Today dear reader I am on the blog tour for Reputation (Published by 3rd March 2022) By Sarah Vaughan. Happy Publication Day! A big thank you to the publishers Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy to read and review, always appreciated. Also to the wonderful Anne for the invite to take part in the tour, you make being a part of this community just lovely.
Reputation
A lifetime to build, one moment to destroy…
Emma is a high-profile MP. Impassioned and empathetic, she wants to make a positive difference but faces threats and trolling as she tries to work in the public eye.
When she launches a campaign to protect women from the effects of online bullying, the abuse steps up. And when her teenage daughter’s character is called into question, Emma learns how far she will go to protect both their reputations.
But still: how did she come to be standing trial for murder? She only lied once – didn’t she?
About The Author
Brought up in Devon, 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, political correspondent and health correspondent, before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Anatomy of a Scandal, her third novel was an instant international bestseller and translated into 22 languages, long-listed for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2018 and short-listed for the Audible Sounds of Crime Award, GoodReads Jury’s Out award, French Elle’s Prix des Lectrices and Richard & Judy’s ‘Best of the Decade.’ Anatomy of a Scandal has been adapted for screen and will air on Netflix as a six-part series in Spring 2022. Little Disasters, her fourth novel, was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month in 2021, has been sold to the US, France, Portugal, Sweden and Spain, and optioned for TV. Reputation is her fifth novel.
My Review
Emma Webster stands accused of murder, a tabloid journalist has been found dead at her home. A strong, hardworking woman in her forties, devoted mother and determined MP that campaigns for women’s rights fiercely, it is difficult to see why she would have any reason to murder Mike Stokes. However as events unfold the lies soon start to unravel and you will be left questioning…Did she do it?
Told in four parts this gripping story will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page. From the moment you start reading you are hooked as Vaughan throws you head first into the murder scene. Beware dear reader, this book is highly addictive.
Emma is an interesting character to follow. Written in first person the reader watches the events unfold that lead up to Mike’s death, the trial and the messy aftermath. Vaughan cleverly weaves a web of doubt within the reader’s mind whether or not they can trust Emma. She is caught out a number of times with her lies yet her vulnerability to the situation makes you double back and question if it was an accident. It’s brilliantly absorbing writing as you begin to overanalyse everything that crosses your path.
The narrative also switches to third person following some of the key characters such as Emma’s fourteen year old daughter Flora, Mike and Caroline; her ex husband David’s wife, who he had an affair with. I felt that this allowed the reader to take a step back and collect their thoughts on whether Emma is a reliable character. Is she as honest and innocent as she portrays herself? It gave a bit of breathing space, but you were still surrounded by the sinister atmosphere that nowhere was safe. Like Emma, you feel on edge at all times.
As the the events unfold, Emma looks back and notes when things started to go wrong. She states that it was the interview in the Guardian Weekend that started everything. She was seduced by the designer trouser suit and how her stylist said heels connoted power. Her bold red lip was her armour against a hostile world. She didn’t recognise herself and felt she had morphed into someone else entirely. It was her first national newspaper feature and she didn’t want to appear weak. The cover photo taunts her throughout the book as it is against everything she stands for. The minute the interview is published Emma faces a backlash as her twitter feed is clogged with abuse. The anonymous texts follow along with the feeling that she is being stalked. Emma not only faces online harassment but comes face to face with it in the form of Simon Baxter who threatens her and says he will be watching her every move. With everything going on around her Emma notices her daughter retreating into herself but struggles to find the time to address it. When Flora reads a threatening letter addressed to her mum she starts to worry and fear for her. She struggles to sleep at night going over possible ways people could harm Emma. If that wasn’t enough Flora is also being bullied at school and retaliates in the worst way possible that could not only put her in prison, but completely destroy her mother’s reputation. It’s gripping stuff and you feel compelled to discover the truth behind it all.
This book features some heavy themes such as suicide, revenge porn and sexual harassment. Emma wants to make a difference and do something about the problems the world is faced with, especially women. She speaks out over revenge porn and a tragic case where a young girl took her own life. She feels the abuse is worth it all as she raises more awareness over the matter. It is a topic that needs more awareness and consequences for its actions.
Vaughan shows the reader the harsh reality that women working in such a public role have to endure every day. Twitter abuse, letters threatening an acid attack, being stalked, it’s horrific. The tweets and abuse that Emma faces throughout are shocking to read. Yet she has come to view it as a normality and part of her job. There is a moment where Emma realises how it strikes her that she’s somehow accepted it as inevitable. The bottles of water on her desk in case of an acid attack, bag checks for knives and extra bolts on her doors. Women shouldn’t be fearing for their lives at work or walking home at night. But unfortunately it is the reality of the world we live in. It’s not safe and having your keys clutched in your hand as a weapon just incase is seen as the normal. Vaughan gives these current events more light, shouts them louder to be heard.
I give Reputation By Sarah Vaughan a Five out of Five paw rating
Intense and laced with danger you won’t be able to put this down.
My heart was pounding the whole time. This book is dripping in suspense as danger looms around every corner. The fear of being watched and followed adds a claustrophobic atmosphere as the wolves close in on Emma. This is a book to be reckoned with, a game changer. You NEED to read this. You won’t regret it. I got chills dear reader.
Don’t forget to follow the rest of the blog tour, dates below, enjoy!
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Thanks for the blog tour support x