Published March 14th, 2024 by Hutchinson Heinmann
Literary Fiction, Political Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Prima Facie is one of our SquadPod Featured Books. Thank you Hutchinson Heinmann for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
********
SYNOPSIS:
‘Bold, fearless and heartbreaking’ Elle Magazine
‘It has been an absolute joy to return to Tessa’s story . . . My hope is that it will reach the widest number of people . . . I’ve personally enjoyed delving into her story again’ Jodie Comer
‘Bold, fearless, heartbreakingly timeless. Written with skill, humour, despair and hope, Prima Facie is a deeply rewarding, absolute must read’ Chris Whitaker
‘Enthralling and sharp-witted . . . Highly recommended’ Karin Slaughter
‘Miller’s star shines as brightly as a novelist as it does as a playwright. Prima Facie the novel gives us what novels do: the intimacy of interior life. A great read’ Anna Funder
From the Olivier award-winning playwright of Prima Facie Suzie Miller comes her first novel, where power, patriarchy and morality diverge.
‘This is not life. This is law.’
Tessa Ensler is a brilliant barrister who’s forged her career in criminal defence through sheer determination. Since her days at Cambridge, she’s carefully disguised her working class roots in a male-dominated world where who you know is just as important as what you know. Driven by her belief in the right to a fair trial and a taste for victory, there’s nothing Tessa loves more than the thrill of getting her clients acquitted.
It seems like Tessa has it made when she is approached for a new job and nominated for the most prestigious award in her field. But when a date with a charismatic colleague goes horribly wrong, Tessa finds that the rules she’s always played by might not protect her, forcing her to question everything she’s ever believed in . . .
AS SEEN IN ROISIN KATE KELLY, SUNDAY TIMES, ROUND-UP OF BEST BOOKS COMING IN 2024
********
MY REVIEW:
“It’s not emotional for me, it’s simply the game of law.”
Fearless, impassioned, bold, and affecting, Prima Facie is a piercing novel that explores patriarchy, power, justice and fem. Debut novelist Suzie Miller draws back the curtain on the mysterious world of the law and criminal defence, exposing the flaws of a system ruled by men, and influenced by who you know.
The story is told by Tessa, a successful criminal defence barrister who is passionate about the law and justice. But everything changes the night she is assaulted by a colleague after a date. Tessa discovers that the rules might not help her find justice after all, forcing her to reconsider everything she holds true…
“Am I going to let him get away with it? That’s not who I am. Is this what I think should happen to women? That they should stay silent? No…What about justice? What about believing in the law to get it right?”
Told in multiple timelines we start by getting to know our protagonist, Tessa, who has worked her way up from her working class roots to read law at Cambridge and established herself as a brilliant barrister through sheer grit. She’s caught between these two worlds and never quite feels like she fits into either of them. Fierce, strong and steadfast, Tessa is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, and you can feel her passion and belief in the system she loves leaping from the pages. Then, that terrible night causes a seismic shift and you can feel her coming undone; her heart cleaved in two and filled with despair as her whole world unravels. But what stands out even more is the fire it ignites inside her and I was rooting for her at every step as she fought against the odds in the hope of finding justice.
“I don’t want to be a victim. I want to be a survivor.”
From the first pages of this book, you feel yourself in the hands of a master storyteller, and the level of literary fiction, drama, and psychological suspense is perfectly balanced, creating an unforgettable novel that is emotionally wrought, heart-pounding, tense, and enraging. Miller starts the book with a dedication that reads, “For all the women who compromise the ‘one in three’” and, as one of those women, I was deeply touched by how she keeps us at the forefront of the readers’ consciousness throughout. Complex, layered, raw, and emotionally resonant, Miller raises thought-provoking questions and moral dilemmas while also reminding us that anyone can become a victim of sexual assault and the flawed and broken legal system, even someone who has dedicated years to defending it.
Though I have a physical copy, I listened to this one on audiobook after it was recommended to me by a few people and I am so glad that I did. Jodie Cromer is a compelling and evocative narrator. She brings the story and characters to life and I was totally invested at every step. The veins of anger and devastation that were threaded through her voice during the aftermath of the assault were particularly powerful and will stay with me long after reading.
UCourageous, challenging, compelling and outstanding, Prima Facie is a story that demands to be read. Highly recommended.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
TW: Sexual assault, rape
********
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Suzie Miller is an Australian-British playwright, librettist and screenwriter. Her plays include Prima Facie, which was premiered in Australia in 2019, and had its UK premiere in the West End in 2022.
*******
BUY THE BOOK:
Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links
********
Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx
Emma's Biblio Treasures 