Anatomy of a Scandal tells the story of a man called James, a man and public figure who seemingly has everything going for him. He has a doting wife, is charismatic, financially comfortable, intelligent, and handsome. James, however, is accused of committing a very serious crime. While James' wife is convinced he didn't commit the crime, Kate, who is tasked with prosecuting him. Still, the question remains: is James innocent? Or is he guilty as charged?
At the time of its release, Anatomy of a Scandal received mostly positive reviews and became a quick bestseller. In their review, for example, Publisher's Weekly wrote “Skillfully interweaving the story of the unfolding scandal, Vaughan gradually reveals just how shockingly high the stakes are…Sinewy…engrossing, twist-filled.”
In 2022, a television series (which was adapted from the book) of the same name premiered on Netflix. It received solid, albeit unremarkable reviews, but was still a major hit for the popular streaming service. No second season has been confirmed for the series by the streamer.
