The Examiner

A Novel

By: Janice Hallett

Narrated by: Anushka Chakravarti, Brendan Dempsey, Jonathan Andrew Hume, Rachel Handshaw, Sarah Durham, Dawn Murphy

Told in emails, text messages, and essays, this unputdownable 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 works sifts 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.

Critic reviews

"An ensemble of six narrators narrates this twisty British thriller, which follows six art students who are enrolled in a nontraditional graduate program. Eager to impress the university, their instructor secures a year-long collaboration with a local tech company as part of the curriculum, but when a student disappears after an off-site excursion, the group struggles to work together under tense circumstances. As the story unfolds through emails, texts, reports, and messages from the course examiner, the narrators capture each character’s distinct personality, which makes the format easier to follow. Anushka Chakravarti and Brendan Dempsey are particularly great as Jem and Patrick, respectively, who form a tenuous friendship. The disastrous end-of-year gala keeps listeners engaged to the very end."

WOW!

Okay, this might not be for everyone. It's not a relax with an audiobook and go to sleep listen. But OMG, as an adult graduate student in the US, about as far away from Art College as one can get, could I relate to the group dynamics!! It kept me guessing most of the time, and I stayed up too late, extending the timer.

The format is different. It took a bit of getting used to it when you realize it is this way for the entire book, but I'm grateful we can hit rewind.

This was enjoyable and another display of the human condition.

Worked for me, compelling

I enjoyed this format. I normally don't like multiple voice performances on Audible, but this worked well. Four stars as it was perhaps a little longer than necessary, but I found it easy to follow and compelling. I may try another by this author.

Probably MUCH easier to follow if read

The story was very convoluted with lots of twists and turns. Good thing that the narrators were usually easy to identify.

Kept Me Up All Night Listening

Characters whirl around each other, revealing a bit here, concealing a bit there. Completely drew me in. Loved the myriad voices.

Holy guacamole

I didn’t quite know what to expect from a bunch of art majors trying to complete a major project. But it took some turns that were crazy fun. Yes, I would recommend this book.