Jackie’s Reading Corner

SYNOPSIS

Emma Webster is a respectable MP.

Emma Webster is a devoted mother.

Emma Webster is innocent of the murder of a tabloid journalist.

Emma Webster is a liar.

#Reputation: The story you tell about yourself. And the lies others choose to believe…

MY REVIEW

As a politician Emma Webster’s reputation means everything to her. When a body is found at the bottom of the stairs in the house Emma shares with two other MP’s and Emma is in the house standing over the body when one of the house sharers returns, it doesn’t look good. Especially as she hasn’t called 999.

But Emma has been stalked, she has had threatening messages, could she have committed murder. Initially claiming it’s an intruder who must have fallen will only go so far because once the police realise that Emma knows the victim, has slept with the victim, has worked with the victim, things start to fall apart.

Having once been a teacher, married to David, with a daughter Flora, Emma had wanted to get into politics for some time, she had wanted to make a difference, she hadn’t expected her life to change so quickly. Her marriage had ended. Now she spends half of her week in a shared house in London and the rest of the time in her home town of Portsmouth. Holding surgeries on Saturday mornings for her local constituents, her friend Caroline now married to David and taking care of Flora during the week. Emma only saw her daughter at the weekends. But the job is not without its dangers, having to have water nearby in her office in case of an acid attack, along with the nasty tweets, and threats.

She was collaborating with a local journalist on a high profile campaign for tighter online abuse laws to protect victims of revenge porn. Emma had been asked to do a photo shoot and feature for the Guardian newspaper, wearing a smart suit and red lipstick. That article made her look like a powerful woman, successful, working in a man’s world. Was this the start of her downfall?

There were many who didn’t like the article, the abuse she received was harsh. in an environment where misogyny is rife. Where did Emma go wrong? She wanted to protect her daughter, what mother doesn’t? There were times I liked Emma and felt she was really strong and was trying her best to get bills passed in parliament. But there were other times I felt she should be giving her daughter Flora more of her time. Flora is 14, a difficult age for a girl, she tells no one of her own struggles, and worries about the threats that her mum gets. The adults don’t realise how much she is listening to when they have chats. So when she does something wrong at school things start crashing round her. But not only does it affect her and her reputation, it also affects her mum.

This is a well plotted intriguing story as a reader you are never sure until the very end whether Emma is guilty or not guilty of the death of the journalist Mike. As the trial goes on Will Emma be found guilty or not guilty? I had no idea which way things were going to go. The story is engrossing drawing you in, I’m not really one for politics but this was interesting as you learn the things that as a woman MP that Emma has to deal with. The fear she goes through when she thinks someone is following her. I loved the final reveals at the end as the reader learns more of what happened. So neatly tied up answering any lingering questions, but adding some twists and turns you just didn’t expect.

I would like to thank @tandemcollectiveUK for my spot on the readalong and for my copy of the book. I am now looking forward to reading Anatomy of a Scandal, as well as watching the Netflix adaptation of it which will be shown in April. This is definitely a 5⭐️ read for me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. After training at the Press Association, she spent eleven years at the Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Anatomy of a Scandal, her 3rd novel and her first courtroom drama/psychological thriller, combined these experiences and became an instant international bestseller, and Sunday Times top five bestseller. Translated into 22 languages, it was also a kindle number 1 bestseller, shortlisted for awards in the UK, France and Sweden, and filmed as a six-part Netflix mini-series, starring Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, and Rupert Friend. It will be transmitted in spring 2022.

Little Disasters has also been optioned for the screen, was a Waterstone’s thriller of the month, WH Smith paperback of the month, Kindle bestseller, and has been published in the US and various other countries. She is currently working on her fifth novel.

Social Media links:

Twitter: @SVaughanAuthor

Facebook: Sarah Vaughan Author

http://www.Sarah Vaughan author.com