You want to believe your husband. She wants to destroy him.

Anatomy of a Scandal centres on a high-profile marriage that begins to unravel when the husband is accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them. Kate is the barrister who will prosecute the case – she is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.

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. A scandal that will rock Westminster. And the women caught at the heart of it.

"Skillfully interweaving the story of the unfolding scandal, Vaughan gradually reveals just how shockingly high the stakes are. Such is the strength of this sinewy novel from Vaughan that the glossy, tabloid-ready surface proves one of the less interesting facets of the engrossing, twist-filled tale that unspools." Publishers Weekly

"A strong choice for bookclubs... an impressive debut with savvy, propulsive courtroom drama." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"Vaughn, a former political correspondent, offers gripping insight into a political sandal... An absorbing and polished mystery." Booklist (Starred Review)

‘A compelling and cautionary story about how we can never truly know someone else; how even after twelve years of marriage, a wife might not know everything about her husband. Brilliant, shocking, and gripping, once I started, I couldn't stop reading’ Claire Fuller, bestselling author of Our Endless Numbered Days

'That rare book that combines great writing, spot-on characterisation and a compulsive, page-turning narrative. I read it in one breathless day. Set against a fascinating backdrop of the Houses of Parliament, the Old Bailey and Oxford University, think House of Cards meets The Secret History. Meticulously researched, this is an outstanding read' Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle

‘A whip-smart, grown-up thriller with a hugely relevant moral question at its core' Tammy Cohen, author of When She Was Bad

‘Anatomy of a Scandal has bestseller written all over it' Veronica Henry, author of The Forever House

‘Sarah Vaughan has achieved that rare alchemy; a strong plot combined with complex characters and brilliant writing. Anatomy of a Scandal is thrilling. I came away feeling that I had read something extraordinarily good’ Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake

‘Fearless, thought-provoking, unflinching, fascinating, beautifully written’ Rosie Walsh, author of Ghosted

‘Incredibly authentic, highly involving character drama here, in a story that could easily be ripped from the headlines. Sarah Vaughan delves into a world of privilege and power, showing one scandal and criminal prosecution from many angles with insightful and realistic storytelling. Emotionally resonant with often teeth gnashing inducing truths about the system, Anatomy of a Scandal is really quite incredibly addictive and will leave you with a lot to think about’ Booklikes.com

‘The Good Wife meets The Affair – fantastic!’ @bleachhouselibrary

‘A thoroughly gripping, pacy and relevant read with characters who could walk straight off the page and into real life. I loved it’ Gillian McAllister, Author of Everything But The Truth