Anatomy of a Scandal : Now a Major Netflix Series

An astonishingly incisive and suspenseful novel about a scandal amongst Britain’s privileged elite and the women caught up in its wake; where no one’s motives are pure, but some people’s secrets are much darker than others."Engrossing psych-thriller cum courtroom drama." - The Guardian"Anatomy of a Scandal is in many ways the standard middlebrow crime fiction indicated by that familiar gauzy black cover — female protagonist with a hidden past, clear but not elegant writing, and persistent but mild suspense. But Sarah Vaughan, who was previously a reporter at the Guardian, brings sustained attention and care to the subject that ensures rape is never played for thrills, instead delving into complicated questions of consent and criminality." - Analisa Quinn, NPRSophie’s husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, and a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes. Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? You want to believe your husband. She wants to destroy him. "One of the season's most buzzed-about thrillers."--Bookish "A strong choice for book clubs. Former political correspondent Vaughan makes an impressive debut with this savvy, propulsive courtroom drama."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Vaughan offers gripping insight into a political scandal's hidden machinations and the tension between justice and privilege ... Absorbing, polished."--Booklist (starred review) "Skillfully interweaving the story of the unfolding scandal, Vaughan gradually reveals just how shockingly high the stakes are ... Sinewy ... engrossing, twist-filled." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An astonishingly incisive and suspenseful novel about a scandal amongst Britain's privileged elite and the women caught up in its wake. Sophie's husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes. Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how easily pleasure could tip into tragedy. Most people would prefer not to try to understand what passes between a man and a woman when they are alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in an elevator ... Or alone in the moonlit courtyard of an Oxford college, where a girl once stood before a boy, heart pounding with excitement, then fear. Sophie never understood why her tutorial partner Holly left Oxford so abruptly. What would she think, if she knew the truth? THE WORD-OF-MOUTH SENSATIONTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA RICHARD & JUDY BOOKCLUB SELECTIONNOW A NUMBER ONE NETFLIX SERIES'Timely and compelling'Shari Lapena'Impressive'The Times'Gripping'Observer'Sensational'Clare MackintoshA 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•• NOW A HIT NETFLIX SERIES Instant International Bestseller "A nuanced story line perfectly in tune with our #metoo times." — People , Book of the Week "One of the season's most buzzed-about thrillers." — Bookish "A strong choice for book clubs. Former political correspondent Vaughan makes an impressive debut with this savvy, propulsive courtroom drama." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Vaughan offers gripping insight into a political scandal's hidden machinations and the tension between justice and privilege...Absorbing, polished." — Booklist (starred review) "Skillfully interweaving the story of the unfolding scandal, Vaughan gradually reveals just how shockingly high the stakes are...Sinewy...engrossing, twist-filled." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Some people's secrets are darker than others. Sophie Whitehouse has a lovely home, two adorable children, and a handsome, successful husband. In other words, she has the "perfect" life. But everything changes the night her husband James comes home and confesses an indiscretion. Suddenly, her neat, ordered world is turned upside down. Did she ever really know the man she married? And, as it turns out, James's revelation is just the tip of the iceberg. He stands accused of a terrible crime. But, the truth is even more shocking than anyone ever could have thought. Is James the guilty perpetrator or an innocent victim of a toxic agenda? In this riveting story of love, revenge, and deception, no one's motives are pure, but some people's secrets are much darker than others. "An astonishingly incisive and suspenseful novel about a scandal amongst Britain's privileged elite and the women caught up in its wake. Sophie's husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes. Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how easily pleasure could tip into tragedy. Most people would prefer not to try to understand what passes between a man and a woman when they are alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in an elevator ... Or alone in the moonlit courtyard of an Oxford college, where a girl once stood before a boy, heart pounding with excitement, then fear. Sophie never understood why her tutorial partner Holly left Oxford so abruptly. What would she think, if she knew the truth?"-- Provided by publisher