I’m a fan of the author, Janice Hallet – she’s such a clever writer! Her books are complicated stories that keep you guessing, all written in her trademark style in the form of texts, diary entries, WhatsApp messages etc. The Examiner is her fifth novel and it was only published in August. I enjoyed it greatly.
The story concerns the prestigious (but fictional) Royal Hastings University, which has just started its MA course for mature students in Multimedia Art. Six applied and were accepted but from the get-go they’ve been nothing but trouble.
There’s Jem, a young woman who’s arrived straight from her first degree. She’s a gifted sculptor, but cross her at your peril. Ludya is of Albanian descent, a graphic artist and single mother, who’s been in business for 10 years and wants to expand her portfolio. There’s also Patrick, a gentle man in his 50s, who wants to learn more before he retires; Alyson, a long-established artist of great talent; Jonathan, a gallery owner; and Cameron, a corporate burn-out. In addition, there’s their tutor, Gela, and later, the external Examiner.
The book starts in the middle of the story with the Examiner having read what has so far been submitted, who is now voicing his concern to the university authorities that something really bad has happened to one of the students and that the others are covering it up.
We then return to the beginning of the course and follow the students and their tutor. They have to write 6 or 7 assignments and create 6 projects, the last of which must be for a nearby business and must be a co-operation between them all. While they do this fireworks fly between them, and with so many clashing personalities and agendas what could possibly go wrong? The answer is: lots. They communicate with each other using the University’s internal messaging system, which they also use for a mandatory personal diary and for their assignments.
From the beginning things aren’t right. Jem notices that art supplies go missing and complains vociferously; then Alyson seems never to be there, but they are all assured that she works at night. Later Cameron is suddenly never there but says he is working long hours in his real job. Then someone’s project is set on fire and gossip about an extra-marital affair circulates, the list is endless.
Half way through the course some of the students visit the nearby communications company for whom they are all making their final project. It is here things start to go very, very wrong – and I can’t tell you any more without giving too much away!
My verdict
Suffice to say The Examiner is another book by Janice Hallett that’s well worth reading. She’s such a clever writer and the only author I know of who writes solely in communications. Here it is the University’s electronic messaging board, texts etc. In other books it’s been e-mails or mixed forms of other messages, even handwritten notes or voice transcriptions. She’s an absolute master at this because everything flows seamlessly and there are never gaps in the logic, unintended jumps in the story or other faults. (She does, rightly, acknowledge the huge help she has from her editing team.) And in spite of this very direct way of writing she still manages to give us vivid descriptions of all the characters and their foibles, even their surroundings.
Like her other books The Examiner is complicated, although maybe not as complicated as her last two standalone mysteries (I’ve sometimes been known to read the ending twice to understand it fully). Here the story – with all its twist and turns – rises to its climax and then winds down to the solution seamlessly and directly. Towards the end there are two very big surprises, one of which I should have seen coming and kicked myself for missing!
I should also mention the cover illustration, which I think is brilliant. It actually tells you what is going on, if only you knew what to look for or understood what is significant. It’s the sort of cover illustration you might find on a cosy crime novel, but this is very far from cosy.
It’s no surprise that Hallett has won awards and rave reviews for all her novels. In each of them the reader needs to pay attention and keep their wits about them in order to follow the story. The Examiner is no different and really keeps you on your toes. I’ve no hesitation in giving it 4+ Stars because I really liked it and recommend it highly. I see that Hallett’s next book is already in the pipeline and I can’t wait!
Review by: Freyja
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