The Examiner: A Novel

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars | 1,070 ratings

Price: 17.05

Last update: 02-12-2025


About this item

Told in emails, text messages, and essays, this thrilling mystery follows a group of students in an art master’s program that goes dangerously awry, from the internationally bestselling “new queen of crime” (Electric Literature) Janice Hallett.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Caroline
    4.0 out of 5 stars wildly entertaining!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2024
    This book is unique in so many ways: the format is mixed media, the characters are complex with deeply moving backstories yet are incredibly unlikable, and the plot is full of twists you’ll never see coming!

    This was my first Janice Hallett novel, and I had to read it twice—the twists were so jaw-dropping, I couldn’t fully absorb everything the first time. I loved the mixed media format; it lets us experience the story through a collection of unreliable narrators. Truths emerge only as half-truths at best, statements contradict each other, and everyone seems driven by self-preservation and ambition.

    Sure, there are a few over-the-top moments, but many interactions will feel familiar to anyone who’s done a group project in college or worked in corporate. Some characters grew on me a bit after the first read, but by the second, they were just as irritating as I originally thought! Overall, it was incredibly entertaining and kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommend!
  • PhoenixPA
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a Ride!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2024
    I loved this, couldn't put it down, despite the fact that it is an entirely epistolary novel. Told through intranet messages, phone msgs, Whats App etc...
    First half of the book is slower than the second half, and there are multiple twists and turns throughout.
    Are there flaws? Yes, and some serious plot holes, but I was immersed enough in the story that I really didn't care.
    The characters are all crazy in their own ways, and I didn't really like most of them, but their motivations and actions made sense.
    Worth a read!
  • Kayla's Bestie
    3.0 out of 5 stars A little too long
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
    POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

    Liked the format of email and text messages. The story went a little longer than I would have liked. Understand that the characters were meant to be somewhat unlikable, but the 'hero' was too unlikable and by the time when her cleverness came out, I could care less and just wanted the story to be over. Even at the end the arrogance of the individual was too much to take.
  • A. M. Pippia
    4.0 out of 5 stars An unusual mystery novel
    Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2024
    I liked this book. The plot and characters' development was very good, a lot of twists and turns, but in retrospect, this wouldn't be my first choice of novel. I liked the messaging format too, but you don't find out who the victim is right until the end and, of course, the killer. This is no Agatha Christie. It is miasong some of the psychological components of the Great of Mystery Writers, still a good read, innovative, but not the psychological thrillers I love.
  • Mary E. Kmitch
    5.0 out of 5 stars A study of group dynamicss
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    Teamwork makes the dream work is the buzz in business. This story is of group dynamics at their worst. Scary. Mean. Everyone with their own agenda. All told in Janice Halletts signature style of emails and text messages. What a ride.
  • ReadtoLiveLivetoRead
    4.0 out of 5 stars drags a bit, preposterous plot but fun
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
    This isn’t quite up to her first two books. There are a long draggy bits and too much bumf used as filler, but it’s still an amusing romp. And no one does the contemporary epistolary novel like Hallett.
  • Bob B
    5.0 out of 5 stars Innovative Thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2024
    An innovative thriller set in a Multimedia Art Master’s degree program at Royal Hastings University of London.

    An interesting approach to a mystery/thriller where the story is told using retrieved digital messages (text, doodle, WhatsApp...) Gena, the instructor responsible for the art program enlists six candidates: Alyson, Cameron, Jem, Jonathan, Ludya, and Patrick. They have very different life and artistic experience, but the program seems to be working until the six candidates undertake a collaborative project. This effort results in conflict and two of the candidates disappear. Investigation of what happened reveals that each of the degree candidates has a secret.

    Innovative and fun but perhaps not for readers who are not comfortable with leading-edge technology.
  • Ella
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another good book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025
    Another good book by Hallett. Similar to her other books, this book is told through Doodle messages, emails, WhatsApp messages and other communications. While this makes you have to piece together what isn't told or shown, that is part of the intrigue. This book did feel longer than the others and at times I was shocked I still had as much left to read as I did as I felt like it should be closer to the end, overall it was a good book and I can't wait for her to write more.

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