Book Review: Eggshell Skull By Bril Lee

Bri Lee has spent her life surrounded by the Australian legal system; first as the daughter of a policeman, then as a law student, and finally as a judge’s associate in Queensland. She’s also spent her life suppressing a childhood trauma, and she’s become adept at it. But her new job as a judge’s associate is playing havoc with this carefully constructed version of her life. Having witnessed over and over again the complete injustices visited upon women who are brave enough to come forward with their experiences of rape and sexual assault, Lee can’t help but wonder if the whole system is geared against women. With her own terrible secret bubbling to the surface Lee decides it’s time to add her voice to the countless others who have been pushed aside, disregarded and discredited. Only this time, this particular woman has the experience and the knowledge to ensure justice is done. In Eggshell Skull, Lee questions how the justice system and wider society deals with domestic violence and sexual abuse against women, and how the very low conviction rate points to one disturbing fact: we don’t believe them. This incredibly personal and open autobiography is a tense read, part courtroom drama, part true crime and a huge eye-opener.

Allen & Unwin $29.99