6 students enrolled in a master’s art course all come with different experience and lives. Readers experience the story through discussion forums through the class, email messages, and WhatsApp messages. This mixed media style is so much fun and makes for a quick read. Readers know at the start of the book that there is a murder so I was on the edge of my seat and making guesses on who it would be- the know it all 21 year old student? The already famous artist? The single mom of two? …no spoilers! It’s up to you to find out in this 5 star read!

I think The Appeal will be my favorite book written by this author, but I did enjoy this one more than the other one of hers that I read. I love how unique her writing style is and it really takes a lot of craft to write a story like this, and one that makes sense. I didn't love the ending and how everything was turned around. The characters were well done and not who they seem to be.

Overall, a fast-paced, quick read with some twists!

Review live now on GoodReads and TheStoryGraph

The Examiner
By Janice Hallett
Release Date 09/10/2024

Told entirely through a series of documents – emails, texts, and transcripts – this unconventional format invites readers to become not just spectators, but active participants in solving the mystery. Hallett's clever use of language and meticulous attention to detail creates a sense of urgency and intrigue that will keep you hooked from the very first page. With red herrings aplenty and a narrative that twists and turns at every corner, "The Examiner" is a literary puzzle waiting to be solved. An ingenious and refreshing take on the traditional whodunit that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about storytelling.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S̤̈

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What a wild ride! I love Janice Hallett's stories with my favorite being The Appeal. This is even better! It takes the best of what worked in The Appeal, her first novel, and then takes it up another level. We're introduced to the six students of a new multimedia art course at Royal Hastings. The students are a wide variety of ages and disciplines, making for an interesting group dynamic. The reader gets insight into the communication and assignments that the students work on throughout the year, leading into their final group project with a local company. While the story started out slow, getting to know the characters and their relationships with one another, it picked up quickly after the climax. Hallett's structure of this story kept me wanting more and stayed up late to finish it! I couldn't believe everything that happened, but I loved it regardless. Highly recommend for lovers of mysteries and puzzles!

Emails, texts, and essays reveal a fiendishly clever murder mystery involving six students in a new multimedia art master’s program. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.

See full review at https://michelleardillo.com/2024/08/25/book-review-the-examiner-by-janice-hallett/

Atria eARC
I love Hallett's storytelling through mixed media, and this was a hit for me. At first, it took me a moment to get oriented in this story, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. These are the messages of students and their tutor in a MA arts program, but everything isn't as it seems. While reading through all of the correspondence, the reader is slowly let in to this dysfunctional group of people. As I've come to expect from her stories, the mystery build up and reveal are a slow burn, but theres enough smaller things happening for the page turning to happen quickly. I so enjoyed how flawed these characters were. They each had passion for different reasons, yet all showed it differently which gave a suspense filled atmosphere through the whole story. I can't wait to see what she does next!

The Examiner was definitely not what I was expecting for my first book by Janice Hallett. I was first surprised by the format of the storytelling because the book is written through a series of text messages (doodle), journal entries, emails and reports which I had never encountered before. This format allowed for the book to be a page turner because of the quick-read format, but it was the storyline itself where I found some difficulties really enjoying the book.
There were a lot of different elements within this story because there were examiners looking in on the master's program that our main student characters are taking part in along with the professor herself. All of these characters had different backstories that played into the climax of the story which sometimes was hard to keep up with when reading the various text chats, emails and journal entries that were presented. The climax of the story itself was rushed and left me feeling like the build up to it wasn't needed if that was how it was going to end. I wish there would have been a "slower burn" to finding out "who" was murdered and "how" it happened instead of it being all laid out in just a few text chats and journal entries. It still was an interesting story to read because of the format of the writing, but I was left wanting more out of the book.

This was the first book I read (although I own a few) by Janice Hallett. I really enjoyed this book. The style that this book was written was new to me but I throughly enjoyed. It made it feel like I was reading this book from an evidentiary stand point. There was so many twist that it was hard for me to predict the outcome. The characters were all perfectly written, I really dislike Jem in the beginning but toward the end it became evident why she behaved the way she did. I would highly recommend this book.

The Examiner follows six students of diverse backgrounds enrolled in a multimedia MA course. As texts, emails, and the students’ essays are discovered that reveals different agendas, the external examiner evaluating the students’ grades has to find out if one student’s life is in danger. Janice Hallett’s unique storytelling technique of utilizing different forms of technology to tell a mystery is absolutely captivating and keeps you turning the pages.

"the installation will be credited to the six of us equally. And if we're all responsible, who is guilty?"

Janice Hallett writes some of the funnest mysteries. The story is told through alternative ways - group messages, private messages, text messages - all kinds of perspectives. But, despite the complexities for the author, the story is layered and compelling. Each perspective is unique and easy to remember who is who.

From the first chapter, learning of the program and their project, their individual contribution along with a group, I was hooked. The fact that we are examiners, there to see at the end - adds an extra element of urgency - we need to know what happened before it's too late.

I've read all of this author's works and every story is a great place to start and won't disappoint. I love the mystery, scratching my head and never guessing any twists and always loving the end! I highly recommend!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

3.5 stars. The twists did really throw me for a loop like finding out Jem is blind and Patrick being a maniac. Otherwise it felt like this was a little all over the place. It was a quick read but I didn’t feel as invested in the story as I did in the Appeal. The book kept me guessing the whole time but not in a “I have to know what’s happening” way and more of a “what the hell is going on” way. The plot felt all over the place.

The Examiner by Janice Hallett is another masterful entry from an author known for her ability to create quirky, fully realized characters that feel as if they’ve stepped out of real life. If you’re a fan of The Appeal, you’ll find Hallett’s trademark style of presenting the narrative through mixed media formats like emails, messages, and diary entries familiar and engaging.

This novel follows six diverse students—Jem, Pat, Alyson, Cameron, Jonathan, and Ludya—who embark on an inaugural Masters art course led by Professor Angela “Gela” Nathaniel. The art program itself is in a state of flux, with the professor under pressure to make the course a success. The story is presented through the eyes of “The Examiner,” a figure employed by the university to ensure the integrity of the grading process.

As the course year unfolds, Hallett gives us a detailed look at each character, with her signature style of quirky yet relatable personalities. However, as the story progresses, you realize that no one is exactly who they seem, and the narrative constantly shifts, revealing only parts of the full picture at a time.

While The Examiner may not have the cozy vibe of The Appeal, it more than makes up for it with its twists, turns, and a journey that keeps you guessing until the end. The characters, the mixed media presentation, and the unpredictable directions make this book a must-read for any Hallett fan.

I will read anything that Janice Hallett writes, but The Examiner may be my favorite of hers (right afterThe Appeal). This book was so easy to become immersed in and I love how easy it is to forget that one woman is writing all of these different characters! They each have a unique voice and the mystery kept me on my toes until the very end. I did not like Jem until the end of the book when she has a very heartfelt moment.

Janice Hallett does not disappoint! The Examiner is a fun mystery. I recommend going into it not knowing too much.

Let me start by saying I really appreciate authors and the work they do and I’m sure writing a book is super hard but….

I HATED this book. It’s not the format that bothered me. It was the storyline. Really annoying characters. A super convoluted art program. A potential murder? Mistaken identity? Half the time I had no idea what they were talking about with paper mache and a tunnel and a giant head. The small twist made me like Jem a little even though she was insufferable. The big twist or reveal felt silly and I still don’t really understand what the radio was. And without giving Too much away, how does Cameron’s phone work when he is sleeping?

Ugh I thought about giving this two stars for effort but then o thought about what was in the resin and where they left it and the phone thing and I’m sorry but I just hated it. Why is it called The Examiner anyway?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC of The Examiner by Janice Hallett. This is not my first Hallett novel and it won’t be my last! She has a way of grabbing you in with the mysteries. I honestly was not able to figure this one out! This book and author is one for anyone who loves a good murder mystery! Great for a cozy fall read!!

Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars so I'll round up - Janice Hallett continues to deliver the multi-media, puzzle box mysteries I've come to love from her. This is page turning, fun, and definitely has plenty of reveals that do not feel like cheats. I flew through this and couldn't wait to see what happened next!
I will say my 2 cons are 1) that I feel like there was a lot of missed opportunity to incorporate more kinds of multi=media elements given it's an art class that we're following (maybe even having soundscapes included somehow? hopefully they do that for the audio book at least), and 2) that the last 30% or so goes kind of off the rails in a way that was not wholly successful for my tastes. It left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied by the ending. That said... I cannot help but admire any author who chooses to Go For It rather than play it safe, and the chutzpah of the choices were still very fun to read.
All in all - a very entertaining read with a shaky ending. Can't believe I have to wait a year for another one from this author!

I adore the writing style of Janice Hallett and how everything is told through written communication. It makes the books so much more intriguing because there are obvious gaps in what we know. This book is no exception!

I loved the slow burn of introducing the reader to the characters. Everyone has such strong personalities from the get go but they're all hiding something! The storyhas such sharp twists and turns that it's impossible to see them all coming. When I finished this book I felt like reading it all over again to see how I could have missed so much!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of The Examiner by Janice Hallett in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start with what I liked about this book:
* I thought the use of text messages, diary entries, and emails was a unique and creative way of telling the story
* The characters were fully Forbes and each had their own voice, which made it easier to follow along throughout the book. I enjoyed reading about the events of the book through multiple perspectives.
* Some of the reveals were very surprising and I did not see them coming.

What I didn’t like as much:
* It was a very slow burn with almost no action for the first 30-40% of the story. I felt there was a lack of tension that did not properly set the tone for the rest of the book.
* I wish there was another layer of storytelling, such as dialogue told through interviews or phone calls. Reading the messages became a bit redundant and it was difficult to stay engaged at times.
* The ending felt a little flat. I was hoping for a little more shock value and a final big reveal.