This book is a prime example of what is wrong with bestselling fiction. First, it is competently written. There are no sentences or scenes that are really clunky or amateurish (which creep into mega-sellers like those of Dan Brown). But, the plot is contrived from the first page to the last. There is nothing here that is even remotely subtle or surprising. A British Conservative politician and cabinet minister is accused of rape by a young woman in his office he has been carrying on an affair with for several months. The narrative comes from several viewpoints--the prosecuting Queen's Counsel, the politician, and the politician's wife being the key ones. In each case, the author seems to be trying to wrap as many words around the thin plot as she possibly can. You keep waiting for the characters to get to the point. But, since there isn't an ounce of originality here, I guess the author is trying to succeed through overdramatizing everything--and fails almost utterly.

The best example of the lack of originality is the "big secret" that ties the politician to his friend and former Oxford classmate, who is now prime minister. His wife knows, but of course, the narrative just mentions it over and over to keep us in suspense until the book's final chapters. And the big secret, while certainly bad, is really so ho-hum that we hardly care. And we hardly care because there isn't a single likeable character in the book.

The second major failing, and far the worst, are the trial scenes. It seems the lawyers spend most of the time telling the witnesses stories for them instead of asking questions. And if the author is trying to make the reader think there is any doubt as to the verdict, she fails miserably. No spoilers, here, although as a reader you'll know from the length of the book which way it will turn out.

This book also tries to take us inside the halls of power and inside the perversions of the privileged class at Oxford. And perhaps this is something the author knows a lot about. But the bad guys here are so stereotypical--and of course they are all Tories--that it all seems completely paint-by-numbers. I haven't watched the Netflix series made from this and don't really plan to, but this is certainly one case where some pruning and some fiddling with the plot would have to make it better.

I'm giving two stars because it does keep your interest--although more through wondering if the author will come up with anything original before the end of this overlong book. Spoiler: She doesn't. ( )

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. ( )