modern political world, and early 90s Oxford. It has elements of a psychological or domestic thriller, complete with questioning of the truth and intense legal proceedings, but Anatomy of a Scandal is more than that, an anatomy of individual viewpoints surrounding a scandal that covers political coverups, drinking societies and class difference at Oxford, and difficulties of rape accusations and trials. The epigraph is from Mantel’s Bring Up The Bodies and the way that Mantel combines the political and the personal whilst talking about the truth makes it a good comparison, despite the vast difference in subject matter. The novel is not solely psychological, or just a courtroom drama, but one that shows personal emotion within larger power structures.
The narrative is told from the points of view of major characters, with Vaughan withholding information or structuring it in a way that builds tension and gives the reader a sense of being caught in the middle of the secrets as they unfold. Her Oxford is very recognisable to anyone who has been and the whole novel is detailed, giving enough information to allow the reader to work out elements, but also keep guessing about what really happened or will happen. Though James and Sophie’s marriage is a real focus, it is Kate who stands out as someone caught between past and present, though at first she appears to just be a simple barrister character who will form the courtroom threat.
Anatomy of a Scandal is the kind of book that will appeal to both fans of thrillers and those who prefer something a bit more general, combining character relationships and backstory with tense prosecution. The focus on a privileged world—from the arcane rituals of both the court and Oxford to the money and power of politicians—can be fascinating and adds to questions of who should really be believed. It has plenty of gripping drama and would clearly make a great TV adaptation in the future.
Vaughan weaves together these main characters into a drama that jumps between the courtroom, the modern political world, and early 90s Oxford. It has elements of a psychological or domestic thriller, complete with questioning of the truth and intense legal proceedings, but Anatomy of a Scandal is more than that, an anatomy of individual viewpoints surrounding a scandal that covers political coverups, drinking societies and class difference at Oxford, and difficulties of rape accusations and trials. The epigraph is from Mantel’s Bring Up The Bodies and the way that Mantel combines the political and the personal whilst talking about the truth makes it a good comparison, despite the vast difference in subject matter. The novel is not solely psychological, or just a courtroom drama, but one that shows personal emotion within larger power structures.
The narrative is told from the points of view of major characters, with Vaughan withholding information or structuring it in a way that builds tension and gives the reader a sense of being caught in the middle of the secrets as they unfold. Her Oxford is very recognisable to anyone who has been and the whole novel is detailed, giving enough information to allow the reader to work out elements, but also keep guessing about what really happened or will happen. Though James and Sophie’s marriage is a real focus, it is Kate who stands out as someone caught between past and present, though at first she appears to just be a simple barrister character who will form the courtroom threat.
Anatomy of a Scandal is the kind of book that will appeal to both fans of thrillers and those who prefer something a bit more general, combining character relationships and backstory with tense prosecution. The focus on a privileged world—from the arcane rituals of both the court and Oxford to the money and power of politicians—can be fascinating and adds to questions of who should really be believed. It has plenty of gripping drama and would clearly make a great TV adaptation in the future.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No