4 Stars
One Liner: It was a fun ride!

Gale Nathaniel is the head of Royal Hastings University’s new Multimedia Art course. She finds six people from diverse backgrounds to join the master’s program. This course has to be a hit or the university would take it off the list.
Enter, a young Jem (an overachiever and clay sculptor), Jonathan (who runs his family art gallery and has limited knowledge), Patrick (a 50-something business owner who sells art supplies), Ludya (a single mother and small-time professional graphic designer), Alyson (an overqualified artist), and Cameron (a marketing executive who needs a hobby for stress-relief).
The Examiner, the man hired to grade their final assignments finds something he shouldn’t. If his guess is right, someone on the course had died or could be in danger.
The story comes in a collection of emails, text messages, essays, and notes.

My Thoughts:
So, this is my first book by the author though I have her works in my TBR. I was postponing it because of the page count (460+ pages) and since I was worried the pacing would be slow.
Guess what? I was wrong. Considering the length, the pace is very good; much, much better than I expected. The use of chat, emails, and notes keeps the story moving. There are no chapters as much but headings we may or may not track. It doesn’t matter if you don’t track the heads as long as you figure things out.
The characters are so distinct and easy to remember despite not knowing anything about them. We get only the basic information and yet, we can imagine them easily. Of course, whether or not our imagination aligns with the actual depends on the reveals. ;)
My favorite is Jem (not because she’s an Indian… okay! A little because she is). She is a gem in many ways (remember that a gem has many definitions). She is the youngest in the team and her outspoken nature made the whole thing so much more interesting.
Naturally, important details are not revealed immediately. However, it is easy to see how the tensions and the hidden agendas (even if we don’t know what these are) affect the characters. The part about teamwork and credit is spot on! It is one reason I don’t prefer to work in teams (in college, I ended up doing everything and herding others to be there when they should. Ugh!).
Things are not straightforward. Neither is the timeline. That shouldn’t matter if you follow the plot and can fill the gaps with your ideas. Mystery lovers will find it easier, I guess. The brain is wired for it, lol.
The climax and reveal are OTT bordering on absurd. However, there’s a sense of crazy fun in it that makes the whole thing work somehow (for the reader). TBH, I’m not sure I’d have liked it as much if the format was different. Yeah, it is convoluted but entertaining nevertheless.
Don’t ignore the author’s note and don’t read it first. Read it at the end. She makes some really great points. Also, makes me glad I opted for distance mode education for my MA in English Literature!

To summarize, The Examiner is best enjoyed if you go with the flow, but also track a few plot elements that grab your attention. There’s a lot of drama, lies, secrets, etc., that can make the whole thing confusing but manages to deliver as a package. I won't postpone reading her next book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Once again Janice Hallett's writing style, is second to none. Told in "chat room" dialogue, emails, and college essays, the reader is able to "play along" learning about the events in the novel and solve the mystery as it is unfolding. In Hallett's latest undertaking, six graduate level art media students must work together on a semester long project. Before long personalities clash and something sinister is brewing.

I love how Hallett illustrates the characters' personalities so vividly just by their online interactions. It is a writing approach that seems simple, but is very in-depth at the same time. Janice Hallett is easily becoming a must read author for me and I look forward to her next work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a honest review.

Janice never disappoints! All in all very entertaining, I love solving the mystery as the book goes along, but never giving too much away that it spoils it all

I absolutely love everything I've read from Janice Hallett! She writes such fun mixed media mysteries that keep you guessing right up to the end!

3 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This book started out promising, but was just too slow and then got weird. I felt like I had to finish it, but I probably should have DNF'd it.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria book for the complimentary e-copy book. All opinions are my own.

The mature students of Royal Hastings University's new art course are supposed to learn new skills, collaborate, become a family, and earn a prestigiuous degree. But the instructor and each student may have ulterior motives that affects the outcome. And one of them might disappear before the year is over.
None of the characters are especially likable, but I do appreciate that they're all human! Acclaimed artist Alyson seems oddly overqualified. Positive Patrick can barely operate design software. Ludya doesn't show up as she juggles work/life demands. Cameron blusters his way through assignments. Johnathan carries a few secrets. Jem will stop at nothing to earn her degree.
As promised in the promotional materials, the book does include several twists. But they're revealed in a way that reduces the shock value and feels mediocre. Also, the end was a bit of an emotional letdown without a "wow" factor.
The novel unfolds in a slow fashion until the last third. Then, the pace of revelations felt a bit forced and fast at times.
I also couldn't connect to the technology. Other readers may appreciate these details, but they were boring to me.
The title could be tweaked since the examiner is not the main focus of the book. However, it is an interesting read with short chapters and a definite mystery.

Fantastic book with a an interesting way of telling a story. This will keep you guessing, while you enjoy the twists, turns, and jaw-dropping reveals!

I enjoy the format Janice Hallett uses to tell her mysteries but this one lost its pacing. I felt sort of lost and couldn’t follow the information given as well as her other works. Still an interesting read but not my favorite.

Told in Janice Hallett's trademark style, using e-mails, chat transcripts, texts, and more, The Examiner follows six students pursuing degrees in a multimedia art course at Royal Hastings, University of London. The instructor, Gela, desperately needs this pilot course to go smoothly so that the art department won't lose even more funding. She has handpicked the students, but some of her choices are questionable--for one, a couple of the participants lack actual experience in creating art--and the conflicts and drama start from day one.

Despite these tensions, everyone must work together toward their final project, a launch party presentation for a cloud-based tech company announcing its new product. The assignment includes a road trip to collect materials. Shortly before the final installation, an outside examiner is brought in to make sure the students receive a fair grade. As he reviews their final essays, e-mails, and the course's message boards, however, the examiner raises an alarm, because he believes something horrible, perhaps lethal, has happened to one of the students--that five went on the road trip but only four came back. And the examiner suspects a cover-up is in effect.

Hallett (The Appeal) is a master of the epistolary voice. She loses nothing of her ability to create vivid characters and surprising plot twists while eschewing conventional narrative descriptions and prose. The format fits the story well, enabling Hallett to keep details hidden and maintain the mystery. Whatever readers guess is happening, they're likely wrong, and their feelings and allegiances toward each character will fluctuate with each revelation. It all adds up to an entertaining and unpredictable experience.

Janice Hallett is back with another fantastic novel, The Examiner, which follows a group of students as they complete a Master’s program that not all of them will survive. It’s suspenseful, witty, and a must-read for anyone who loves the mystery genre.

I’m always in awe of how Hallett is able to tell such a complex story with so many richly written characters, without using a traditional narrative structure. Similar to The Appeal, The Examiner uses emails and messages to tell the bulk of the story, while also including the characters’ written assignments. I really enjoy this format as it makes the reader feel like you’re putting the pieces together along with the investigators.

As a seasoned mystery reader, I love the creativity Hallett brings to the genre. She’s able to elevate classic tropes into something new thanks to her unique style and form, and the mysteries she concocts are perfect for all fans, whether you prefer cozy mysteries or something a bit darker. And there’s always a bit of humor incorporated, which adds some fun to the story.

I definitely recommend that all mystery fans check this one out!

The Examiner is available now. Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*The Examiner* by Janice Hallett is a gripping, cleverly constructed thriller that keeps readers on edge until the final page. The novel follows a mysterious death and the subsequent investigation, told through a series of emails, messages, and witness statements. Hallett excels at creating suspense with her intricate plot and the gradual unraveling of secrets. The writing is sharp, and the characters are well-developed, each adding a layer of intrigue. While the structure can be a bit challenging to follow at times, it ultimately enhances the story. A thrilling, smart read for fans of complex mysteries. Highly recommended.

Janice Hallett never disappoints and this is no exception! I loved the twists and turns as well as the different layers. The story was pretty complex so it's definitely one you have to pay close attention to. Best read when you can knock it out in a few days or over a short period of time.

The way Janice Hallett writes is so fun - the epistolary puzzles are so unique, and I enjoy the clues left like breadcrumbs. The Examiner uses emails, text messages, and chat groups to explain the (murder?) mystery.

6 people have been accepted into the first Multimedia Art Master program at Royal Hastings University. It was created by Gela Nathaniel who tries to hold onto as much control as she can throughout the program. If the pilot program is successful, it will be picked up as a regular course and funded by the university - and Gela needs it to work. Alyson is a semi-famous artist, Jem is a sculptor who works with soundscapes and is the youngest in the group, Jonathon runs his family's art gallery, Patrick owns an art supply store, Ludya is a graphic designer, and Cameron works in marketing.

From the very beginning, Jem is a force and tries to be the de-facto leader. She instigates a few situations that may have a butterfly effect on the group as a whole. Patrick tries to be the bridge between her and the rest of the group. Ludya is a harried single parent who takes issue with some of the projects, Cam is overworked, Alyson slides on her reputation. All have something to gain and something to lose.

As the Examiner reads through what has happened during the program with these 7 individuals, there are twists at every juncture. No one is reliable and everyone is hiding something. I loved the increased tension throughout the book and when it got to the climax, I was more surprised than I thought that I would be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC. The Examiner is out now.

Janice Hallet is a GENIUS when it comes to a fresh, page-turning and well-plotted mystery. I found I enjoyed this one just as much as I did The Appeal, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll come out with next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this advance copy of The Examiner by Janice Hallett - this marks the 3rd full length title I’ve read from this author, plus her Christmas novella from last year, and I must say that I’m a fan.

This is your true, mixed-media Janice Hallett in a nutshell. The Examiner is primarily set around 6 graduate students communicating with their tutor (aka maybe TA for those of us in the US?) Gela, and things start to go awry. In true Hallett fashion, you have some sort of authority combing through all these media elements on the outskirts; in this case, we have the external examiner who ensures academic integrity. True to Hallett fashion, we have a few surprises dropped at various parts of the book, and this one had me dying to continue on - I wanted to keep coming back to it. The only reason I’m not settling on 5-stars was the elevated confusion at the last 20% or so - it really derails. I also don’t have a background in art, so some of those elements might have been a little lost on me. Overall, this author is a huge win for me, and I will absolutely continue to pick up her works.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. The Examiner is out for purchase now!

Thanks to the publisher for the free ARC!

Loved the episotlary format! Really developed characters with some great reveals.

This was my first Janice Hallett, and it definitely won't be my last! I loved the multi-media aspect of this book - it was engaging and so much fun!! Was the ending completely bonkers? Yeah, I thought so. But by that point, I was along for the ride!

Holy smokes this book was insane! It had me hooked, just like The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels did. I thought I guessed what happened and I was sort of right but still didn't get all the twists. Janice Hallett, kudos- she did it again and floored me. I love this format of writing, I think it's so unique and if anything extra difficult to write in this style but she excelled once again.

Although this book certainly featured Hallett's usual very readable style, there were ultimately just too...many...like, THINGS here that tripped me up. I don't think I entirely understand what exactly was going on with the class itself because I struggle to think of an American analog for a course like that. The art they were creating was sort of baffling to try and picture. I really doubt that so much communication of that nature would be taking place on a university's private messaging app. Virtually everything involving the radio museum was weird. Finding out what was really going on actually didn't really clear very much up. Every character was annoying.

Hallett can do better, this one wasn't it.

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Examiner a mystery novel by Janice Hallett is one of the most confusing novels I have ever read.

I pushed so hard to work my way through it but in the end I did not really enjoy the book. It was not a satisfying read.

Written as a series of text messages, email chains and private messages. I found it extremely slow reading and even if you try to skim and read quickly it bogs the reader down.

The premise is a graduate school design program, students have been recruited to thee program, hand picked it turns out by the professor. They are mostly older working on a second career, having worked in other art fields. Now they are tasked with working together to promote a company and their new launch as the assignment. They are all on a Doodle share group talking to each other about the projects they are doing. There are also private chat groups for different groups of the students and then private chats between the professor and certain students. Somehow all these chains are saved and are being investigated and that is how the reader is privy to this story as it develops.

A crime of some sort has taken place and there are hints of many mysterious circumstances have taken place. But to this reader so much of this seems so obtuse that I could not get excited about what was being uncovered and could not relate to any characters.

A very frustrating read