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Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Anatomy of a Scandal in Books

Jun 5, 2019

Anatomy of a Scandal is based around three central characters. First there’s James, the suave, charismatic family man and politician who is also good friends with the Prime Minister. He’s wealthy and over-privileged. Then we meet Kate, the young, ruthlessly ambitious prosecutor, who’s determined to see James get the guilty verdict he deserves. She’s also good at her job and made her name prosecuting the very worst sexual assault cases. Finally we meet Sophie, James’ wife who has been dating James since college and knows him better than anyone else. All have a vital part to play in this psychological, legal drama, which starts with a shocking scandal being revealed, which is then dissected in court.

James is accused of rape one of his assistants, but did he do it? While his wife Sophie is seemingly supportive on the outside, on the inside her mind is going crazy thinking about his alleged crimes and what he could in fact be capable of. Just how long can she remain loyal as the story unfolds?

We travel from the court case, back in time to Oxford in the 90s and into the current murky goings on within the privileged political world, where money, corruption and power rule the day.

This is an extremely well written and cleverly plotted, insightful story, which I can easily see adapted into a BBC drama, very much like Louise Doughty’s Apple Tree Yard.

Sarah Vaughan has mastered a treat for us with Anatomy of a Scandal, a sharp, engrossing and poignant political drama, which highlights some shocking hard-hitting facts with sensitivity and realism. Terrific!

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The Girl You Left Behind

Jojo Moyes

9.0 (4 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The Girl You Left Behind is a hauntingly romantic and utterly irresistible new weepy from Jojo...

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 11, 2020

Today's special guest on my blog is Melissa Lenhardt - Author of the women's fiction novel THE SECRET OF YOU AND ME. Enter the #giveaway to #win a signed hardback of the book and your choice of either a FaceTime call or virtual book club visit with the Melissa Lendhardt!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-secret-of.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
True love never fades—and old secrets never die . . .

Nora hasn’t looked back. Not since she fled Texas to start a new life. Away from her father’s volatile temper and the ever-watchful gaze of her claustrophobically conservative small town, Nora has freed herself. She can live—and love—however she wants. The only problem is that she also left behind the one woman she can’t forget. Now tragedy calls her back home to confront her past—and reconcile her future.

Sophie seems to have everything—a wonderful daughter, a successful husband, and a rewarding career. Yet underneath that perfection lies an explosive secret. She still yearns for Nora—her best friend and first love—despite all the years between them. Keeping her true self hidden hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary. So when Sophie finds out that Nora has returned, she hopes Nora’s stay is short. The life she has built depends on it.

But they both find that first love doesn’t fade easily. Memories come to light, passion ignites, and old feelings resurface. As the forces of family and intolerance that once tore them apart begin to reemerge, they realize some things may never change—unless they demand it.

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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Closed Casket: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery in Books

Jul 28, 2017

A good adaptation of a classic but leave it be

I really quite enjoyed this version of Agatha Christie's classic Belgian detective despite being a huge fan of the original. Having read most of the collection I was a bit irked at having it rehashed under someone else's guise. Sophie Hannah has done a good job of bringing the old elements from the original but it should be said to leave it be. Hannah quite easily could have created a new character without taking literary licence from Christie.

It seems that in order for her book to be noticed in an already over saturated area, Hannah has reincarnated the character. She needs more confidence in her writing - so I hope that she chooses to be a bit more original next time.

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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #3) in Books

Mar 9, 2018

Sophie discovers that Ogres are causing trouble in her new realm, but with the Black Swan staying silent, she has to work overtime to figure out what to do next. Meanwhile, the Council is asking her to do something that is dividing the rest of the Elves. What should she do?

This is the longest book in the series to date and also the strongest. The characters continue to grow here, and the development in this book is awesome. The plot is strong from start to finish, and I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out what would happen next. Now, I just have to wait for the next book in the series.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/12/book-review-everblaze-by-shannon.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.