Anatomy of a Scandal

A scandal that will rock Westminster and the women caught at the heart of it, Sarah Vaughan's Anatomy of a Scandal is our unmissable book club pick for January 2018. 

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.

Sophie’s husband, James, is a loving father and a successful public figure. Yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to engulf him. She’s kept his darkest secret ever since they were first lovers at Oxford University. And if she stood by him then, she can do it now.

Kate is the barrister prosecuting his case. She’s certain that James is guilty and determined he should pay for his crime. No stranger to suffering herself, she doesn’t flinch from posing the questions few want to hear. About what happens between a man and a woman, when they’re alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in a lift...

Is James the victim of an unfortunate misunderstanding or the perpetrator of something sinister? Who is right: Sophie or Kate? This scandal – which forces Sophie to appraise her marriage and Kate her demons – will have far-reaching consequences for them all.

"House of Cards meets The Secret History" – Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle

"The best courtroom drama I’ve read since Apple Tree Yard" – Clare Mackintosh

Sarah Vaughan was born and brought up in Exeter. She went to Brasenose College, Oxford, to read English and her first job was as a news trainee with The Press Association, where she covered stories such as the Stephen Lawrence inquest. She joined the Guardian news room in 1997 and covered high profile cases such as the disappearance of Sarah Payne, the Soham murders and interviewed Ian Huntley before his arrest. In 2002 she returned to the Houses of Parliament as political correspondent to cover the Iraq debate. Anatomy of a Scandal draws on Sarah’s experiences as a news reporter and political correspondent. She's married with two children and lives just outside Cambridge.

Anatomy of a Scandal will be published by Simon & Schuster in January 2018. Note that if you do receive one of our free copies, we'll need you to add your questions and comments for Sarah to this thread by the end of January.

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