This book was more an actors 'rite of passage' and how an actors angst and insecurities comes to the fore. I found Adam to be to pretentious and I did not connect with him at all. The use of such unusual words by the author was irritating and I found it difficult to get to the end. Not for me I am afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy of this book.

I wouldn’t call this a thriller as it’s described, More a story of an actor and his training and experiences at college and the effect that had on him and his fellow students.
I found it well written but quite long winded. I managed to complete it but it wasn’t really my thing.

This was just ace! If after #Metoo you’re intrigued by the toxic side of Hollywood, you’ll love this. I’ve heard many things about method acting which has been criticised heavily recently E.g. Jeremy Strong from Succession. I’ve heard many things about Brando, Hoffman and Day Lewis. If these topics intrigue you, you’ll love this.
Told in two narratives: one is present which follows the recovering of Adam Sealey, a method actor, who is tipped for Best Actor Oscar, but his hopes are dashed when someone on Twitter makes an allegation regarding his mentor Jonathon, which forces Adam to confront his past; in the second narrative we see his past which began in the Conservatory, an acting school in North London.
The two arcs come together and we see Adam wrestle his past in a thrilling climax.
This was more of an emotional read that is more character driven than a typical suspense which ends in the baddie being arrested. The Actor is more complex and threads the line between being literary and commercial. Regardless what genre it is best fitted it, all I’ll say is that it is freaking amazing and super compelling. Even though it’s character driven, it’s still such a pageturner. A book to look out for in 2024

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I was keen to read this novel since I first heard of it back on Insta. Such a great concept. The darker side of method acting explored through the format of a psychological thriller.
The story opens with Adam performing a scene. A body. Committed suicide by hanging. It triggers past memories. Adam is being guided by his mentor Jonathon. The filming soon wraps and we learn how this movie is a comeback of sorts for Adam after a dangerous stunt pulled on the set of a movie which labelled him as difficult and deranged, too immersed with the “method”. Now the new movie, which has received amazing reviews, has a shot at winning him best actor Oscar. He wins the globe and appears on roundtable panels. And that’s when someone on Twitter starts tweeting referring to a girl who disappeared from the Conservatorie jeopardising his win. Can he find out who is after him?
The story is in dual narrative - both follow Adam’s POV. But one is the present and the other in the past. In the past arc we follow Adam as he applies and gets into the Conservatorie back in the late 90s where the method acting was all the rage, and see how things get progressively dark. We know someone meets a tragic end, but from Adam’s cohort? This poses the main hook, as we are immersed into this gripping, obsessive novel about the darker side of Hollywood and acting. At times it’s claustrophobic, at times very relevant and reflective of the issues of film making. It asks for great art, does the end justify the process however immoral and grey it may be.

An interesting book, I was intrigued by the description and it was certainly an unusual book. I did feel that it dragged a bit in the middle but overall I did enjoy it and it picked up pace towards the end. Probably not for everyone but I enjoyed it.

Adam Sealey, an Oscar contender, faces his inner demons as the awards ceremony approaches. The narrative unfolds, alternating between Adam's present-day experiences during the nomination period and flashbacks to his drama school years.

Initially this was a bit of a slow burner for me but once it gets going it’s a captivating novel.

The Actor by Chris MacDonald is a gripping thriller set in a drama school where a rigid interpretation of the Method is taught by Jonathan Dors. We meet our troubled narrator Adam Sealey as he wraps on a film which has disturbing echoes of something that happened at drama school years before. I found this hard to put down and cleverly realised.

This book really is a bit of a mixture of people with issues, upcoming so called actors and a domineering teacher. I persevered with it to the end, but it was a struggle. Why use so many unknown words, you need a dictionary for this book as well.

Overall I think the book could have been a lot better if it had been reduced by half. Really got fed up with Adam in the novel. Need a good talking too and be told to get on with it.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book ahead of release.

Sadly this book wasnt for me. Im sure it was supposed to be pretentious with irritating characters, and maybe the author did it too well as I really lost interest in Adam and found it difficult to get to the end of the book
Thank you to netgalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy of this book.

What an exceptional psychological suspense this is, just an absolutely remarkable novel set in the world of movie-making and acting.
This story has two main narrative arcs that come together. One is set in the present and we follow our male protagonist (Adam) who after being in rehab, has given an incredible performance, under the guidance of Jonathon (his mentor) that is tipped to win an Oscar. In this present narrative, conflict comes in when his chances of securing an Oscar are at stakes when an anonymous person on Twitter alleges that Jonathan was involved with a disappearance and hints at a secret from Adam’s past. In the past narrative we follow a young Adam who is auditioning to get into the Conservatorie, a prestigious acting school in North London. The past narrative is told in chronological order and we see how the past and the present clashes together in the end.
This was an all consuming read exploring the darker sides of method acting and how toxic it can get. Really topical and relevant in light of recent allegations regarding Brando. I will say, however, that this wasn’t quite a typical thriller. It is more of a slow-burn that is character driven, but if the themes of the novel intrigue you, you’ll be riveted. A searing insight into the toxic side of acting and movie making.

A bravura performance from Chris Macdonald, author and actor. Set in the world of acting, and in particular Method acting, The Actor has a memorable cast of characters, among them the revered Svengali figure of Jonathan, menacing teacher of "The Method" at the actors' Conservatoire.

There are parallels with real life and Daniel Day-Lewis, who fled a theatre mid performance as Hamlet, claiming he had seen his father's ghost. Day- Lewis has since denied that this happened.

I felt attached to Adam Sealey, inexplicably chosen by Jonathan to star as Hamlet, and having to relive, and re-enact, childhood trauma to convince that he was right for the role. But the lengths he went to! No wonder Day-Lewis has also denied he was ever a Method actor.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and Adam is favourite to win best actor at the Oscars. Strange things happened during the filming of The Woodsman with Adam fully in character.

The tension and dread that Macdonald serves up on Oscars Night is superb. Will the truth about his role in the murder of a fellow student be exposed to ruin this, the pinnacle of his career?

Highly original and thought provoking.

A compelling character driven story about an ambitious actor called Adam.
Alternating between the present (Oscar nominee) and the past (drama school student).
Well-developed multi-layered characters slowly reveal this cleverly crafted psycho drama.
Fascinating insight into the worlds of drama school, method acting and the way that movie stars are handled and treated. Interesting characters interact with Adam, such as Nina, Van and the dark and mysterious tutor Jonathan.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I didn’t enjoy this book at all, and honestly I tried! For me it certainly didn’t match the billing as a psychological thriller. The only time I was thrilled was when I reached the end and, psychological? Most of the characters were crackers so I suppose that covers that bit. I agree with Teresa (reviewer) about the language used. Why use so many words that most people have never heard of? My Kindle dictionary has never been used so much. Oh, and ‘It’s actually how it subverts the traditional narrative I was drawn to’ – what does that even mean? Thanks NetGalley and the publishers and I’m sorry that this wasn’t one for me.

Well I’d very happily give this book a standing ovation. A taut and emotional thriller with skilful twist it was a rollercoaster of a read and I didn’t want to get off.
Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph and Netgalley for letting me read this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve never read anything quite like this. Adam Sealey is an method actor in the running for an Oscar, but what cost has the
Method had? Something happened back at drama school that Adam cannot admit to, but as the awards ceremony gets closer and closer, he his forced to confront his demons.

There’s something darkly captivating about this novel. The reader is drawn into the worlds of drama school then professional acting and sees a dark side of both.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for something immersive and atmospheric.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

I’m afraid I really didn’t like this book. I struggled with both the writing style and the content.

It seems to have found its audience, but, not me.

I’m grateful to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

3.5 rounded down

After a series of issues, Adam Sealey’s acting career and reputation, nosedives.. However, now he has a real shot at achieving his dream of winning an Oscar for his role in “The woodsman“. Aided by his teacher/mentor Jonathan Dors from the Conservatoire, the London drama school, that he attends 30 years ago, Adam draws on an experience to nail the final scene. He is aided and encouraged by Jonathan who subscribes to method acting, he delves deep into a traumatic past to produce next level acting. However, that night 20 years ago is Adams darkest secret and it seems as if all he has striven for is about to crumble to dust. The story is told in the present day and back tracks to Adam’s time at the Conservatoire.

Initially, this novel is very hard to get into because the pace is so slow. However, it’s one of those novels you need to stick with as something clicks and I realise that it has me gripped. Central to what transpires is the character of Jonathan, the desperation of students such as Adam to attract his attention. This means that they will go to extraordinary lengths to seek his approval and this is where the storytelling becomes dark and disturbing. The impact of Jonathan goes deep and has tremendous ramifications and it’s not an exaggeration to say that it haunts some characters. The toxic atmosphere of “The church“ as students called the drama school, the manipulation and string pulling is truly shocking. These sections of the novel are where it hits a powerful level of intensity as characters, compete and seek control. It goes pretty deep into the psyche of acting, especially method acting, the disassociating of self in order to perfect a role and the impact that has on an individual. This becomes quite fascinating and these sections are very well written.

The characterisation is very good, although it has to be said that if few are likeable with the exception of Nina who Adam meets at drama school. Adam is an intriguing central protagonist, he’s obsessive, dark and self-centred though to redeem him slightly, there is trauma in his life from a young age. I’ll leave you to discover Jonathan for yourself.

It becomes a story of guilt as redemption is sought and I like the way this plays out. It ends on a slightly more optimistic note which I like.

Overall, ultimately, this becomes a novel that pulls you in several directions, as you watch the explosion and implosion of a character. However, the slow start means a rounded down star rating from me.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and the author Chris MacDonald.
This was a gripping and involving psychological thriller which I enjoyed. The author paints a vivid picture with engaging and sympathetic characters. Although the denouement was slightly predictable it didn't detract from how absorbing the story was. Would recommend for a holiday read!

This is not quite the book I was expecting, which was a psychological thriller, it almost feels darker than that but for me not in a good way. I can appreciate the quality of the writing, the twists, the pace but I couldn’t like any of the characters and therefore didn’t really care what direction the story went in. It shows another side to the so called glamorous world of acting, its gritty style making it difficult to read at times and after such a long build up, the end seemed over almost too quickly. I can’t say I enjoyed it but I’m glad I read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.