A review by amy_alwaysreading
The Examiner by Janice Hallett

4.0

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks and @simon.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book.

 

Witty.  Clever.  Astute. 

 

I love playing armchair detective, and I know when it comes to Hallett’s books, my skills will be put to the test in the most entertaining manner. 

 

With a modern spin on epistolary format, Hallett’s storytelling always feels fresh and unique.   This dark academia mystery utilized texts, emails, group chats, dairy entries, and assignment reports to unravel suspicions surrounding a missing student. 

 

I’m always blown away by the depth of plot and characterization in Hallett’s novels, and The Examiner is no different.  On the surface, this is a novel about teamwork, various forms of art, and modern classroom dynamics.  But as the layers unfolded and characters came alive, much more was revealed of both the storyline and messaging.  

 

I felt the plot slow towards the middle with a depth of details to unpack.  But as the end approached, twists unraveled at a quickened pace and kept me on the hook right up to the surprising end.  

 

🎧 With a full cast of characters, this is a TREAT of an audiobook.  I partnered the audio with my print copy for a full-bodied experience, and it did not disappoint. Each narrator brought a fullness to his/her character, well portraying them as individuals and members of a group.  I highly recommend grabbing the audio to pair with the physical book.