Prima Facie

The first half of playwright Miller’s debut novel, adapted from her hit play of the same name, introduces listeners to Tessa Ensler, a brilliant criminal defense attorney in Britain. Tessa’s first-person account of her life as a barrister is narrated with assurance by Jodie Comer (who also performed the role on stage) , detailing how she defends countless men accused of rape and sexual assault and successfully helps them walk away. The second half of the novel takes a turn, as Tessa goes on a date with a colleague who violently rapes her. Everything she believes about the law is turned upside down as the tables are turned, and she attempts to find justice. Comer’s narration of Miller’s heart-wrenching and vivid novel captures Tessa’s transformation from confident to broken and unsure of herself. As Comer passes the narrative among many characters, she seamlessly slips into different dialects. Although the brutal descriptions of sexual assault and its aftermath are disturbing, listeners will be moved by Tessa’s bravery as she revisits the traumatic event in open court.