Prima Facie cover art

Prima Facie

Based on the award-winning play starring Jodie Comer

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

This audiobook is narrated by Jodie Comer (Killing Eve, The Last Duel, The End We Start From), who won Best Actress in both the Tony and Olivier awards for her performance in the theatre production of Prima Facie. Her performance in the play was lauded as "infusing breath-taking emotional drama into every word" (Guardian)
, with "tremendous skill and improbable stamina" (New York Times). Here she returns to Tessa in this intimate and skilful performance.

From the Olivier award-winning playwright of Prima Facie Suzie Miller comes her first novel, where power, patriarchy and morality diverge.

‘She played by the rules, but the rules are broken.'

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…

“It has been an absolute joy to return to Tessa’s story whilst recording this audiobook. My hope is that it will reach the widest number of people, perhaps who weren’t able to see the play. I’ve personally enjoyed delving into her story again and am excited for audiences to experience this further exploration gifted to us by the wonderful Suzie Miller.” Jodie Comer

'Enthralling and sharp-witted . . . Highly recommended' Karin Slaughter

'Bold, fearless, heartbreakingly timeless. Written with skill, humour, despair and hope, Prima Facie is a deeply rewarding, absolute must read' Chris Whitaker

©2024 Suzie Miller (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Best of 2024 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Women's Fiction Women's Voices Fiction Suspense

Critic reviews

Prima Facie has already had a powerful impact outside the theatre, with copies of the original script included in training for new judges. If the novelisation gives it a greater reach, that can only be to the good; these are stories that need to be heard
This nakedly powerful story of how even a successful articulate woman lawyer can herself become a victim of the system is still one worth telling and re-telling
An enthralling, biting story
An engaging, thought-provoking novel . . . Miller braids the legal technicalities and courtroom procedures with Tessa’s personal story authentically, with great control of tension and pace (Helen Cullen)
Bold, fearless, heartbreakingly timeless. Written with skill, humour, despair and hope, Prima Facie is a deeply rewarding, absolute must read (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of WE BEGIN AT THE END)
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, author of STASILAND)
A fantastic read, page-turning and thought-provoking. The kind of story you can't stop thinking about, I loved it (Jane Harper, author of THE DRY)
Miller's novel is searing, vindicating and absolutely necessary both in the injustices it names and the emotions it evokes. I am grateful to her for writing it (Sarah Krasnostein, author of THE BELIEVER)
Gripping . . . [with] blistering points about class, power, the patriarchy and the law shaped by generations of men (Alice O'Keeffe, Books Editor)
All stars
Most relevant
Listened to this book in two sittings !
Absolutely loved it, couldn't wait to get back to the story .
Jodie Comer brought this book to life , she is amazing please more narration from Jodie !

Brilliant!

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Brilliant book very thought provoking. To often do we hear stories similar to this, it’s time to make a change.

Amazing Book

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Well written and read, not bashful in it’s subject matter nor overdramatised. This read like a true account.

So relatable

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Will stay with me for a long time. Jodie Comer is marvellous as Tessa - a brilliant listen

Wow

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Make no mistake. This is absolutely brilliant. Fantastically performed, powerful, shocking, enlightening, emotional. Really wish I had caught the stage adaptation. Jody Comer is incredible. You won’t regret it!

One in three!!!

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