Scandal

My first read of 2018 and what a way to kick-start the year with, it is a gripping and immersive book that is a definite “Burn the midnight oil” kind of book! But completely worth the loss of sleep 🙂

Set between 1993 Oxford University and London 2017 the story is told from 5 view points, the main ones being Kate, James and Sophie. Kate a QC who specialising in rape trials, James a member of parliament and close friend of the prime minister and Sophie, wife of James and mother to his 2 children. The other people to lend their voices to the narrative of this story are Alison or Ali as she was known at uni and Holly, another class mate from the uni days.

There is a plot twist part way in but I saw that one coming, however that didn’t detract from the enjoyment and adds another layer to the story.

The characters may not be real but they so easily could be and the storyline its self could be real, I expect if you went riffing back through history you might well find something similar. This has been written in such a good way the lines between fiction and reality become blurred and you half expect to switch on the news and see the headlines about James scrolling across screen!

It will be a book that stays with me long after completing and gives a lot of food for thought.

Would I recommend this book? 100% Yes! Not to just people who enjoy a good court room trial but to anyone, no matter what their normal genre of books are. ( )

If you enjoyed Apple Tree Yard then you will Love this!

My first read of 2018 and what a way to kick-start the year with, it is a gripping and immersive book that is a definite “Burn the midnight oil” kind of book! But completely worth the loss of sleep 🙂

Set between 1993 Oxford University and London 2017 the story is told from 5 view points, the main ones being Kate, James and Sophie. Kate a QC who specialising in rape trials, James a member of parliament and close friend of the prime minister and Sophie, wife of James and mother to his 2 children. The other people to lend their voices to the narrative of this story are Alison or Ali as she was known at uni and Holly, another class mate from the uni days.

There is a plot twist part way in but I saw that one coming, however that didn’t detract from the enjoyment and adds another layer to the story.

The characters may not be real but they so easily could be and the storyline its self could be real, I expect if you went riffing back through history you might well find something similar. This has been written in such a good way the lines between fiction and reality become blurred and you half expect to switch on the news and see the headlines about James scrolling across screen!

It will be a book that stays with me long after completing and gives a lot of food for thought.

Would I recommend this book? 100% Yes! Not to just people who enjoy a good court room trial but to anyone, no matter what their normal genre of books are. ( )

Ok but skimmed 2/3. ( )

This book is a dark drama about a British politician accused of sexual assault, his past, the impact on his marriage, the trial, and the aftermath. It is told from the perspectives of the politician, his wife, and the prosecutor, using both third and first-person points of view. Set primarily in present day, it also flashes back to the main characters’ college years. While the plot is focused on the politician, the psychological and emotional elements are relayed through the stories of his wife and the prosecutor.

Due to the nature of the alleged crime, the subject matter is heavy and at times difficult to read. I thought the author handled it well, covering most of the detailed descriptions through clinical courtroom dialogue and internal reflections of the characters. I learned a lot about the British system of justice and trial proceedings, and assimilated a variety of new legal terms previously unfamiliar to me.

This book is a page-turner. The main characters are well-developed, and enough detail is provided for me to relate to their points of view, while the secondary characters appeared to be primarily used as plot devices. Aside from a few over-used words, and some unfamiliarity with British terminology, I found it a compelling read. It’s not for everyone, as some won’t be able to handle the harsh subject matter, but I think it will do well when released (it’s due out in December 2017).

Recommended to readers of courtroom dramas or mysteries with a few unexpected twists. As a warning, this book contains triggers for language, infidelity, and rape. I received an advanced copy of this book in return for feedback and review. ( )