Prima Facie
Miller, Suzie
This is not life, this is law… Tessa Ensler loves her job. She’s worked her way up to being a top criminal defense barrister against all the odds, and fights to defend those pleading not guilty. Tessa believes in the law, believes in the system. Her quick-witted cross-examinations and intelligence in the courtroom see her clocking up win after win - including securing freedom for men accused of rape and sexual assault. Innocence until proven guilty is, after all, the bedrock of a civilized society. But when Tessa is raped by a coworker, she struggles to find the strength to bring him to justice in the face of the barriers and opposition within that same system. Determined to have her day in court, Tessa is forced to confront the stark reality that the law was not written for victims, and that she is the one on trial. She fights on, even as her evidence is manipulated to make her look like a liar, even while she is retraumatized in the stand. Based on the Olivier and Tony Award-winning play, Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie is an unforgettable story of what happens when a victim is asked to navigate a system that is not set up to accommodate the lived experience of sexual assault survivors. Macmillan. Taken from book blurb.
Comments from BDS Reviewers
"Honest, confronting and authentic. it will make the reader question their own beliefs and assumptions."
"It's a compelling read - the first person narration draws the reader in."
"The narrative is powerful and the ending will stun you - even if you've seen the remarkable stage production on which this novel is based."
"The back and forth between past and present is well done."
"The writing is intense, punchy and tough."
"The characters are in the main well drawn and credible. Highly recommend."
288
2024