Prima Facie

Oh, wow! "Prima Facie" was a powerful read. Tessa Ensler comes from a working-class background and was raised by her mother. She worked hard at university after gaining a full scholarship and is proud of her achievements. She is now a top criminal defence barrister who wholeheartedly believes in the system she now works for.

Tessa is highly intelligent, and determined, and fights hard for her clients, even the ones who have been accused of sex-related crimes. She successfully defends them and allows them to walk free without any guilt or recrimination.

Then one night Tessa is raped by a work colleague. Her life, her career and her trust are destroyed in an instant. When Tessa ends up in court fighting for herself, she finds she is show more questioning the system she once so strongly believed in. On the witness stand, Tess now has to prove her innocence.

Tessa was a well-developed character who I liked from the start. Following her story was gripping but made me so angry at the way she was treated. The speech she made in court at the end of the book had me cheering because the reality is that one in three women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime - frightening statistics - and things have to change. "Their voices need to be heard. They need to be believed, for justice to be done."

"Prima Facie" was recommended to me by a senior student who as suggested I read a few novels and her choices have always been excellent. This novel was raw, painful to read at times and heartbreaking. Our judicial system's treatment of sexual assault victims is disgusting. Instead of being innocent until proven guilty, they have to fight to prove their innocence while recalling minute details over and over again of a degrading event that will scar them for life. A compelling legal thriller that will remain with me for a long time. show less

I'm so overwhelmed but amazed at the courage of sexual assault victims. They're so goddam brave.

Tessa's train of thought throughout the book was so real and relatable. I feel like almost every woman in this planet can relate to her.

I'm still crying while writing this review.

On a lighter note, who could have thought reading about a barrister (I had to google what that was) would be interesting?

Hadn’t been able to see the play, so read the script instead. And, wow, what a daunting task for the solitary actor.

A fascinating, accessible play about the messiness of sexual assault, and justice perhaps not best served by the legal system.

Jodie Comer is fantastic as a narrator as she seems to be good at everything she does. Her ability to speak a barely discernible Liverpool accent in her barrister persona and then switch to a softer but more obvious version when she’s with her family is terrific. Even though she’s a native of Liverpool this makes it perhaps even more impressive.
However I can’t be so enthusiastic about the book. Towards the end the Barrister makes a speech which I really didn’t believe she’d be allowed to make in court and which came across as an insult to me as a reader (listener). First of all the statistics quoted in the speech have been fed into the story already and are well known but secondly the fact that we have to be bludgeoned over show more the head with the speech seems to underestimate us as readers. It’s difficult to talk about without giving spoilers but to me the whole thing would be massively more effective if the book ended with the verdict and left it at that. Anyone paying attention would get the message without it being further telegraphed.
My second disappointment was the constant switching better “now” and “then.” Yes, it works for the first part of the book but becomes increasingly irritating as the story progresses. In particular the tension of the court case is dissipated by the interruptions.
I’m sorry to be so negative as the story is an important one. I just don’t think the structure of the book helps get the message across effectively. show less

A criminal defence barrister becomes the victim herself. Skilfully handled - showing how the prosecution system fails so many rape victims.

A Devastating One-Woman Performance
Review of the Nick Hern Books (UK) paperback (January 2022) of the original Currency Press (Australia) paperback (2018).

'Because,
the truth is that
one in every three women are sexually assaulted.
And their voices need to be heard.
They need to be believed,
for justice to be done.'
I hear the judge now.
I have gone beyond what I am allowed to say.
well beyond.
One in three women.
Look to your left,
look to your right,
one of us...

This is perhaps a 4-star on paper, but after recently seeing Jodie Comer's performance as filmed and broadcast via National Theatre Live, I have no hesitation in rating it as a 5-star.

Defense barrister Tessa Ensler is at the top of her game and is a rising star at her chambers. The first show more half of the work shows her glorying in her success while looking back at her working class roots and at her early years in law school. Many of her cases deal with sexual assault, and there is a sense that defendants choose her for the added sympathy that a female defense lawyer might provide.

The second half takes a shocking turn when Ensler herself is assaulted by a co-worker and decides to press charges based on her faith in the justice system. That faith is soon to be broken.

See photograph at https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/460312729_27738743925724363_1...
Jodie Comer as Tessa Ensler in "Prima Facie."

Former lawyer Suzie Miller wrote Prima Facie in the early years of the #MeToo era and thought at first it would become outdated as real world events moved to correct things. Time has proved to her that it is as relevant as ever.

See book cover at https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/...
Sheridan Harbridge originated the role of Tessa Ensler at the Stables Theatre, Sydney, Australia in 2019. Image sourced from Currency Press.

Trivia and Links
You can see the trailer for the National Theatre Live broadcast of Prima Facie on YouTube here.

Playwright Suzie Miller introduces Prima Facie in an interview which you can watch on YouTube here.

Aside from the National Theatre Live production, since 2023 there is also a plan to expand and adapt Prima Facie as a feature length film. You can watch for updates on that at IMDb here. show less

Less a novel than a justifiably powerful critique of common law courts' methods of dealing with rape.