The devastating effects of a rape accusation

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James has it all. He’s married to lovely Sophie, he has two beautiful children and he’s a successful member of parliament. He’s handsome and could have any woman he wants, even if Sophie weren’t the love of his life, which she is, so why would he commit rape? Yet he stands accused and faces a trial that could destroy his family, reputation and career.

Kate is the lawyer who is prosecuting the case against James. She’s sure that he’s guilty and she’s determined to prove it to the jury. But this case is turning into one that she may not be strong enough to endure as it has dredged up old memories that still haunt her.

At the beginning of this book, I thought, OK, here’s another book about a possibly philandering husband, same old, same old. But it turned into something much deeper. The author did an excellent job in describing how hard it was for the woman accusing James of rape to testify at the trial – or is she just a woman scorned? - and the difficulty of finding justice in such a case. How can a jury decide who is telling the truth when it’s really one person’s word against the other’s? Is it really all down to how well either attorney presents his/her case?

The author also presented Sophie’s situation very well. She loves her husband and wants desperately to believe him. But hearing the testimony at trial and reading the papers where their marriage and life together is being scrutinized just tears her apart and causes confusion and distance in their marriage. Even the strongest marriages could be strained to the breaking point under such an accusation.

A well-thought-out, heartfelt novel which I recommend.