Anatomy Of A Scandal

Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan’s third novel is a riproaring move away from her earlier works, The Art Of Baking Blind and The Farm At the Edge Of The World. Following a number of high profile individuals being accused of sexual harassment recently, Anatomy Of A Scandal is timely to say the least. James Whitehouse, a charismatic and charming junior minister, is accused of raping a parliamentary aide he was having an affair with. His wife Sophie is determined to stand by him, while barrister Kate Woodcroft works tirelessly to prove him guilty. So far, so generic crime novel. However, the many secrets of this novel are in the telling. Multiple storytellers spin strands in the past and present which together form a gripping, and steely narrative. Ultimately the book begs the question: Why do power and privilege seem to give a free pass to charismatic individuals? 9/10