4.25

janice hallett's mind is craaaaazy. she does not miss! i stayed up til 2am reading this and then had to pick it right back up in the morning in order to finish. i haven't done that in ages.

oh my goddddd is it to early to say this is my favorite read of 2024?? this was too good. i literally couldn’t put it down.

I previously read Mysterious Case of Alperton Angels and cannot wait for what Janice Hallett does next. This was so not what I thought or was expecting. She really keeps you on your toes. But by the end, all my questions are answered. She ties it all together so perfectly.

Yet another challenging mystery with a university based Master’s art class as the focus (but yet so so much more!!). Once again Janice Hallett has used her unique storytelling method (e.g., apps, texts, emails) to engage the reader from beginning to end.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Janice Hallet never disappoints. This book is unique because it is written in a series of essays, texts and emails to tell the story. The story follows the students in a masters program and you are following along and picking up clues along the way. I have never been able to predict a Janice Halley books ending and this one is no different.

What a unique and novel approach to storytelling. The story really drew me in so much that I had to make myself stop reading in order to get some sleep. I can't wait to get back to the story and finish it!

Free eARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes!
3.5 stars rounded up.
To begin with, I am a big Janice Hallett fan. I have enjoyed all of her mysteries, I love her style, the mixed media format, the way she builds mysteries, and the way things wrap up. That said, this ranks lower on the list of her books for me personally. The story is as engrossing as ever and the characters are compelling and realistic. However, without revealing too much, I think she goes a bit far out with some elements of the plot. Some things happen that are beyond my suspension of disbelief for how real-world the setting is, and one particular plot point is so gruesome that I found it hard to keep thinking about in terms of resolving the mystery. In addition, in her prior mysteries, it did feel like you could solve it while reading, but The Examiner purposely withholds information for the reader that makes this nearly impossible (I think some readers will choose to immediately reread this book because of this, but I will not be doing that). A couple other issues I had that prevented this from being four or five stars for me: (with minimal spoilers ahead) something that felt repeated from her novella The Christmas Appeal, and the way that this book just felt really really long. Somehow I felt that at around 30% in we should be about 3/4s done with the book. More things happened, of course, that majorly contributed to the mystery and plot, but it did have me setting the book down more frequently than I usually do with Hallett's works. Still engrossing and still a good mystery, but not my favorite.

Once again, Janice Hallett has written an unputdownable story that is so creatively constructed through mixed media. This is an epistolary-style story, set in a university MA program, told entirely through the characters’ conversations in their university intranet messaging system, WhatsApp messages, and emails. And yet every character felt fully realized and three-dimensional. How does she do it?? It’s incredible.

I think this is the type of book that is best experienced going in with the publisher's synopsis and ONLY that information. I hesitate to say anything beyond that at the risk of spoiling the story! But I will say this: like THE APPEAL, I loved feeling as though I was solving the mystery alongside the characters. I read this book in two days, picking it up any chance I could. I felt as though these were real types of people that I *knew*, and the university aspect was so relatable to my college days and professional development courses.

Pick this one up if you like academia settings, mixed media–style stories, or even because you like a book with a puzzle at its center.

(Note: I will post my review on my social media sites the week of the publication date.)

Janice Hallet DOES IT AGAIN!

When I found “The Appeal” I knew that every book written in this format from Janice would be a “instant read/buy” for me. It is so creative and I have yet to read a book like it. I know that this is type of book layout is not for everyone, but the girls that get it, get it.

The way Janice’s books are told are via text messages, emails, transcripts, ect. You are essentially trying to piece together what happened in a murder mystery. It is a perfect combination of murder mystery, twists and clue. I can not say enough good things about Janice Hallet’s books, I am OBSESSED. I kicked my little feet and screamed when I got the ARC but also was a little sad because now it means I have to wait even LONGER for her next book because there simply is nothing like her writing in todays market.

This book follows a masters art course at a college and the fourth wall breaks with the Examiners of the course. You are essentially an Examiner (a person that looks over the course work submitted and deems that the course and greats were done correctly and college should keep this course) and get all of the documentations from the masters course. Almost immediately one of the Examiners feels there is foul play done and so we know that something sinister may have happened. That is when the fun begins.

We follow Gela, the art course instructor at the start of the course with her new students, Patrick, Alyson, Jem, Cameron and Jonathan. What Janice does WONDERFULLY in her books is makes you feel so irritated and annoyed with characters and this book is no different. Jem is someone that you know is sheltered in life (we find out more later on in the book) but WOW she is… something else. Which honestly I love to hate her. Now every character in this book has something that they bring to the murder mystery and Jem is the obvious antagonist. However, what is obvious is always not what it seems.

The twists and turns in this book were crazy. There was more than a few times where I had to put the book down and be like “what the heck did I just read” and re read it. So so so so good. And when you think the twist is over, BOOM, another twist.

Highly recommend this book to anyone that is wanting something to kick them out of reading slump. I read this book in less than 24 hours, just like I did with all of Janices other books. 5 out of 5 stars my friends!

Of course this was a five star read. I had no doubt. Janice Hallett has become a favorite author. Her books are so bingeable, smart, and kind of dark. The Examiner is no exception. I loved the dynamics between the students, the mystery, and the creepiness. I already cannot wait for her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is another fun one from Janice Hallett! Not my favorite though. It's a bit of a slow burn, and the conclusion isn't as exciting as you hope it will be. Not my favorite.

Janice Hallett has such a talent of writing interesting and captivating stories without actually using the normal ways of writing!! I love love love the way she uses different forms of communication to write her stories because when I’m trying to figure out what happened within the story, the different personalities and ways of commutation keep me on my toes!

With that being said, most of the story was really intriguing at the end of the book. Had it not been for the ending, I don’t think I would have loved this story.

If you are good with alternative ways of writing and a good mystery needing to be solved, this one is for you!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

I love Janice Hallett’s storytelling. I read *The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels* earlier this year and could not put it down. Janice Hallett is the undisputed champion of this writing style—it's so unique to tell a story simply through a series of messages, journal entries, emails, and reports. But...

The idea of The Examiner is that three examiners are assessing the coursework and other documents from a ‘Multimedia Art’ master’s degree. One of them believes ‘something disturbing’ happened on the course and was covered up by the students, so they ask the others to read all the documents (i.e. the text of this book) and make up their own minds. I found the first half of the book very slow, repetitive, and tedious. I'm actually sad to say that. Yes, I understand that this was all backstory and character development, but unfortunately, if I did not know Hallett's tendency to weave an intricate web of twists and turns, I might have DNF'd at 45%.

The last half raced by, as I expected it would.

After closing the last page, I was satisfied. But again, would I recommend this to a new reader of Hallett’s? I'm not sure.

Rating: 3.25

This is my 4th Janice Hallett read and I was very excited with the various mediums used to tell the story (i.e., chat room messages, emails, texts). Overall, this was a good read but not my favorite. It felt quite dragged out and then very rushed at the end. I think it would’ve been better to have the showdown/reveal a occur earlier and with more explanation. I do appreciate that in Hallett’s acknowledgments that she explains how she become acquainted with the art world and found inspiration for her characters.

A group of six students must work together to complete an arts master’s program, but things quickly go dangerously awry.

Janice Hallett’s writing style is SO FUN! This story is told through text messages, emails, and essays. Just like her last book, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, I genuinely couldn’t put this down. I also loveeeed Jem, the youngest of the group! She was so outspoken and nosy which was so fun for the plot.

Definitely recommend picking this up when it comes out this September!

Although it's not for everyone, I find Janice Hallett's epistolary style incredibly enjoyable. Each novel has a slightly different take--this time, the story unfolds primarily via conversations on messaging apps. The story takes place within the context of a small, somewhat odd, multimedia art course. We are left to wonder, right from the start, what the real story is behind this assemblage of students who seem to have been recruited to fulfill an unstated goal.

It was very entertaining to read about the various personality conflicts among the students while at the same time trying to unravel everyone's hidden agendas. The story ended up being quite convoluted (and almost unbelievable) but it was a very enjoyable ride!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Janice Hallett is a master of the contemporary epistolary novel, and this one did not disappoint! The Examiner chronicles the story of a group of art students (each with an ulterior motive) and an art teacher who is both desperate to make the class she has created successful and hold her end of the bargain(s) she has made with her students and outside actors.

Told through a series of emails, "Doodle" messages, diary entries, essays, grading rubrics, and more, we slowly learn the story of what happened during a Masters course in the arts. A diverse, ragtag group of students led by tutor Gela attempt to complete their own assignments and finish a group project for a local company. But the external examiner reviewing the course materials thinks something may be wrong--that a student may have disappeared--and the others are covering it up...

Hallett is a master of non-narrative storytelling. It's not quite epistolary, as it includes more than that, but therein lies the magic. You never know what to expect, and just when you think you've got it figured out, things take a turn. This book, like its predecessors, is one that sucks you in and makes you want to keep reading, regardless of the time of night. It's perhaps a bit more contrived than The Appel and its novella sequel, but it was a joy to read nonetheless and I gasped at every twist.

Thanks to Atria for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Pros: I have read all of Janice Hallett's books and love her innovative structure and use multimedia to tell a story. I think The Appeal is still my favorite book of hers, but The Examiner is now my second favorite! This book contained two of my favorite themes in a book—campus novel/academia and the art world. Also, there was a fantastic twist that made me want to start over from the beginning to see if there were signs I missed.

Cons: None except now I’m back to waiting for the author’s next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Janice Hallett has done it again!

Using emails, essays, text messages, and message board conversations, The Examiner tells the story of a group of students going through a yearlong masters program with mounting tensions and intrigue. The reader is introduced to the story through the context of an independent examiner reviewing all the included materials to determine if the students have been fairly graded for their work in the program. As the communications are examined, it is revealed that one of the students from the program may have gone missing and others are covering it up. Filled with twists and turns, The Examiner is a gripping read sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

I was first introduced to Janice Hallett’s work when I picked up The Appeal while sick last winter. I absolutely adored her unique brand of storytelling because it made me feel like I was completely immersed in the story, trying to solve the mystery as it unfolded before me. The Examiner continues this immersive feel, transporting me into the world of a high stakes masters program and the complex relationships amongst its small group of participants. The epistolary style tends to be much quicker for me to read, and the twists and turns make it nearly impossible to put down. I have yet to encounter a Janice Hallett work that has not completely knocked it out of the park for me. Each story has managed to be so unique while still using the same structural formula.

If you are a fan of page turning mysteries and like trying to solve the crime alongside the detective, The Examiner is for you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Examiner - Janice Hallett
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 464

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for this advanced copy of The Examiner in return for my honest opinion. I love this author's writing style in which she uses emails, texts, and message forums to reveal a story. It's very unique and the reader ends up finishing the book very quickly. With this particular book though, I struggled. The premise surrounds a masters level university art course that is being piloted with handpicked students by the tutor. Slowly as the assignments continue, the reader starts to understand that the course is just a means to a very complicated end.

I've read two of this author's novels so far and I feel like she always portrays one of the characters as being overly zealous and unlikeable. As the story moved forward, we learn shocking details about certain characters, a mysterious disappearance of one of the students, and certain historical details that came out of nowhere. Really good character development by the author!

That being said, I will say with all the details and the complex storyline, I was confused a good deal of the time. I felt like the author droned on and on with this one and the story could have easily been shorter. This story seemed to be more of a slowburn, which lost my interest about halfway through, but I still managed to finish.

Overall, a good read for those who enjoy slower paced novels, and a unique premise.