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jol69's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Character driven, a significant twist i didn't see coming. Can't say I overly liked any of the characters but it certainly had me thinking about privilege and peoples perception of 'the truth'.
melissa_bookworm's review
4.0
This book might be triggering for some readers, dealing with sexual assault, rape and victims not being believed.
The premise begins as a political sex scandal but it soon spirals into a rape allegation and court case. Little pieces of flashbacks are sprinkled throughout to give context and justification for some characters choices. I think the narrative was very close to real life, how things are dealt with in the real court.
This quote really stuck with me:
"I have tried to remain positive, though in the dead of night, the chill certainty of defeat engulfs me. Now, hope easing with every minute the jury takes. Rape is a particularly nasty crime and if it's not stranger rape, a rape of the kind we have been implicitly warned about in fairy tales, and then more explicitly in early girlhood: the man in an alleyway who holds a blade to our throats, or pins us down; if it's a rape committed by a personable, attractive, date I say it, middle-class professional who has already had a relationship with the complainant; the sort of man you might acknowledge in the street or at the school gate; that you might be happy to have for dinner or to introduce to your kids of parents; if it's that sort of a rape and that sort of man, then it's a huge thing to do as a juror: to cast that particularly dirt, intransigent stain."
I've been on a jury for a sexual assault case, and its true. If the defendant doesn't seem to be a shady person, it's hard to associate them with our understanding of a rapist. The book made me angry, but not AT the book. More about the fact that this is where we are in our 'justice' system. These issues are very relevant and very current.
It is upsetting as a woman to read this is see the male privilege that the antagonist has, the fact that he can perjure himself with no fear of repercussions because that's what he has done his whole life. Perhaps this is more of a personal character trait rather than one that should be painted with a broad brush, but still something to think about in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
The premise begins as a political sex scandal but it soon spirals into a rape allegation and court case. Little pieces of flashbacks are sprinkled throughout to give context and justification for some characters choices. I think the narrative was very close to real life, how things are dealt with in the real court.
This quote really stuck with me:
"I have tried to remain positive, though in the dead of night, the chill certainty of defeat engulfs me. Now, hope easing with every minute the jury takes. Rape is a particularly nasty crime and if it's not stranger rape, a rape of the kind we have been implicitly warned about in fairy tales, and then more explicitly in early girlhood: the man in an alleyway who holds a blade to our throats, or pins us down; if it's a rape committed by a personable, attractive, date I say it, middle-class professional who has already had a relationship with the complainant; the sort of man you might acknowledge in the street or at the school gate; that you might be happy to have for dinner or to introduce to your kids of parents; if it's that sort of a rape and that sort of man, then it's a huge thing to do as a juror: to cast that particularly dirt, intransigent stain."
I've been on a jury for a sexual assault case, and its true. If the defendant doesn't seem to be a shady person, it's hard to associate them with our understanding of a rapist. The book made me angry, but not AT the book. More about the fact that this is where we are in our 'justice' system. These issues are very relevant and very current.
Spoiler
I hated James as a character. I think the author did well though, when you first come across him, although you know he's cheated on his wife you're not completely sure that he has committed the rape that he was accused of. However, as more of his true nature is revealed, you can't deny he's a rubbish person.It is upsetting as a woman to read this is see the male privilege that the antagonist has, the fact that he can perjure himself with no fear of repercussions because that's what he has done his whole life. Perhaps this is more of a personal character trait rather than one that should be painted with a broad brush, but still something to think about in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
mollellis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
florapants84's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
Nearly ordered this a second time, after this review from Chelsea Humphrey!
Fell for the blurb by Simon & Shuster, as I had quite few bad books in 2017, I just hope (and Chelsea confirms me in that) this is one is better. While I am not too much into legal thrillers, I have read and enjoyed a few Grishams, but not read too many.
And somehow I think this gets filmed, but may be I am wrong. Not sure cannot find anything, so as of now I am probably wrong.
Fell for the blurb by Simon & Shuster, as I had quite few bad books in 2017, I just hope (and Chelsea confirms me in that) this is one is better. While I am not too much into legal thrillers, I have read and enjoyed a few Grishams, but not read too many.
And somehow I think this gets filmed, but may be I am wrong. Not sure cannot find anything, so as of now I am probably wrong.
elynt2022's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
Minor: Death
lmurray43's review
5.0
This is a book that gives you enough suspense to keep you wondering and enough drama that it is not overbearing. I don't want to give away too much but this story focuses on James, Kate, Holly, and Sophie and how things have changed for each of them over the course of 20 years and what has set each thing into motion. This is the first book I have read by Sarah and I can say that I will be looking to see what else she has written.
#Anatomyofascandal
@SVaugjanAuthor
@AtriaBooks
@EmilyBestlerBooks
#Anatomyofascandal
@SVaugjanAuthor
@AtriaBooks
@EmilyBestlerBooks