The Examiner by Janice Hallett

The Examiner by Janice Hallett

Published by Atria Books on September 10, 2024

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Contemporary, Crime

Pages: 480

Format: eARC

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★★★★★

Told in email messages, texts, and essays, this innovative page-turner follows a group of students in an art master’s program that goes dangerously awry.

Gela Nathaniel, head of Royal Hastings University’s new Multimedia Art course, must find six students from all walks of life across the United Kingdom for her new master’s program before the university cuts her funding. The students are nothing but trouble from day one. There’s Jem, a talented sculptor recently graduated from her university program and eager to make her mark as an artist at any cost. Jonathan, who has little experience in art practice aside from running his family’s gallery. Patrick, who runs an art supply store but can barely operate his phone, much less design software. Ludya, a single mother and graphic designer more interested in a paycheck than homework. Cameron, a marketing executive in search of a hobby or a career change. And Alyson, who's already a successful artist and seems overqualified. Finally there is the examiner, the man hired to grade students’ final works, who, in sifting through final essays, texts, and message boards, warns that someone is in danger—or already dead.

I would truly give this book 1000 stars if I could!!

Hallett has convinced me (YET AGAIN) that she is incapable of writing anything less than 5 stars

I LOVE a good mystery - and with it all in a epistolary form - this book truly puts YOU in the detective seat. We get to see how this course played out in the eyes of not one but ALL of the characters.

Every single time I thought I had something figured out, I was thrown for a loop later on. I truly like to consider myself a queen of being able to solve a book mystery before the reveal but she surprises me EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I absolutely love that I can go back and see the context clues I missed and just how much thought she puts into these books. They are fun, sometimes a little silly, and captivating.

Every single character was so well developed and I couldn’t set this book down. There’s always a character that’s too nosy for their own good and this time it was Jem. She didn’t let anything slide and I loved that for her. Patrick was another one I loved and he just kept surprising me until the end.

I will once again shout from any rooftop that I can for you to read this book (and all of her other ones). I’m not being paid for this I swear I just genuinely love these books and the talent Hallett pours into every single one of them.

Immediately preorder this one - you won’t be sorry!

HUGE thanks to Janice Hallett, Atria Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this book before it’s published!!