Gripping tale made for the #MeToo era
Anatomy of a Scandal follows two women’s experiences as a man faces trial for rape
When Time named the #MeToo silence breakers “person of the year” in December, the magazine nailed the current mood. The year 2017, of course, saw an avalanche of sexual assault stories, rocking North American culture to its core and toppling powerful men from film producer Harvey Weinstein to TV anchor Matt Lauer. It was only a matter of time until this groundswell of disclosures made its way into fiction. Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal is among the first of what’s sure to be many titles exploring this topic.
Vaughan is a former political reporter for the Guardian newspaper in Britain. Her 2014 women’s fiction debut, The Art of Baking Blind, established her as one to watch. She followed with a second novel, The Farm at the Edge of the World, which enjoyed bestseller status in France. This latest outing represents a departure for the former journo, veering off as it does into the well-trodden terrain of “grip lit” psychological thrillers. It’s a gamble that pays off. Anatomy of a Scandal follows two British women, Sophie Whitehouse and Kate Woodcroft, who are embroiled in a courtroom drama. Sophie Whitehouse is a posh wife and mother whose husband is the epitome of elite male privilege. A handsome, charismatic Oxford alumnus, he’s a politician and a member of the prime minister’s inner circle. After he embarks on an affair with a young assistant and she accuses him of assault, he finds himself on trial for rape. Sophie stands by her man, forced to question all she thought she knew about love and marriage, power and sexuality.
Sarah Vaughan, a former political reporter, brings keen storytelling instincts, rich research skills and an expert eye for detail
Kate Woodcroft, meanwhile, is the lawyer intent on prosecuting Sophie’s husband. As she battles the case out in court, diving into the very heart of the issue of consent, Kate must face her own dark past — and ask her own troubling questions.
Anatomy of a Scandal is that rare pageturner that combines suspenseful plot and easy-to-read prose with a sophisticated, savvy take on the most pressing of issues. To this second act as a novelist, Vaughan brings keen storytelling instincts, rich research skills and an expert eye for detail.
The result is a riveting novel that’s tailor-made for our times. Tara Henley is a writer and radio producer.