Book of the week: Perversion of Justice by Julie K. Brown
Brown’s account of Jeffrey Epstein’s undoing is a ‘searing indictment of a society in thrall to money and power’

On one level this ingenious book is “a pretty straightforward mystery yarn”, said Andrew Motion in The Guardian.
Lena Knecht, a Manhattan-based artist of German-Irish parentage, has inherited a first edition of Joseph Roth’s 1924 novel Rebellion. At the back of it is a hand-drawn diagram: is it a vital clue in a treasure hunt? There’s only one way to find out – by travelling to Berlin, where the book narrowly escaped a Nazi bonfire. But here’s the twist: the story is narrated by the book itself.
The book’s narration intertwines Lena’s family history with episodes from Roth’s own tragic life and encounters with present-day refugees, said Boyd Tonkin in the FT. It teems with ideas about memory and legacy, but never gets bogged down, thanks to its “brisk and swift” narrative.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hamilton has great fun with the central conceit, said Michael Arditti in The Spectator, but his underlying purpose is “deeply serious”, and there is considerable subtlety in the way he shows modern-day horrors mirroring those of the past. The Pages is a “remarkable” novel, worthy of Roth’s own great works.
Fourth Estate 304pp £14.99; The Week Bookshop £11.99
The Week Bookshop
To order this title or any other book in print, visit theweekbookshop.co.uk, or speak to a bookseller on 020-3176 3835. Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
One-pan black chickpeas with baharat and orange recipe
The Week Recommends This one-pan dish offers bold flavours, low effort and minimum clean up
By The Week UK
-
G20: Viola Davis stars in 'ludicrous' but fun action thriller
The Week Recommends The award-winning actress plays the 'swashbuckling American president' in this newly released Prime Video film
By The Week UK
-
6 must-see homes in Boston
Feature Featuring a factory-turned-loft in South Boston and a wraparound roof deck in South End
By The Week US
-
Cartier at the V&A: a 'dazzling' show
The Week Recommends A 'once-in-a-lifetime' display of the French jeweller's 'exquisite' objects
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK
-
What is Free Speech?: a 'meticulous' look at the evolution of freedom of expression
The Week Recommends Fara Dabhoiwala provides both history and critique while 'correcting misconceptions'
By The Week UK
-
Rupert Gavin shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The theatre impresario picks works by Dan Jones, Annie Ernaux and Floella Benjamin
By The Week UK
-
What They Found: Sam Mendes's powerful debut documentary
The Week Recommends The Oscar-winning director's harrowing film features footage and first-hand accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
By The Week UK