'Timely and compelling' Shari Lapena, Books of the Year, Sunday Times Crime Club
'People are calling this the new Apple Tree Yard , but I’d beg to differ – fast, pacy and with enough twists and turns to keep you gripped right to the end, I’d argue its infinitely better' The Pool
‘Well-written, pacy and full of twists and turns’ *Independent
'Gripping. A savage indictment of class, privilege and toxic masculinity in Britain ... Almost impossible to put down' *Louise O’Neill
'Deftly plotted ... with an eerie relevance to the current debate surrounding the attitudes to and experiences of women in Westminster, Hollywood and beyond' Laura Barnett
‘The best courtroom drama since Apple Tree Yard … sensational’ Clare Mackintosh**
A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight. A wife, determined to keep her family safe, must face 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.
Anatomy of a Scandal centres on a high-profile marriage that begins to unravel when the husband is accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them. Kate is the barrister who will prosecute the case – she is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.
'A compulsive read with completely layered characters. Superb' John Boyne
'I love it when a book lives up the hype – and this one does. It is quite shockingly good' Sun
'This page-turning novel reveals the precarious nature of existence as the seemingly perfect lives of Sophie and her husband James unravel… The author anatomises in gripping fashion the inner workings of the corridors of power, as well as the hidden recesses of the mind and heart' Anita Sethi, The Observer
'This clever plot raises many issues of the moment” - Marcel Berlins, The Times
'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
'A plot that is so deftly constructed, you’ll feel as if you’re on a roller coaster wearing a blindfold. It’s 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 … The thorny issue of consent is tackled sensitively, while exploring the consequences of the case on both women and the past demons it exposes' Grazia
'One of the best books you’ll read this year' Closer
‘Sarah Vaughan drip feeds revelations while exploring the power and privilege of political elite’ Good Housekeeping
‘Think last year’s drama Liar with a dash of * Apple Tree Yard ’ Sunday Mirror: Notebook*
‘A timely thriller about marriage , but also about power, who wields it, and how that affects who we believe ’ Stylist
**
Review
“Sarah Vaughan is sensational.” (Clare Mackintosh, internationally bestselling author of I LET YOU GO )
"I cared about both women—couldn't put it down . . . really, really, really, really good." (Marian Keyes, Internationally bestselling author of THE BREAK )
"ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a compelling and cautionary story about how we can never truly know someone else; how even after twelve years of marriage, a wife might not know everything about her husband. Brilliant, shocking, and gripping, once I started, I couldn't stop reading." (Claire Fuller, award-winning author of OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS and SWIMMING LESSONS )
"The world has gone mad for this book. I'm so excited. What an outstanding premise." (Rosie Walsh, New York Times bestselling author of GHOSTED )
“Shocking. Compelling. Completely brilliant.” (Eve Chase, bestselling author of BLACK RABBIT HALL )
“I was hooked right from the start. So beautifully written, clever and compelling. I was gripped right up to the final page.” (Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The Sisters and Local Girl Missing )
“I enjoyed ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL immensely – a very elegant dissection of a very messy affair. Loved it.” (Louise Candlish, author of THE SWIMMING POOL )
"ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a stunningly compelling read--utterly gripping from the first page, beautifully written and expertly plotted. Vaughan brilliantly captures the cloistered world of Britain's elite, which is packed with suspicion, lies, and terrible betrayals. This book is a must-read for 2018--it's impossible to put down and will stay with you long afterwards." (Sarah J. Harris, author of THE COLOR OF BEE LARKHAM'S MURDER )
"A gripping dissection of deceit and desire . . . The definition of a page-turner." (Elizabeth Day, award-winning author of THE PARTY )
"ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is superb. Bitingly truthful, intelligent, gripping. All round class act." (Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of WHAT SHE KNEW )
"Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal is just that — a gradual unearthing of long-held secrets and betrayals, followed by a front-row seat for the lives that unravel as a result. Suspenseful and shocking, centered around an important moral issue that makes it especially intense, Anatomy of a Scandal is a nuanced, highly addictive read that resonates long after the final word." (Kimberly Belle, New York Times bestselling author of THE MARRIAGE LIE )
"Deftly plotted and superbly well researched, with an eerie relevance to the current debate surrounding the attitudes to and experiences of women in Westminster, Hollywood, and beyond. An intelligent, absorbing page-turner that avoids all knee-jerk assumptions and easy answers." (Laura Barnett, internationally bestselling author of THE VERSIONS OF US )
"Sarah Vaughan writes about the heartbreaking consequences of sexual abuse and the abuse of power with real compassion as she takes us on a journey from modern day Westminster to 1990s Oxford University and back again." (Karin Salvaloggio, critically-acclaimed author of SILENT RAIN )
"This exhilarating novel, which switches between Sophie's, Kate's, and James' points of view, will have readers thinking about justice and truth and whether you can ever really, fully know someone." (Real Simple "Best Books of 2018")
"Fascinating and suspenseful." (Bluestocking Reviews)
"This is an extraordinarily written tale about power, prestige, and the skeletons in the closet. Highly recommended!" ("Dee"va with a Blog)
"Incredibly authentic, highly involving character drama here, in a story that could easily be ripped from the headlines." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"Sarah Vaughan’s ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a must read for anyone who has any fascination with sex scandals and the corridors of power. It is sharp, insightful, clever and thoroughly fresh. It takes your breath away. Highly recommended!" (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"I need to say WOW what an incredible debut novel." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"When does consensual sex cross the line into rape? This is the question at the heart of this breathtaking novel . . . Lovely prose with a raw and poignant tone made this a one-sitting read!" (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"Un-put-down-able. This has the intrigue and suspense of GONE GIRL or GIRL ON THE TRAIN, but is extra chilling because it lacks the extremism that makes those situations pure fiction. The events of this book - the political scandal, the affair, the criminal trial, the personal repercussions of every decision - could happen just as they're laid out, and that makes this book just that much more chilling." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"This is an outstanding book, wonderfully written and a sensitive portrayal of an all too topical issue. Deserves every one of its five stars and should be huge when it's published." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"Through a series of flashbacks and present-day accounts, Sarah Vaughan spins a chilling tale of appearance versus reality, lies versus the truth, and where we all fall in between." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"You don't know what the word 'gripping' means until you've read ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL. Wow." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"This engrossing, masterfully crafted thriller is a story of money, abuse of power, revenge, and the pursuit of justice. This story feels like it has been ripped from the headlines."
(Goodreads, 5 Stars)
About the Author
Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. She spent eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter, health correspondent, and political correspondent. She left to freelance and began writing fiction the week she turned forty. Her debut novel, The Art of Baking Blind , published by Hodder & Stoughton, St. Martin’s Press, and in seven other languages, was the result. The Farm at the Edge of the World was published in June 2016 and will be published in Germany and France. Sarah lives in Cambridge with her husband and two children.
Description:
'Timely and compelling' Shari Lapena, Books of the Year, Sunday Times Crime Club
'People are calling this the new Apple Tree Yard , but I’d beg to differ – fast, pacy and with enough twists and turns to keep you gripped right to the end, I’d argue its infinitely better' The Pool
‘Well-written, pacy and full of twists and turns’ *Independent
'Gripping. A savage indictment of class, privilege and toxic masculinity in Britain ... Almost impossible to put down' *Louise O’Neill
'Deftly plotted ... with an eerie relevance to the current debate surrounding the attitudes to and experiences of women in Westminster, Hollywood and beyond' Laura Barnett
‘The best courtroom drama since Apple Tree Yard … sensational’ Clare Mackintosh**
A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight. A wife, determined to keep her family safe, must face 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.
Anatomy of a Scandal centres on a high-profile marriage that begins to unravel when the husband is accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them. Kate is the barrister who will prosecute the case – she is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.
'A compulsive read with completely layered characters. Superb' John Boyne
'I love it when a book lives up the hype – and this one does. It is quite shockingly good' Sun
'This page-turning novel reveals the precarious nature of existence as the seemingly perfect lives of Sophie and her husband James unravel… The author anatomises in gripping fashion the inner workings of the corridors of power, as well as the hidden recesses of the mind and heart' Anita Sethi, The Observer
'This clever plot raises many issues of the moment” - Marcel Berlins, The Times
'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
'A plot that is so deftly constructed, you’ll feel as if you’re on a roller coaster wearing a blindfold. It’s 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 … The thorny issue of consent is tackled sensitively, while exploring the consequences of the case on both women and the past demons it exposes' Grazia
'One of the best books you’ll read this year' Closer
‘Sarah Vaughan drip feeds revelations while exploring the power and privilege of political elite’ Good Housekeeping
‘Think last year’s drama Liar with a dash of * Apple Tree Yard ’ Sunday Mirror: Notebook*
‘A timely thriller about marriage , but also about power, who wields it, and how that affects who we believe ’ Stylist **
Review
“Sarah Vaughan is sensational.” (Clare Mackintosh, internationally bestselling author of I LET YOU GO )
"I cared about both women—couldn't put it down . . . really, really, really, really good." (Marian Keyes, Internationally bestselling author of THE BREAK )
"ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a compelling and cautionary story about how we can never truly know someone else; how even after twelve years of marriage, a wife might not know everything about her husband. Brilliant, shocking, and gripping, once I started, I couldn't stop reading." (Claire Fuller, award-winning author of OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS and SWIMMING LESSONS )
"The world has gone mad for this book. I'm so excited. What an outstanding premise." (Rosie Walsh, New York Times bestselling author of GHOSTED )
“Shocking. Compelling. Completely brilliant.” (Eve Chase, bestselling author of BLACK RABBIT HALL )
“I was hooked right from the start. So beautifully written, clever and compelling. I was gripped right up to the final page.” (Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The Sisters and Local Girl Missing )
“I enjoyed ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL immensely – a very elegant dissection of a very messy affair. Loved it.” (Louise Candlish, author of THE SWIMMING POOL )
"ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a stunningly compelling read--utterly gripping from the first page, beautifully written and expertly plotted. Vaughan brilliantly captures the cloistered world of Britain's elite, which is packed with suspicion, lies, and terrible betrayals. This book is a must-read for 2018--it's impossible to put down and will stay with you long afterwards." (Sarah J. Harris, author of THE COLOR OF BEE LARKHAM'S MURDER )
"A gripping dissection of deceit and desire . . . The definition of a page-turner." (Elizabeth Day, award-winning author of THE PARTY )
"ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is superb. Bitingly truthful, intelligent, gripping. All round class act." (Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of WHAT SHE KNEW )
"Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal is just that — a gradual unearthing of long-held secrets and betrayals, followed by a front-row seat for the lives that unravel as a result. Suspenseful and shocking, centered around an important moral issue that makes it especially intense, Anatomy of a Scandal is a nuanced, highly addictive read that resonates long after the final word." (Kimberly Belle, New York Times bestselling author of THE MARRIAGE LIE )
"Deftly plotted and superbly well researched, with an eerie relevance to the current debate surrounding the attitudes to and experiences of women in Westminster, Hollywood, and beyond. An intelligent, absorbing page-turner that avoids all knee-jerk assumptions and easy answers." (Laura Barnett, internationally bestselling author of THE VERSIONS OF US )
"Sarah Vaughan writes about the heartbreaking consequences of sexual abuse and the abuse of power with real compassion as she takes us on a journey from modern day Westminster to 1990s Oxford University and back again." (Karin Salvaloggio, critically-acclaimed author of SILENT RAIN )
"This exhilarating novel, which switches between Sophie's, Kate's, and James' points of view, will have readers thinking about justice and truth and whether you can ever really, fully know someone." (Real Simple "Best Books of 2018")
"Fascinating and suspenseful." (Bluestocking Reviews)
"This is an extraordinarily written tale about power, prestige, and the skeletons in the closet. Highly recommended!" ("Dee"va with a Blog)
"Incredibly authentic, highly involving character drama here, in a story that could easily be ripped from the headlines." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"Sarah Vaughan’s ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL is a must read for anyone who has any fascination with sex scandals and the corridors of power. It is sharp, insightful, clever and thoroughly fresh. It takes your breath away. Highly recommended!" (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"I need to say WOW what an incredible debut novel." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"When does consensual sex cross the line into rape? This is the question at the heart of this breathtaking novel . . . Lovely prose with a raw and poignant tone made this a one-sitting read!" (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"Un-put-down-able. This has the intrigue and suspense of GONE GIRL or GIRL ON THE TRAIN, but is extra chilling because it lacks the extremism that makes those situations pure fiction. The events of this book - the political scandal, the affair, the criminal trial, the personal repercussions of every decision - could happen just as they're laid out, and that makes this book just that much more chilling." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"This is an outstanding book, wonderfully written and a sensitive portrayal of an all too topical issue. Deserves every one of its five stars and should be huge when it's published." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"Through a series of flashbacks and present-day accounts, Sarah Vaughan spins a chilling tale of appearance versus reality, lies versus the truth, and where we all fall in between." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"You don't know what the word 'gripping' means until you've read ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL. Wow." (Goodreads, 5 Stars)
"This engrossing, masterfully crafted thriller is a story of money, abuse of power, revenge, and the pursuit of justice. This story feels like it has been ripped from the headlines."
(Goodreads, 5 Stars)
About the Author
Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. She spent eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter, health correspondent, and political correspondent. She left to freelance and began writing fiction the week she turned forty. Her debut novel, The Art of Baking Blind , published by Hodder & Stoughton, St. Martin’s Press, and in seven other languages, was the result. The Farm at the Edge of the World was published in June 2016 and will be published in Germany and France. Sarah lives in Cambridge with her husband and two children.