I adore historical fiction, and this is such an interesting premise. I recommend because of the story itself, writing style, and its ability to transport you into a different world/time period.

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a number of the author's previous books, and while I always appreciate the fact that she shines a light on unsung women in history, I've enjoyed some more than others - this one fell more into the second category. I was fascinated by the premise and had never heard of Rosalind Franklin, so learning of her was a revelation, her achievements and fortitude worth reading the book alone. However, I found the way the book to be written, while not bad, but kind of bland and not as engaging as I had hoped it would be. Educational to be sure, yet not exactly entertaining. It's a solid read - I just wasn't blown away.

I was interested in this title having read a number of biographies of Rosalind Franklin. I'd hoped to have a more emotional—though perhaps also more imagined—sense of her life from reading Her Hidden Genius, but the title never took off for me. It felt like a biography, without additional emotional material—which leaves me prefering biographies.

Rosalyn Franklin is a genius. She’s also a woman working in a man’s world in the 1950s in Paris and in London. This true story follows her as she out-thinks every man around her but never seems to get the recognition she deserves. A pure scientist, she doesn’t always know how to handle interpersonal relationships or read the clues of the people around her. When she is working in London this fault is particularly bad, causing her to have to re-evaluate her career goals as she works on the structure of DNA. I enjoyed learning about this woman and was cheering her on throughout the entire book. Great read.

I wanted, so badly, to enjoy Her Hidden Genius. Having loved The Only Woman in the Room, and it being a top recommendation for me to others, I had high hopes. However, Her Hidden Genius failed to engage me I tried to continue, but at the 53% mark, I had to throw in the towel. While I love Marie Benedict's passion for writing historical fiction about real women in history, who made history, I was bored by Her Hidden Genius. There just wasn't enough in the plot to hook me. There are very few books I DNF. Unfortunately, this was one of them. I do, however, look forward to more from this author.

I will be posting to retail sites as well with this review. Even though I did not enjoy this read, I do want to be sure to respect the author.

Marie Benedict does it again. She brings us a story of a real life women whose lasting contribution and legacy wasn't fully recognized during her lifetime and may not even still be recognized.

In this one, she invites us into the "race to discover" DNA's composition that took place back in the 1950s in the scientific world and namely into the story of Rosalind Franklin, a scientist who at minimum contributed to our understanding of DNA without getting the credit she deserved, to the possibility that she was knowingly taken advantage of in the scientific world due to her gender.

Benedict invites us, not only into Rosalind's scientific contributions, but into her story as a person with a loving family, adventurous spirit and a life cut short.

*I apologize to the publisher for the delay in my review. The book club I co-host (https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsbookclub decided to read this book for February and also had the opportunity to zoom with Marie.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review via netgalley!

—Book Review—

Title: Her Hidden Genius
Author: Marie Benedict
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
@bookmarked
Genre: Historical Fiction

The @bookfriendsbookclub was lucky enough this past weekend to meet with @authormariebenedict and chat about her latest novel, Her Hidden Genius. What a treat! Marie described herself as an “archeologist for lost woman in history”. Stating she was on a mission to shine a light on these forgotten women in history.

One of our questions was . . . “How do you find these women!?” Marie said most come to her in the typical fashion of research for other books, reading newspaper articles, etc. But as a self professed “fun fact” nerd I loved hearing that she liked to read the plaques on old buildings and other historical sites and that she sometimes finds historical people to research this way. Very cool!

Rosalind Franklin came to her in a special way. And I think that’s probably why there is so much passion in this book. Marie was reading a science book with her son and there were two small “throw away” lines about Rosalind in this science book. So, on her short list of women to research she went. Then, a good friends in the medical field read a non-fiction book about Rosalind that pushed her further and the rest is history. And we are so glad!

So I hope that you can see what I’m saying is that this book is only partially about the science and more about the the legacy of a brilliant women who’s recognition was lost in history. Don’t be intimated by the double-helix DNA, physics, chemistry, and experiments talk— yes, there is a lot of it, but it’s important part to understand the mind of the the character.

Other little nuggets about this book:

🧬 It takes place in the 1940s in Paris & London just post war

🧬 Rosalind was Jewish

🧬 It was difficult being a female scientist in a man’s world

🧬 After the discovery of DNA Rosalind went on to do virus work. Her early work was the foundation we still use today for vaccinations like a particular one we all just received!!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Four strong solid stars from me. Historical Fiction fans, feminist, and science fans this books is for you. Or everyone 😉 This was my third Marie Benedict book, but as you can see from the second slide I own her backlist and have some work to do! She also shared with us she has a book coming out next January and one next summer co-author with Victoria Christopher Murray, again. Yay!!!

I love how Marie Benedict shines a light on women from the past who are little well known. Ever since reading Watson and Crick's book for a college class, I've been fascinated by the role Rosalind Franklin played in the discovery of the double helix. This reimagined account of her life and work was compelling and so educational. Highly recommended, especially for fans of historical accounts of women in STEM like Benedict's The other Einstein or Half life by Jillian Cantor. Much thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advance review copy!

I have come to anticipate who Marie Benedict will highlight as an amazing woman figure from history. Every year she does NOT dissapoint!

Her Hidden Genius follows the life of Rosalind Franklin in 3 parts. First, during her time at a lab in Paris, which she loved in more ways than one. Then to a lab at King’s in London, and last at a lab in London where she finds her home.

Dr. Franklin was an x-ray crystallographer who began studying carbon before coming to King’s where she spent a couple of years studying and perfecting her analysis of DNA. While at King's, not only was she an outcast as a female scientist, but many of her colleagues in the field were jealous of her brilliant and determined scientific studies of DNA.

I was both angry, saddened, and proud of Rosalind for her perseverance towards scientific discovery.

As Benedict always does, she weaves a story you cannot put down (as evidence by my late night finishing of this one!).

If you enjoy medical history, female scientists, strong female main characters, and lesser known stories, then this historical fiction is one you should certainly read.

Thank you @bookmarked for my #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! I am looking forward to discussing this in an author chat with @authormariebenedict @mommaleighellensbooknook and @bookfriendsbookclub

Trigger warnings: terminal illness (cancer), sexism, extramarital affair

Doctor Rosalind Franklin is a scientist who travels to France to learn about x-ray crystallography. Her former research in the UK had been on the properties of coal. In France, she becomes an expert in crystallography and discovers a lot about the properties and unseen elements that make up matter. She also picks up the habit of destroying records of her exposure to radiation so she can continue researching instead of having to take time off until her levels are normal. She is a woman of science, and no one has proved that x-rays are harmful (yet).

After a few years in France, a bad relationship causes her to leave the camaraderie of the French labo to return to England. She begins working for a biophysics department at King's College London, which is one of the first interdisciplinary departments of its kind. Rosalind is shocked to learn on arrival that she will not be studying her specialty (inorganic matter), but was hired to help reveal the properties of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.

Rosalind is miserable at King's because of the animosity of one coworker -- Wilkins. Wilkins undermines her at every opportunity because she is a woman, but also because she is a woman with better research materials and a greater understanding of the research than him. Wilkins thinks she is taking too long to publish her results, but Rosalind insists that she is simply confirming her results before jumping to conclusions. Rosalind is infuriated when he presents preliminary results -- her results -- at a small conference and sees him animatedly talking with Francis Crick.

Crick & Watson (the men who are widely attributed with the discovery of DNA's double-helix structure) make an appearance when Rosalind and Wilkins visit them at Cambridge. Rosalind is shocked to see that they've made a model (incorrectly) of DNA after only working on the substance for one week. Rosalind is afraid that Wilkins is sharing her research with these men who are supposed to be studying the structure of protein instead of DNA.

Maurice Wilkins singlehandedly makes Rosalind's experience at King's a nightmare; he belittles her at every turn for simply being female, although he may have been intimidated by her brilliance or could have had unrequited romantic feelings for her. She leaves the DNA research lab to study viruses at the Birkbeck.

This novel is told in three parts -- the first at Rosalind's labo in France, the second during Rosalind's time at King's College in post-WWII London, and the third after Rosalind leaves King's for the Birkbeck.

Rosalind's scientific curiosity and devotion to her research despite the consequences are admirable, and it's sad that many of the men around her achieved notoriety on her shoulders when she remains unknown outside of scientific circles.

Recommended for readers of historical women's fiction, women's history, and STEM biographies.

Marie Benedict has surprised me with every book. Her depth of research and character development astounds me. With quick paced writing and a storyline that simultaneously warms my heart and inspires me to unapologetically be myself. Excellent.

"𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥."

𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗨𝗦 is the story of Rosalind Franklin, a scientist in the 1950s who made the groundbreaking discovery that DNA is a double helix. Wondering why you've never heard of her? It's because her work was attributed to men who later went on to win the Nobel Prize for Rosalind's contributions.

This was a great book to discuss and even 70 years later, a lot of us could relate to the issues Rosalind faced working in a male dominated industry. I'm glad I learned about her through this book even if it left me wishing I got to know more about her background and her experiences outside the lab. Her life was short but changed all of ours.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the copy to review.

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict is another masterpiece by this author. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by her so far. She brings to us stories of women who have contributed greatly to technology or science that did not get the recognition they deserved simply because they were women. My first book by her was The Other Einstein. She caught my attention with that book and I have been reading her books since then. I have some to catch up on and I am looking forward to time to be able to do that.

Her Hidden Genius is about Rosalind Franklin who did much of the research and study of DNA. She was the one to discover the double Helix structure of DNA. She is the one to take thousands of X-ray pictures to coax DNA to reveal itself to her. She sacrificed her life to discover the nature of DNA and her drive advanced our understanding of humankind. She was the top of her field but, it was hidden by the men she worked with. 

It amazes me that we have so many women that did so much for science in the study of physics and chemistry. The men that felt women didn’t have a place in the world of men or didn’t have the brains to compete. It is sad to think that it has taken so long for the women of the world to show what we are made of and what we can accomplish. It has been many years and many courageous women and we are just starting to break the barrier. It is about time!

If you love Historical Fiction, I highly recommend Her Hidden Genius and anything else Marie Benedict has written. She is an author that puts an abundance of research into her writings. She is amazing. If you are a fan of hers, I know you will be reading this book. If you haven’t read any book by her, you are missing out. Don’t let Marie Benedict be another hidden genius!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Netgalley/#SOURCEBOOKSLandmark and Book Browse. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I did not think twice about requesting, even though I did not know who Rosalind Franklin was. I love how Marie Benedict writes about “forgotten” women or better said women who should be better known.

Rosalind Franklin was a Jewish woman who was foremost an exacting scientist. She was misunderstood by her parents who wanted her to settle down and do charity work. She was misunderstood by many scientists of her day who did not believe women had a place in the laboratory.

We start off on her journey to discover the secrets of DNA in Paris in 1947 where she finally finds her place among fellow scientists at a chemical laboratory. Rosalind conducts her work on a daily basis taking X-Rays of different materials. It also shows the cavalier way that scientists felt about exposure to radiation.

After reading this novel, I want to buy copies for all the girls and women in my life who are interested in STEM. I gave this novel 5 stars. I look forward to Marie Benedict’s next venture.

Marie Benedict has a way of making you feel invested in a completely new (to me) story, a different time, different lives, and wanting to know everything that could come next. I went into Her Hidden Genius knowing almost nothing about Rosalind Franklin and was so disappointed this isn't (or wasn't) being taught in our history classes!

5/5 Stars! An absolute MUST READ!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible person and story! I'm glad her situation has and is being told and she is being recognized for her achievements! Would have liked for the book's editor to do a better job with correct grammar.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars!

Her Hidden Genius was a fascinating story, detailing the life of chemist & x-ray crystallographer Dr. Rosalind Franklin whose findings were fundamental in the understanding of DNA molecular structures. A famed figure in modern times for her work, in her lifetime her contributions to understanding DNA went unrecognized, instead men who used her research were credited with the discovery. I enjoyed reading a fictional account (coupled with lots of research on Marie Benedict's part) of Dr. Franklin's life to better imagine her experiences as a women in stem and higher education, and I found it really interesting to learn more about her career trajectory. I'm glad to see Rosalind Franklin brought further into the spotlight to recognize her significant role in a major scientific breakthrough!!

A big thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book! The opinions expressed are my own.

I was so happy when I received an ARC of this book! I have read every book by this author, and they have all been fantastic! She is an author who takes the time to write about overlooked women and bring them to life for the reader. This book is about Scientist Rosalind Franklin who worked with DNA. As with all of Marie Benedict's books, this one is very well researched. It was a joy to read this book, and it motivated me to find out more about the people in this book. Highly recommend!!!

I am such a fan of Marie Benedict's novels and how they shed light on amazing women that have been sometimes overshadowed or overlooked by history. Her Hidden Genius is a captivating novel about Rosalind Franklin and her work on DNA research. Last year, I had read The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson and it touched on the contributions that Rosalind Franklin made, so I was eager to delve into this fictional work that I knew would also be superbly researched.

Her Hidden Genius will make you appreciate the dedication Rosalind Franklin had to her research and her desire to contribute something to society. It will also infuriate you how Rosalind was often treated by some of her male peers. It will sadden you that her life and brilliance were cut short, but it will inspire you that her legacy still glows bright and through Her Hidden Genius more people will learn of her work.

As always, Marie Benedict writes a marvelous novel that I can't wait to recommend. I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While a little heavy on science I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to learn about the race to learn more about DNA. I liked how the MC was strong and how much it enforced how important STEM is and how it put forward a woman in STEM.