I’m sorry this one was not for me. I got over halfway and decided I just couldn’t carry on. Nothing happening and too many long drawn out mindless conversations about acting.

I struggled to enjoy this book. I couldn't connect to the character or the narrative and sadly I gave up part way through.

Adam is a method actor trained at the prestigious Conservatoire under the infamous Jonathan Dors, riding the rollercoaster of an uneven career as his approach attracts controversy. After his last film, when he nearly drowned trying to enter the mindset of a professional diver, The Woodsman feels like salvation. Working with Jonathan again, he's sure he's delivered the performance of a lifetime. In order to do so, Adam digs deep into the trauma of his past: the early death of his mother, and the loss of one of his classmates when he was at the Conservatoire. Jonathan has taught him that this is all good copy; to be a true actor, you have to have cracks in your soul, and shouldn't try to mend them through love or therapy. But as a new scandal at the Conservatoire brings back memories from Adam's days there, he starts to question everything that he's been told.

The Actor, Chris MacDonald's debut, is both intelligent and riveting, raising important questions about art-making and its relationship to our own lives. Of course, artists are going to draw on our own trauma; indeed, we are often told that is how you make good art, by saying something that is 'true'. However, as MacDonald's brilliant portrait of Adam spells out, when we assume that we have no capacity to invent anything, no imagination beyond our own experiences, we risk destroying our art and ourselves. As Adam's allies tell him, he is a talented actor; he doesn't need to push himself to the limit to deliver truth. I was a little disappointed with the ending of The Actor, which seems to come down too firmly on one side of this equation. SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER I just don't agree that it was unethical of Adam to draw from his own trauma around Patrick's death in The Woodsman; it certainly may not have been healthy, but that's a diferent issue. Given the position he was put in by Jonathan and Amber, it seemed to me inevitable that he was going to flash back. SPOILERS END HERE

Where The Actor also faltered a bit, for me, was in its psychological thriller trappings. I wished MacDonald had gone full throttle dark academia/literary thriller and not bothered with things like the mystery of who is trying to sink Adam's career by writing anonymous posts on the internet. The bait-and-switch just distracted from the intensity of the novel. But having said that, this is a very good debut; I was especially enthralled by the authentic sections set during Adam's time at the Conservatoire, where MacDonald clearly draws on his own experience attending drama school. (He trained at Drama Centre, which was nicknamed 'Trauma Centre' because of its intense focus on Stanislavski, who argued that actors must work from their own experiences; it closed down in 2020 after the death of a student.) I'd recommend this one to fans of Erin Kelly's Watch Her Fall and ML Rio's If We Were Villains.

A fascinating foray into crime fiction by actor Chris McDonald which is part murder mystery and also a revealing insight into the thespian world, particularly method acting. Adam Sealey is a successful actor, in line for major awards, but his past may be about to scupper his career. The novel moves fluently from past to present and back again, and we discover how far an actor is prepared to go in the search for authenticity. A very enjoyable read.

'‘The Actor’ is a tale that is told two parts: the present, where Adam may win an Oscar for a recent movie and the past, when Adam was a student in the Conservatoire (a stage school), learning from a teacher called Jonathan who encourages extreme teaching methods. The synopsis had me intrigued… However, when I started reading, it just didn't grip me, I didn’t like any of the characters and although that may have been the intention, it meant I struggled to care what happened to them, I also found the chapters too long. The book isn’t badly written – and reading the reviews, I seem to be in minority, but it just wasn’t for me.

I love the theatre and the premise of The Actor sounded like something I would really enjoy. Unfortunately this wasn’t be the case as I just couldn’t get into the story at all. Maybe it just wasn’t my kind of book but I found it a hard slog. Sorry! I can however see that the writer has talent and wish him every success. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I struggled to enjoy this book, I found I couldn't connect to the character or the narrative and sadly I gave up part way through

Adam Sealey finally has an Oscar within reach. However, will his dark secrets from the past cause this to come crashing down?

This wasn’t anything like I expected it to be and I found the writing style addictive. The story is told in two parts, Adam in the present and his time at the Conservatoire, an acting school, working with teacher Jonathan who has extreme teaching methods. The writing style was beautifully done and a fascinating character study into Adam and his flawed past. The story is haunting, exploring obsession, guilt and power. This is a very well written, intelligent thriller which is compelling, interesting and has some surprises thrown in. This isn’t the fastest paced book but it worked well in this instance. Overall a dark, compulsive read that will stay with me. 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I’m sad to say that I struggled to get into this book. I did not like any of the characters and although that may have been the intention, it meant I was unable to feel very engaged.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of both the theatre and literature this book had the recipe for one I might enjoy. However although there were elements of the story I enjoyed overall it did not grab me and I thought it lacked substance. Good description of the emotions of an actor but something missing to encourage me to read more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher to ARC this book.

The Actor was an unsettling read about an acting school and the abuse of power between a teacher and his students.
The Author has done a great job of creating a story which grips its readers and doesn’t let go till the very end.

Oh my word! I felt I was in a theatre. The lights dimmed and the curtain went up and for a while I was trying to take it all in, working out who was who and who was doing what. A good steady start with a great build up. Then something happened off stage and BAM!

I wish this could be on the stage - the author could play a part given his background! Ah yes, this was a delightful and dark look into the acting world and hollywood.

What a reading treat!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

I found this book enjoyable to read on a number of levels! The insight into the film/theatre industry, the mental health issues, the toxic culture that can surround studying drama/being in the theatre… I was expecting more of a ‘thriller’ feel to it but it definitely had some twists and turns that kept me on my toes. Overall, a really good book that I’d be happy to recommend.

Simply brilliant. I’ve relished every page of this tense thriller set in the world of acting. Adam, the central character, has just delivered the performance of a lifetime and is in line for an award. But his joy is quashed when a dark secret from the past comes back to haunt him.

There’s a dual timeline; past and present and as the narrative switches between the two, the events to bring the two together are revealed. This is a really clever story, set in a world of ‘method’ acting. It’s one where boundaries are crossed and it feels very relevant with the current difficulties in the entertainment business. Not a day goes by when there’s yet another exposé of inappropriate behaviour and this book builds on that theme but takes it even further. Hugely enjoyable and a complex plot that’s fresh and different. Characters that I bought into immediately and intrigue from the get go. Really enjoyed this and was sorry when I finished. Always a sign of a good book when it’s difficult to find another to follow it.

This is a well written academic gothic novel that follows student at The Conservatoire school and focuses on four students including student actor Adam and their professor Jonathan. I enjoyed reading this book as I got to find out about acting like I haven't before, particularly focusing on method acting and how far people will go to get to be where they want. The book shows the brutal side of teaching and acting. When a student goes missing it brings everything back for some of the students from when they were at school. I thought there was really good deep character building even if I didn't particularly like any of them! I will be recommending this book.

If you’re an aspiring actor or drama student then this may tickle your fancy.
This book delves into just what actors go through in their quest to get into character.
The mentor is a bully in disguise in order to get the students to perform at their very best, this trait seems to pass down generations. Students go as far as self harm, even suicide, to dedicate themself to the role.
I think I found it hard to appreciate because acting is my worst nightmare. I would’ve gone sick at school to avoid a drama class.
I found this quite slow going to start. I was close to waving a white flag and giving up. However, something about it was compelling me to read on and I’m glad I did. The start was somewhat drawn out, but I can see why now.
All in all, a clever book with lots of layers to it. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.
I’d give it 3.75 stars out of 5.

Wow!! This was a shocker!!! Did not expect to love this book as much as I did.
This book has been incredibly hyped (and that always leaves me somewhat dubious) but this book is so rightly hyped!!
The plot takes place in a world that is familiar to me. Coming from a performing background, there was lots in this book (especially the drama school stuff) that felt very real. The atmosphere of the book is always dark, and even in the protagonists happier moments, there always feels like a sense of foreboding. It took a while to get into, as for a long time it felt like not much was happening. But I just fell in love with MacDonald's writing, and I cared for the characters so much that the lack of plot didn't matter. The more the book went on, the more I cared and the more I was intrigued to know more.
I have to admit, I preferred the flashback scenes more than the present day as this was where the most of the 'mystery' and 'jeopardy' was.
I have never read a book that has made me feel like I did when reading. I would describe this book as a mixture of the film 'Birdman', the book 'Starter for 10' and the film 'Joker' - it;s incredibly unique and strikes up a lot of interesting questions about the acting world. It would be such a great book club read because of this.

Chris MacDonald writes in such a filmic way that I just pictured the whole book playing out right in front of me. It's definitely a book that I will remember long after reading and that is why I had to give it the full 5*.

From Camden chic, to LA glamour. A cautionary tale about the consequences of trying to be someone we are not, and trying to impress those who do not have our best interests at heart...

Oh dear this is not the book for me. All the hype surrounding it bandy about terms like 'compelling' and 'thrilling' but I didn't find it so. I didn't get it. I thought at one point I might be reading a bad translation. Perhaps I'm too thick, I know very little Shakespeare so found the Hamlet stuff, for instance, a bit pretentious. Either way, not for me.

I’ve heard my share of drama school stories over the years, but The Conservatoire is the most toxic by far.

Adam is pushed, and pushes himself, to the limit in this book, which is an absorbing and dark read. Throughout, the edges between actors real lives and their parts blur leaving you with incredibly complex characters to untangle, all vividly drawn by the author. The story is gripping and feels all too real at times.