Anatomy of a Scandal weaves a portrayal of the past and present as it incorporates the internal dilemma of a scorned wife throughout her battle to remain loyal while losing friends, confidences and a husband to cheating and rape accusations. As well, we are presented the corresponding internal drive of the prosecutor as she seeks a guilty charge on said women’s husband. The timeliness of this book aids in stunning as a criminal barrister (prosecutor) takes on a politically powerful man charged with raping a female colleague with whom he’d previously had a sexual relationship with.
As a reader we are provided intimate insight into several characters: James Whitehouse (the accused rapist and politically powerful man), Sophie Whitehouse (the wife of the accused and college “sweetheart”), Kate (the prosecutor), and Holly (a university student connected to Sophie in 1992). Based on these characters you can imagine the twisted tale author, Sarah Vaughan, weaves throughout, and what a disturbingly realistic tale it is.
As a female, this book was painful to read and yet so important. It shed light on the unfortunate realities of rape culture, a he said/she said conundrum, dependent on convincing a unanimous jury. Even more so, this book delved into the delicate accusations of rape in an established, albeit unfaithful, relationship of a man and his employee. Anatomy of a Scandal is important in opening EVERYONE’S (female and male alike) eyes to the harsh realities of sexual allegations as they play out in the courtroom. Including the hurdles females face in rape recovery, standing trial and even the family’s lives of those accused.
I mention the timeliness of this story as the news is wracked with headlines of a complementary vein, but the strength of women and the empathy this book provides the readers are equally timely. The reader feels so deeply for the female leads within, as we are invited into the inner most thoughts of each. It is easy to immerse yourself in feelings just as strong of hate, frustration, sadness and so much more.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
As a reader we are provided intimate insight into several characters: James Whitehouse (the accused rapist and politically powerful man), Sophie Whitehouse (the wife of the accused and college “sweetheart”), Kate (the prosecutor), and Holly (a university student connected to Sophie in 1992). Based on these characters you can imagine the twisted tale author, Sarah Vaughan, weaves throughout, and what a disturbingly realistic tale it is.
As a female, this book was painful to read and yet so important. It shed light on the unfortunate realities of rape culture, a he said/she said conundrum, dependent on convincing a unanimous jury. Even more so, this book delved into the delicate accusations of rape in an established, albeit unfaithful, relationship of a man and his employee. Anatomy of a Scandal is important in opening EVERYONE’S (female and male alike) eyes to the harsh realities of sexual allegations as they play out in the courtroom. Including the hurdles females face in rape recovery, standing trial and even the family’s lives of those accused.
I mention the timeliness of this story as the news is wracked with headlines of a complementary vein, but the strength of women and the empathy this book provides the readers are equally timely. The reader feels so deeply for the female leads within, as we are invited into the inner most thoughts of each. It is easy to immerse yourself in feelings just as strong of hate, frustration, sadness and so much more.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.