A review by cheyennedierker
The Examiner by Janice Hallett

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 "The Examiner" by Janice Hallett is a crime novel uniquely told through emails, text messages, and essays. It centers on Gela Nathaniel and her efforts to manage a small group of students in a pilot art master's program at Royal Hastings University. As tensions rise and secrets come to light, a third-party examiner uncovers that someone is in grave danger through their final projects.

I thought the modern epistolary style would be a good fit because I'm nosy and my favorite middle-grade books were Kate Klise's "Regarding the Fountain" series. However, I think this would work better as a YA novel. It somehow felt both boring and farfetched, with the storyline and characters' actions often feeling implausible. While the assignments and communication methods were realistic and reminiscent of my own online college learning experiences, the plot dragged on until it finally picked up around the 60% mark. It did end with several unexpected twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy.
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