The Examiner: A Novel
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 aside from running his family's gallery. Patrick manages an art supply store, but can barely operate his phone, much less design software. Ludya is a single mother and graphic designer more interested in a paycheck than homework. Cameron is a marketing executive in search of a hobby or a career change. And Alyson, already a successful artist, seems to be overqualified.
When the examiner, the man hired to grade students' final workssifts through the students' final essays, texts, and message boards, he becomes convinced that someone is in danger...or already dead.
With her trademark "witty, original" (The New York Times) voice, Janice Hallett weaves a fresh and mind-bending page-turner that will keep you guessing until the final page.
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Community Reviews
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If Janice Hallett releases a book, I guarantee Iâm going to read itâŚand if you havenât yet had the pleasure of doing so, this is your sign to do so. I keep thinking of this book as a modern retelling of âThe Secret Historyâ if it were based in England and involved art students.
Like all of her previous books, this one is set up to follow an investigator (or, in this case, the external examiner for a graduate art courseâs grades) try to uncover what exactly happened within a small group of people in very mysterious circumstances. This one was primarily told through texts, emails, and messages sent via the schoolâs online platform as the examiner attempts to discover exactly what happenedâŚand if someone really disappeared.
What kept this book from a 5 star rating was the plausibility of the events. It was incredibly enjoyable to read, but maybe felt a bit harder to buy into than the plot of âThe Appealâ or âThe Mysterious Alperton Angels.â So close, but just slightly missing the mark. It has, however, reawakened my love for dark academiaâwhile this book wouldnât fit into the genre perfectly, it really hit the spot for books involving students who are trying to cover up an *accidental* murder. And thatâs all I could really ask for!
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