Member Reviews
FROM THE COVER📖
At long last, Adam Sealey has an Oscar within reach. Working with his controversial former mentor, Jonathan, he's given the performance of a lifetime, and he almost believes it might be worth the cost.
Because Adam subscribes to "the method". It's the secret that the world's greatest actors swear by - digging into their darkest, most personal traumas to bring a role to life.
And Adam's greatest trauma is worse than most. Losing his mother when he was just a boy. A forced choice between the success he craved and the girl he loved. And that night back in drama school, the night of Adam's darkest secret, when everyone knows about the dead body, but nobody suspects the truth.
And then he gets a message: someone knows. And if they tell, everything Adam's worked for will come crashing down.
REVIEW⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First off thank you giving me the chance to read this utterly original compelling thriller. I was hooked from the opening pages. I knew nothing of this author before this book and if I am honest didn’t know what to expect I actually thought it would be another fairly good run of the mill standard thriller, I happy to report this book isn’t what I was expecting at all this is a stand out if the crowd.
A fascinating insight into acting world told with a personal truth in that can’t be made up ( the author attended a drama school not unlike the one in the novel) it’s deeply layered characters and a narrative voice is both uncompromising and unsettling. With the glamour of Hollywood and the struggle to get there we are told what it takes it go beyond the story to truly be a method actor and the personal cost it takes to be the greatest.
Told over fuel times lines, in the present day leading up to the Oscars and in the past at drama school, we hear from Adam in the first person POV. His narrative is engrossing it has a real feel of Donna Tartt ‘s The Secret History about it. There is a slow sinister boiling over suspense you know something is has and will kick off you want to keep reading long into the night to find out.
Plotted really well and written with skill I was nearly lead down the path the author wants you to be tricked into but worked it out but still never saw the twist at all.
The characters are drawn with real care and class the little snippets of some of the minor characters go a long way in developing them with a true to life feel without over crowding the book with too many voices. Adam as a character is written with a truth and understanding of not ever feeling good enough, this trait within the acting world makes a compelling portrayal. Van as a background character was my favourite I would have actually liked a few third person POV chapters on her. Johnathan was most of all interesting I felt like Adam trying to read and understand him, excellently written.
The drama school parts were my favourite to read I loved the journey and constant conflicting feelings Adam had. It give a real deep look into the acting world, I never knew the detailed study trained actors have had there is so much than just raw talent to the craft of acting. Within these sections I liked the relationship between Adam and Nina it gave the book the another dimension with it giving off a tragic love story feel.
The full novel has a carfatc and reckoning vibe set within the thrilling plot this along with the love story dimension and well written characters means the novel fits nicely into a lot a genres, I would actually argue it is more a character lead novel than a thriller. It’s much more than the average thriller you see turned out again and again. It’s very original and all the better for it.
With twists, darkness, glamour and characters you will care about this is a block buster book worthy of an Oscar.
I did find this book slightly hard to get into at first but once I did, my goodness what a book. The acting world: glitz, fame and glamour or secrets and obsession? Adam Sealey has an Oscar within touching distance. Working with his controversial firmer mentor he gives the performance of a lifetime as he subscribes to ‘the method’, using personal traumas to being a role to life. It’s easy enough to do after what happened at drama school. It’s his darkest secret, but it appears someone else now knows what happened that night and could be about to expose him. Compelling reading that will keep you hooked. Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House and the author for the chance to review.
Possible spores
I would definitely say I'm into films,but never have I been more invested in who won the Oscar than today.
I say today, because this was very much a one sit read for me.
It was tense and uncomfortable, and a little bit heartbreaking the way those characters broke themselves down.
I was on the edge of my seat at times.
It flicks back and forth through its two timelines at JUST the right moment, and I was forever wanting to find out what came next.
It's going to be topping a few books of 24 lists I'm sure.
Wow! McDonald skilfully manages to sustain tension and unease in this book. He creates a terrifying look into the mind of a method actor, who is desperate to keep his darkest secret hidden. What a page turner!
This is a well plotted psychological thriller which looks at how far an actor can go to get into character for an acting role. I found the exploration of method acting fascinating, bringing out the dark and obsessive side to Adam. A fast page turner that is dark and suspenseful with surprising twists I didn’t see coming!
I knew nothing about this book or the author before starting reading but within a few pages I was completely engrossed in this compelling story which documents the spiralling and catastrophic consequences of obsession, competition, grief and the ruthless nature of the acting profession.
Witnessing the insane amount of pressure that Adam is putting on himself to deliver a great performance and impress his mentor is so addictive. As he unravels, the psychological trauma he has faced in the past collides with the brutal criticism he receives from his tutors and fellow classmates with devastating results. It’s almost uncomfortable to read but impossible to put down.
A ‘Black Swan’ style suspense thriller for the acting world with hints of David Lynch’s critique of the film industry. A career that is usually portrayed as a glamorous and enviable path to take is suddenly seen in a scathing and sinister new light.
I was intrigued by the blurb for The Actor and delighted for the opportunity to read an early copy via NetGalley. The story centres around Adam - an actor who is on the cusp of achieving one of the highest accolades in recognition of his work and yet it all might come crashing down around him. Having been given a chance to attend a highly respected drama school and study under the hawk-like, and not easily impressed, eye of Jonathan, Adam has thrown his everything into his performances, at increasing personal costs. Devoting himself to 'the method' has forced him to go to darker and darker places and at times risked his life for his art. His latest film has brought him back to a very traumatic time in his younger life and it seems that what once was buried may no longer be so.
The story is told as a dual timeline so we follow Adam in his present day during the award nomination period and also look back to his drama school years. I adore this sort of book and it worked so well by gently bringing some mystery and tension then swiftly increasing this with every chapter. There are events which are eluded to and talked around but you must read on to find out what really occurred and the true significance. The writing is crisp and story is gripping right from the beginning. I found myself invested in Adam's story very early on and although he is a flawed character, aren't we all, I was willing him to overcome his challenges, particularly when pitted against those who had an easier start. There's a lot of emotion and some difficult events which shape the story and this is what made it connect for me. It is raw, heartfelt and compelling reading.
I wouldn't describe myself as a film buff but always enjoyed listening to Kermode and Mayo on 5live and reading The Actor kept bringing up little snippets of memories from their show. I was also reminded of the film Whiplash due to the relationship between Jonathan and his students - it has been a while since I watched that movie but some of the themes were similar.
In summary - I found this a thoroughly engrossing read and I think it will have a wide appeal. It's a story of those driven to the absolute edge for their art and I loved it.
There are books and then there are BOOKS! Books that make you open your eyes wide, take a deep breath and enter them unequivocally - books that make the world stop turning, the noise of everyday life quieten and, quite simply stop you in your tracks.
This book is one of those BOOKS. Deliciously dark, the plot and premise are both original and utterly consuming. A lot of crime fiction these days skims the surface, always focused on the big twist, the unreliable narrator - and, enjoyable as they are, this is not one of those. This is a deep, dark dive into the human psyche - brilliantly unpredictable, in turns both fascinating and abjectly horrifying.
To be, or not to be, is not even a question here - The Actor pulls back the curtain on the dazzling lights of Hollywood and will leave you hanging on his every tormented word.
Fantastic and completely addictive.
This book is everything I hoped it would be and so much more. A book that will get your heart pounding and pulse racing.
Adam Sealy is on the cusp of winning his first ever Oscar. He’s been nominated before, but never won. He is the kind of actor that totally immerses himself in the role he plays. In fact, the media brandished him as ‘obsessive’ when he removed his safety harness during a drowning scene, because he couldn’t fake that level of fear.
During his latest film, he worked closely with his old teacher of London’s Conservatoire, Jonathan Dors, who taught him ‘the method’ of acting, where actors had to dig deep into their darkest, most shameful secrets and traumas.
Now, a person is claiming online that Jonathan is linked to a disappearance of a Conservatoire female student. Adam discovers that Jonathan retired mid-term under suspicious circumstances. Are those two events connected? Or is it just a smear campaign by a rival film studio?
Then, Adam receives a mysterious phone call, where a voice repeats ‘How could you? a couple of times. Of course, he immediately knows that the phone call relates to what happened at the Conservatoire when Adam was a student. Someone knows. Is someone willing to tell?
Ooh, you simply have to read this book for yourself.
It is dark with complex characters – you couldn’t have put more layers on Jonathan even if you tried. As a teacher, he was difficult to please, brutal to his students, and relentless. Adam spent his student years desperately trying to please Jonathan; something that persisted even when Adam made it to Hollywood.
This book is a perfect portrayal of the ruthlessness in the film and acting industry. You certainly need a huge amount of determination (and talent) to become successful. Adam was good when he started, however, thanks to Jonathan and his unusual approach, he became an elevated actor.
As a character, Adam was quite obsessive and self-centred. I disliked his actions at the Conservatoire and how he treated some of his fellow students, particularly Nina. Later on in his professional career he would immerse himself into his new roles way too deeply. He would take it to the next level. I picked up on a couple of occasions when in normal situations, he would speak with an accent of his past roles, or he would behave like them. Almost like he wasn’t himself anymore, he was that particular persona.
This is a spellbinding tale of guilt, redemption, wanting to excel ourselves at all times, and surprisingly… hope. I loved the ending; it felt apt to offer a tiny sliver of hope into this otherwise dark and mysterious tale.
Many thanks to Jen of Michael Joseph for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.
“I answered and for a moment there was nothing. A click on the end of the line. Static silence.
Then a voice I hadn't heard for two decades. A voice that couldn't be on the end of a phone because dead people can't speak.
'How could you?' it said.”
Sinister, haunting, addictive and utterly mesmerising, The Actor is a riveting thriller with a bigger Oscar night controversy than Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. I was in its thrall from the start, my heart pounding with nerve-shredding chills. It was so tempting to stay up all night and read this in one sitting, but, in the end, sleep got the better of me and I finished it quickly the next day.
Adam Sealey has given the performance of a lifetime and finally has the Oscar he’s dreamed of in his reach. All of his hard work and sacrifice looks like it's about to pay off. Because Adam is a student of ‘the method’, an acting approach that means digging into your greatest trauma and pain to breathe life into your character. Adam was taught ‘the method’ at drama school by his controversial mentor Jonathan Dors. And Adam’s greatest trauma is also his darkest secret. A secret that someone is now threatening to expose and bring his world crumbling down.
“It felt magnificent…there’s an extraordinary rush in wilful self-destruction. Destroying the sacred self seemed to me the ultimate form of empowerment.”
Wow. Just, wow. When I was asked to be one of the first bloggers to read this book I was excited yet totally unprepared for the rollercoaster I was about to ride. Skillfully written, fast-paced, tense and twisty, Chris MacDonald had me in the palm of his hand from the first page until the last. MacDonald goes deep in this book, exploring the darker side of ‘the method’, and asking if it could be damaging to the mental health of those who use it. His examination of the correlation between unresolved trauma, mental illness and ‘the method’ brought to mind how Heath Ledger immersed himself in the role of The Joker, and the discussions that this could have played a part in his untimely death.
Told in dual timelines, the story moves between past and present. In the present Adam is trying to find out who knows his secret and is threatening to reveal it, the past tells us the story of Adam’s days at drama school and events leading up to the night that still haunts him, long-held secrets are slowly revealed. My mind was a whirlwind of questions and I had no idea what would happen next as MacDonald pulled the rug from under me again and again. And that ending! I’m still reeling from the jaw-dropping shock of it all.
"The ripples of what I did had turned into high-walled waves."
The characterisation in this book is nothing short of spectacular. Adam is a fantastic protagonist. Flawed, fractured, tortured and troubled, he’s living a life most of us can’t imagine, yet MacDonald succeeds in making him totally relatable. He’s a lost soul who is looking for acceptance and to make his mark, but as he falls deeper into ‘the method’ he loses his way, turning his back on those who are truly there for him to chase his dream. We see that life has become one long acting role and Adam is either unwilling or unable to be himself, always searching for the right character to inhabit in every situation. It seems like he’s lost who he is in the many characters he’s inhabited during his career. The supporting cast were equally as compelling. Standout characters for me were Jonathan, who was the perfect, elusive villain, and Nina, who was an ideal leading lady. I was really rooting for Nina and Adam and loved their relationship.
A breathtaking thriller that oozes menace and foreboding, The Actor is sure to be a huge hit in 2024. Add it to your TBR now!
An intense tale of obsession, passion and psychological suffering. Taut and disconcerting it depicts a very dark side of the acting profession. An inexplicably disconcerting experience with characters I found very challenging to connect with, yet I felt compelled to keep turning the pages. Perfect for fans of Black Swan (the movie featuring Natalie Portman), The Actor would make a similarly unsettling and gripping movie.
As an actor, embodying your character is essential. However, there’s a fine line between how you behave on and off stage as you don’t want to become your character and have it encroach on your life. It’s also important not to pour too much of your soul into the character.
Or is it?
In The Actor, we experience a technique that stems from the great Stanislavski himself, but on a much deeper and darker level. Students at The Conservatoire must use their inner trauma, darkest secrets and worst fears to become their character. They must adopt this persona when they eat, sleep and go about their daily lives.
It’s quite a horrifying concept, yet it’s entirely plausible. Many actors sleep rough, starve themselves and perform gruelling tasks to understand the character they become, but Chris MacDonald takes it a step further.
It’s a really interesting idea, with a lot of psychological elements as the horrors of the past unfold and collide with the present day. Adam is nominated for another Oscar and he must present an unblemished front to the press. However, unforgiving rumours about his mentor Jonathan’s methods start to fly when one of his students goes missing.
As a thriller, it’s quite tame, but as a psychological drama it’s excellent. There’s so much to unpick in terms of the students’ behaviour and reactions, not to mention their turbulent relationships and dramatic interpretations.
I really enjoyed the pace and drama, and it’s a brilliant character study. Parts of it are wonderfully disturbing and brutal; I much preferred the drama school story as it was raw and horrific.
As an actor myself, I understand how obsessed people can get when auditioning for or performing in a role and the lengths to which they will go to truly become their character.
There is perhaps too much focus on Adam; whilst he is a psychiatrist’s dream - and extremely fascinating - more time on some of the other characters would have made it more rounded as a whole, particularly at the conservatoire.
Overall, it’s a chilling and believable insight into the ruthless world of acting, although I’m not sure I’ll be using any of these methods just yet!