Marie Benedict delivers once again with this biographical novel about scientist Rosalind Franklin. Rosalind was a chemist and X-ray crystallographer from England whose tireless work and talent lead to the discovery on DNA. Throughout her life and career, she had to fight against a family that did not understand her myopic interest in science, the epic misogyny of her male colleagues, and ultimately her own health issues.

The novel opens in 1947 Paris where Rosalind has taken a job in a lab in which her skills and knowledge are valued, and everyone is treated equally. Despite her enjoyment with this work environment and the satisfying social life she has created for herself; Rosalind decides to return to work in England after a disappointing romance that never got off the ground. Attitudes toward female scientist could not be more different in her new lab. The fierce competitiveness among the men is even more pronounced when they turn their collective animosity toward her. Here she finds herself working with Maurice Wilkins who is determined to not only undermine her work and steal her research; he even goes so far as to share it with two scientists from another lab, James Watson, and Francis Crick. Ultimately the three men publish much of her work as their own and win the Noble Prize, never acknowledging Rosalind’s contributions. Decades later, long after Rosalind’s death, her part in the discovery began to be recognized and the history corrected.

Well-researched and artfully written, Benedict does a wonderful job bringing this historical figure to life. The reader learns not just about her important contributions to science, but also about her life, friendships, and family. I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction especially little-known stories of strong women who have been overlooked in history.

Several years ago, I read Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict and found myself intrigued with the author's writing style and keen attention to detail. Somehow, I lost track of her subsequent releases but recently saw that she had a new book, Her Hidden Genius, publishing in January of 2022. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and am eager to share my thoughts on the novel.

Dr. Rosalind Franklin is most known for studying and discovering key facts and game-changing details about DNA. Not known well outside the professional circle of researchers until after her death, she was immensely dedicated to proving her theories about the building blocks of living organisms. Many books have been published on the topic, some crediting her, while others allot the discovery to the men she'd been working side-by-side with for a few decades. In this account, Benedict shows a more human side of the scientist, exploring those who treated her unfairly and stole her research.

This was an interesting topic, and while at times it focused a bit to much on the scientific details of DNA and the testing being completed through dynamic photography, it still conjures an emotional reaction. Whether it was her all-consuming desire to find the truth and beat her competitors, or it was the unfair way some of the men received credit in her laboratory, readers will find themselves with gut reactions and points of view on right and wrong. Other depictions treat the famous doctor as a difficult shrew (their words, not mine) who couldn't work with anyone. Benedict offers hints of Rosalind's inability to partner with others, but she also shows the difficulty of being a woman in a man's world (at the time) and growing up in a family who simply wanted her to stay home, marry, and procreate.

Benedict is a wonderful writer. She pulls you in, adds depth to characters, balances the true historical facts with dramatic fiction, and allows readers to decide for themselves where they end up in their beliefs. For those interested in DNA, science, experiments, et al, this will surely be a stronger reader. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the personal relationships, the highpoints of her discoveries, and the mini-suspenseful moments of research being stolen or protected. But I also found myself tuning out every so often when the story became burdened with the technical details, mostly because I am not that intelligent in this arena nor do I have a personal interest in the scientific aspects of it (the genealogical side of DNA, yes, tho). It wasn't too much that I couldn't read the book, and without it, the story might not have had enough merit to appeal to a wider audience. All that said, it was a commanding story with memorable personalities, scenic descriptions, and a lovely educational lesson on 1940s and 1950s DNA discoveries.

I think most people will enjoy the book... but without the underlying, innate interest in DNA and science, it might fall a bit flat given that's the sole focus and precipice of the book. Near the end, it picks up when Dr. Franklin becomes ill, likely radiation poisoning / cancer from all her research. I wish we spent more time in this realm, including exploring the scientist's point of view and emotions at one's single most beloved thing being the exact reason she died so young. I'm glad I read it, and it's prompted me to add Benedict's other books higher in my TBR for 2022. I am sure others will feel very similarly.

Thank you to the publishers for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I typically enjoy historical fiction, but I think my brain needs a change in genre. I had difficulty getting into this book and found myself skipping through chapters. People more interested in science would probably really enjoy this book, but it just was not for me.

A beautiful historical fiction book written for and about Rosalind Franklin, the woman who was instrumental in the findings of the double helix structure of DNA. She was brilliant in understanding x-ray crystallography and used this method to help her understand DNA. But, because she was a woman, in the 1950's, and a scientist, she was continuously undermined and did not receive the respect nor credit she deserved.

Marie Benedict does a beautiful job in recreating Dr. Franklins life and work. Her love and passion for research, her goodness in leading her assistants to greatness and her drive for discovery.

This was an entertaining read and I almost feel like Rosalind and I would be great friends. If anything, I would've liked to learn more about her research and studies. The book discussed it, but focused more about how she was undermined and passed over merely because she was a woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance reader e-copy in return for my honest review.

I will post an IG review prior to pub date.

Marie Benedict is a gifted writer and historian who brings intelligent trailblazing women to life.

A fascinating historical story about a remarkable woman named Rosalind Franklin, a true pioneer in the experimental science of x-ray crystallography and discovery of DNA. Franklin will make a life-changing discovery (Nobel Prize worthy!) only to have it ripped out from under her by three men who would take the credit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel about Rosalind Franklin whose work in studying DNA, RNA, and early viruses in the 1950’s was pivotal, but stolen by several male researchers who took credit for her work. After reading the story, I was compelled to read more about Doctor Franklin, and found that the book contained so many interesting details about her life and career. I’d recommend this educational story!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I was utterly and completely ‘geeked out’ with this STEM hero book and read it slowly to savour the genius of it!

First of all, what a fantastic cover! Did you notice that it’s a double helix? And one half is an x-ray image?

I love Marie Benedict books because she writes to highlight women’s achievements that history has overlooked. A STEM teacher, I was unbelievably excited to be chosen to review this book about a woman who had her accomplishments stolen. I have noted changes that need to be made to my Chemistry and Biology lessons when teaching students about DNA.

Rosalind Franklin discovered the double helix structure of DNA and shockingly had her research stolen by colleagues, James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins.

Told from Rosalind’s point of view, we get a clearer and more well-rounded picture of this passionate female chemist who struggled in a male-dominated field both with her intellect being taken seriously and with her romantic relationships with other scientists. Readers also see Franklin’s boldness; she wasn’t afraid to correct fellow scientists, share her opinion or apologize for her knowledge and intellect. I love how the bold colours on the cover art reflect her personality. Benedict also explores the possibility of Franklin’s work with X-ray crystallography as a contributor to her early death. It’s at this point that I realized how great her sacrifice was; losing her life’s contribution to science as well as her life.

Perfect for book clubs, this novel forces us to look at different cultures’ expectations for women and scientists, the role Franklin’s Jewish identity played in her life, and her assertion that marriage and science were not meant to coexist for working women.

Honouring Franklin’s life through her trademark insight and research, Benedict’s upcoming five-star novel is a nod to women in science and Franklin’s perseverance and accomplishments. It’s a MUST BUY for historical fiction lovers and STEM teachers alike. Watch out for it after January 25th, 2022.

I was gifted this advance copy by Marie Benedict, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Her Hidden Genius tells the story of Dr. Rosalind Franklin, a pioneering scientist in the realm of crystallography and DNA research. The text imagines her thoughts as she pursues various fellowships navigating the misogyny and discrimination against women in the sciences.

The text is interesting, yet challenging. There is a lot of scientific and now-archaic vocabulary used, which I imagine might be a stumbling block for some readers. The book is best suited for fan of memoirs, literary non-fiction and historical fiction. alike.

The most interesting part to me was the author's not at the conclusion describing how the author came to hear of Franklin, and how accounts of Franklin's endeavors had been misconstrued by Watson's memoirs and only corrected by her friend's account published later. Considering the role that the friend played in correcting the accounting of Franklin's life, I would have expected her to have been more acknowledged in this account rather than the focus on Franklin's unfortunate romantic life.

Amazing story of a woman scientist whose work was excellent but who wasn't appreciated as a professional because she was a woman.

This was my first Benedict novel and it was fairly good. The writing is solid, but truthfully I just think this type of womens historical fiction isn’t my favorite genre. Nothing against the book, but it’s just better suited for those looking for lighter reads and discussions of social issues.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me a digital arc.

Her Hidden Genius
by Marie Benedict
Pub Date: January 25, 2022
Sourcebooks Landmark

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and The Only Woman in the Room. I tell you this because I have read all of Marie Benedict's books and I love them!! Marie Benedict's powerful new novel shines a light on a woman who sacrificed her life to discover the nature of our very DNA, a woman whose world-changing contributions were hidden by the men around her but whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind. I love to recommend this author to our readers at our library.
This is a great historical fiction book! I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC.

5 stars

I am not often a reader of historical fiction. I tend to read more memoirs, biographies and history books. However, important historical women who have been largely forgotten is a particular interest of mine - I really enjoyed Hidden Figures and Code Girls. When I was offered an e-galley from the publisher, I decided I would give this historical fiction of the last decade of Rosalind Franklin's life a chance.
Before reading this book, I had a vague understanding of who Rosalind Franklin was. I knew she discovered that DNA was in the shape of a helix, and I knew her contributions were not acknowledged in her lifetime.
As I read the book, I tried to keep in mind that much of the content, especially interpersonal relationships, had been extrapolated by the author to fit the facts that are known about Rosalind's life. Despite knowing that much of this story is fictional, I found myself enjoying the story and very invested in Rosalind's story and life. I found myself angry on Rosalind's behalf at the treatment her received from her fellow scientists, even though as book-Rosalind points out, there wasn't evidence that her work was stolen. I also felt glad that Rosalind did have colleagues who were cooperative, collaborative, and respectful of her intellect and expertise.
In the author's note, Marie Benedict talks about how the basis of the books is Anne Sayre's 1975 book, Rosalind Franklin and DNA, which Sayre wrote to contradict James Watson's 1968 book , The Double Helix, in which Watson finally credits Rosalind's contributions to understanding DNA, but paints her has an unlikeable shrew of a woman that nobody liked to work with. Benedict also looked at the primary sources of Rosalind's papers, notes, and letters, which Sayre used in her book and then donated for research.
I appreciate that Benedict did a lot of research to make her version of Rosalind as real and empathic as possible. Finishing the book made me want to read more factual books about Rosalind's work and life, which I hope to do, regardless of my struggles to comprehend all of the science, even in this fictional tale.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Her Hidden Genius. I would not recommend the book to someone as a biography on the life and work of Rosalind Franklin, but I think it makes a good supplemental piece for those interested in what the nuances of her life might have looked like. This books paints Rosalind as lively, kind, and enthusiastic person who was so dedicated to her scientific research that is unfortunately cost her life at a young age.

As a huge fan of Marie Benedict, I was thrilled to see her latest book, "Her Hidden Genius" available. Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for a chance to pre-read in exchange for an honest review.

Looks like I am an odd man out here. I knew nothing of Rosalind Franklin, which was fine. However, the book dragged. I found myself skimming. It picked up in the last chapter. She was brilliant, dedicated to science, and her male co-workers simply could not handle the fact that a woman was so smart.

Others have loved & raved about this book. If you are very into science, and don't mind reading constantly about someone's family and co-workers being against her, you will love this.

physicist, Jewish, historical-novel, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, biology, post WW2*****

This is a fictionalized biography (no one honestly records conversations and personal feelings in real time) of yet another gifted scientist whose work was appropriated and demeaned by select colleagues (in this case Watson and Crick). Women at this time were still disregarded by men who felt threatened by the brilliance of an *other*. Very well written and an honor to one whose devotion to science resulted in a life cut short.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. Thank you.

To be honest I knew absolutely nothing about Rosalind Franklin before reading this book. I have read previous books by Marie Benedict and enjoyed them all and learned from them also. So, after seeing the author's name and reading the description of the book, I was super-excited to receive an advance copy. I was not disappointed.
In her classic manner, using impeccable detailed research, Marie Benedict has again shown us a strong, highly intelligent woman, for whom she never received the acknowledgment and accolades she deserved for her work. Work that was done intelligently, work that she was most certainly highly qualified to perform but because she was a woman daring to be successful in a male dominated field, where the old boy's club standard's still prevailed, effectively shutting her out and stripping her of the honors that should have been solely her own.,
I loved Rosalind's story, she was a true scientist. She cared about learning, about discovering the unknown. She sought knowledge not recognition or fame, and she believed that all avenues of her research must be proven totally without room for any question and then proven again. This obsession for detail, though very admirable, was ultimately what cost her the recognition she deserved. While she was taking time to prove her theory of the double helix of DNA, there were those in the background working against her.
I felt for Rosalind, all the passion and energy she put into her science to have it so underhandedly taken from her, and for what reason other than she was a woman daring to succeed in a man's world.
A beautiful though heart-wrenching story of a highly intelligent, passionate, strong woman, I highly recommend Her Hidden Genius.
Thank you to the publishers at Sourcebooks Landmark and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

Wonderful book about one of the pioneer female scientists in DNA/RNA research.. If you are not a bit interested in science, this may not be for you but the science is presented in a easy to understand way. The book is more about one woman’s contribution to the world. I give it a hearty 5⭐️ review
#netgalley #mariebenedict #sourcebooks. #her hidden genius

For whatever reason I could not stay interested in Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict and I normally like her books. The writing wasn't bad the story did not interest me. Giving her book 4 stars as the premise was good.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Based on the true story of Rosalind Franklin, the female scientist who first discovered the structure of DNA, only to have credit for her breakthrough claimed by male colleagues.

I was interested when I saw that this was by the author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, which I enjoyed, and even more interested when I read what the book was about. I don’t know anything about Rosalind Franklin aside from the one line I wrote above, and even that I wouldn’t necessarily have remembered just from hearing her name without the accompanying mention of Watson and Crick. As with her book about Agatha Christie, Marie Benedict writes a compelling story that centers on a notable woman in history.

Since reading this, I have read up enough about Rosalind Franklin to know that Marie Benedict did her research for this project. She added in quite a lot of details about Franklin’s life, and has an excellent way of describing her highly technical work in a way that is reasonably easy for the average fiction reader to understand – or understand well enough to keep up with the book, anyway. Other details appear to be extrapolated by the author from what is known about Franklin, such as her love affairs and her blasé attitude towards exposure to radiation.

The passion that Rosalind Franklin had for science is most certainly based in fact, and comes through palpably in this novel. But the book also does an excellent job of fleshing Rosalind out into a fully realized person, one whose impact on science is lesser known but profound.

CW: Misogyny typical to the time period

Great character development and good storytelling. I enjoyed reading this one and learning about a woman so very important to science.

Whereas I find the subject herself interesting, the writing in the book falls flat for me. I've read or have attempted to read a few of Marie Benedict's books, and I generally find that she struggles to flesh out her heroines. Instead they all take on similar demeanors, hitting notes that should sound right, but somehow ring false. It's like she is really trying to make them be the interesting woman we all want to read about, but she struggles to make her really lift off the pages.

This book was slow for me, and I really struggled to get into it. I think Benedict's books are just not for me, and I'll be passing on them in the future.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, given in exchange for an honest review.