Wow, Rosalind Franklin was amazing and I really enjoyed Benedict's novelization of her life.

I'm going to give the one downside at the beginning here: sometimes it felt like the long timeline of the novel and jumps across time pulled me out of the story. I totally get why it was the written the way it was, but sometimes it felt difficult to build connections to the characters when we would jump to different eras of Rosalind's life so quickly. Like the jump to Rosalind's final lab: you know that she's close with the other researchers but it was more because you're told and not because you see it happening.

Now all that being said, I was interested throughout the book and the end made me tear up on the plane as I was reading. This is such an important story to tell and I'm thankful to Benedict for her research and shining a spotlight on how women in STEM (and everywhere frankly) are treated.

This offers a compelling portrait of Rosalind Franklin, a woman whose work was essential to one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century. The story takes readers from postwar Paris, where Franklin finds unexpected professional support, to her complicated return to England, where she becomes immersed in the race to unlock the secrets of DNA.

Marie Benedict does an admirable job of weaving historical detail with character development, painting Franklin as both brilliant and emotionally grounded. While the scientific elements are present—especially regarding her groundbreaking X-ray diffraction work—they never overwhelm the human side of the story. I appreciated the nuance in portraying how gender discrimination impacted Franklin’s career, and how her dedication to truth and ethics shaped her path.

The novel is most powerful in its quieter moments—when Franklin grapples with loneliness, loyalty, and the pursuit of recognition in a world reluctant to give her due credit. Although the pacing lagged slightly in the final third, the strength of the subject matter and writing kept me engaged.

A fascinating, heartfelt look at a woman ahead of her time, this book is both an enlightening and inspiring read that gives voice to a scientific pioneer whose story deserves to be better known.

3.5 rounded down to 3

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict tells the story of Rosalind Franklin, an unsung hero of science who braved the storm of gender bias to map the structure of DNA, despite constant harassment and undermining in the late 1940s and 1950s. As an X-ray crystallographer, Franklin battled not only the complexities of scientific discovery but also the demeaning attitudes of her male colleagues in academia. Despite her pivotal contributions, the theft of her work shadowed her achievements by other scientists who later won a Nobel Prize.

Benedict, who has a knack for bringing the stories of overlooked women in history to light, paints Franklin as a tenacious and intelligent trailblazer. However, despite the interesting subject, I found the novel somewhat lacking.

The narrative focuses too much on scientific details, which, while enlightening, often felt like a slog through dense academic articles rather than a novel. I skipped sections that delved too deeply into the minutiae of experiments and theories, longing instead for more exploration of Franklin’s personal life and relationships outside her lab work.

The repeated emphasis on Franklin's secular views struck a discordant note with me, as I believed there were many other facets of her character and achievements that could have been highlighted instead.

The presence of several grammatical errors in the eBook version was distracting and gave the text an unpolished feel. This wasn't an advance reader copy where I could overlook such issues, and they certainly detracted from my reading experience.

While Her Hidden Genius shines a light on an important but neglected figure in science, the execution was not as successful as I had hoped. I rate this book 3.5, rounded down to 3.

I liked this book but there was something missing and I don't know what that is. It just wasn't as compelling as I'd expected. I did learn a lot of things I didn't know about Rosalind Franklin so that was all to the good. After reading this book I've decided to not read any more of her books. Again, this is on me and others may love this book.

Another brilliant book by Marie Benedict. A tragic story of another brilliant woman in science forgotten in the ages.

Marie Benedict's latest novel is about Rosalind Franklin, who is credited with describing the double helix structure of DNA. Going in, I knew about how Franklin was critical to understanding DNA in the 1950s, but not about her specific accomplishments or the (totally unwarranted) flack she received in her life. ⁠
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Benedict describes how Rosalind moved from being a physical chemist to working with DNA and the critical discoveries she made in that area, but also her tumultuous relationships with fellow DNA scientists, who were of course all men. In fact, a major focus in this story was how Rosalind was slighted by her male colleagues. Being the daughter of a female engineer, I know about how women in the sciences need to navigate a male-dominated field in order to be successful, but I was still surprised at how badly Rosalind was treated. While working in labs in Paris and London, Rosalind ends up on the bad side of male scientists who want to relegate her to the role of assistant, who paint her in a terrible light, who eventually even steal her ideas and take credit for many of her discoveries. ⁠
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While I was glad to learn that Rosalind Franklin now gets the credit she deserves for her discoveries about DNA, the fact that she didn't for decades made me really angry, especially knowing the hoops women need to jump through to gain recognition in the science world. You can't deny that Rosalind Franklin was done dirty during her professional life and even after her untimely death, but Benedict also spotlights the positive relationships that she had which I appreciated. ⁠
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To say that I'm glad a book like this exists would be an understatement.

I’ve always been a sucker for books that shine a light on overlooked women in history, and "Her Hidden Genius" absolutely delivers. Marie Benedict does a fantastic job bringing Rosalind Franklin to life—the brilliant, stubborn, and fiercely dedicated scientist who played a crucial role in the discovery of DNA’s structure.

From the start, I was hooked by Franklin’s world, the tension of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and her relentless pursuit of truth through science. Benedict makes the complex subject matter accessible without dumbing it down, which I really appreciated. It was frustrating (in the best way) to read about how Franklin’s work was dismissed, and ultimately taken credit for by Watson and Crick—it’s the kind of injustice that sticks with you long after you turn the last page.

That said, the pacing dragged a bit in places, especially with some of the heavy scientific details. But overall, I loved how Benedict made Franklin feel like a real, relatable person beyond just her achievements. Her struggles, her moments of triumph, her sacrifices—it all hit hard.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

The novel delves into the life of Rosalind Franklin, the brilliant scientist whose work was pivotal in uncovering the structure of DNA. Benedict's portrayal brings Franklin's dedication and challenges to life, highlighting her significant yet often overlooked contributions to science.

The writing is both engaging and accessible, making complex scientific concepts easy to grasp. I found myself deeply immersed in Franklin's world, feeling her triumphs and frustrations as she navigated a male-dominated field. The narrative sheds light on the struggles she faced, not just in her research but also in gaining recognition for her groundbreaking discoveries.

What I particularly appreciate about this book is its ability to humanize a historical figure who many might only know from textbooks. Franklin's story is inspiring, and Benedict does a commendable job of honoring her legacy. It's a compelling read that balances scientific intrigue with personal narrative.

I've enjoyed this book so much that I've found myself purchasing it as a gift for friends and family members. It comes highly recommended from this science teacher.

"Her Hidden Genius" tells the story of Rosalind Franklin. Unfortunately, the writing fell flat for me and the novel, for some reason, focused quite a bit on Ms Franklin's possible romantic connections instead of her actual achievements.

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict is a captivating read for anyone who is fascinated by the intersection of science, history, and the untold stories of remarkable women, particularly those who are drawn to themes of feminism, scientific discovery, and the struggles of pioneering female minds.

I never wound up reading this book but I heard good things about it. It sounds along the lines of Lessons in Chemistry which I was not a fan of.

Her Hidden Genius continuesMarie Benedict’s genre of hard-working, intelligent women whose discoveries and contributions to science are thwarted, stalled, and attributed to their male counter-parts. Benedict captures the frustration and helplessness of scientists being the wrong gender. A worthwhile read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful historical fiction book by Marie Benedict - 4.5 stars!

Dr. Rosalind Franklin defied expectations all her life - born into a wealthy family, she was expected to marry well and spend her life giving back to the community. But she was a scientist through and through, and became a pioneer in DNA research. She had to fight not only her family expectations, but her male colleagues who never gave her fair due, and instead tried to take credit for her work. Her work ended up taking her life at the age of 37 from cancer due to radiation exposure.

This was a fascinating look into the science of what makes us us, discovered by a woman mostly forgotten by history.. Dr Franklin literally devoted her life to her work. It's sad to read how she little was known of radiation effects at that time, and any possible worries easily dismissed. It's also a look into how Jewish people were treated after the end of WWII. Every time I read historical fiction, I just pray that we can do better going forward.

Her Hidden Genius tells the story of Rosalind Franklin, a very talented scientist who flourished in her career while working in Paris, but had a very different experience after returning to England, where she was devalued by her male counterparts.

I had never before heard of Rosalind Franklin, but I wasn’t shocked to hear of the lack of respect she received from her English counterparts, given that scientific fields were considered “men’s work” during this time period. I was, however, disappointed to read that credit for her instrumental role in important DNA discoveries was usurped by the men with whom she worked, and it was done with seemingly no thought as to whether it was right or wrong to take credit for her work themselves.

This book was not as compelling as many other Benedict books. In fact, it was quite repetitive at times. That being said, I do appreciate being made aware of someone who most certainly deserves recognition for the ground-breaking work she performed in the field of DNA research.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

You can’t miss with this author. Strong research, strong female role models and a readable book. Recommend as books for 15-20 years olds as well as the general public library reade.

This was a fabulous book. It was enjoyable and had wonderful pacing. I would read this author again. I would recommend this book to others.

Absolutely adored this book. Having the ability to make such a prominent name in history (and science) become someone who feels relatable on a personal level, is a wonderful talent. I enjoy all of Marie's books and look forward to each new one.

This one sadly did not work for me. I would try something else by Marie Benedict, but I found the characterization fell really flat and I couldn't get attached to anyone.

I absolutely love historical fiction books but unfortunately I really did not enjoy this book. I found the plot weak and couldn’t engage with any of the characters.

Watson and Crick have been the names most associated with the discovery of DNA. However, it was only recently that the key contributor to the discovery was Dr. Rosalind Frankline. Finally recognized for her brilliant research, author Marie Benedict brings her story to life through a fictional story, Her Hidden Genius.
Benedict tells the story for Dr. Franklin from a first
person perspective. Dr. Franklin finds camaraderie in the "labo" a research facility in Paris, France. An expert on x-ray crystallography she works well with her team. When a professional colleague gets too close, she returns to England and King's College. There she finds more opportunities for discovery, but a far less collegial environment. It is here she makes several breakthroughs in the structure of DNA. Here she takes her famous Photo 51 which is the first image ever taken of the double helix of DNA. When a rival group breaks a "gentleman's agreement", the research is used by Watson and Crick who publish their own paper detailing "their breakthrough".

Benedict adeptly captures the toxic competitive and sexist academic research environment. One can see very similar actions happening today. Revelations from the Me Too movement demonstrated how many women are kept out of science fields by domineering and abusive men. Benedict attempts to fill in the gaps of some disputed facts. Watson and Crick had the research, they stated it was public, but who created the research? Dr. Franklin did. The story of course then takes a tragic turn as Watson and Crick go on to win the Nobel Prize for their discovery and Dr. Franklin dies of cancer. Even though the narration and dialogue can be very wooden at times, Benedict unveils a very relatable and compelling story to unearth this hidden genius.