She changed the world with her discovery. Three men took the credit.

Rosalind Franklin has always been an outsider—brilliant, but different. Whether working at the laboratory she adored in Paris or toiling at a university in London, she feels closest to the science, those unchanging laws of physics and chemistry that guide her experiments. When she is assigned to work on DNA, she believes she can unearth its secrets. Rosalind knows if she just takes one more X-ray picture after thousands, she can unlock the building blocks of life. Never again will she have to listen to her colleagues complain about her, especially Maurice Wilkins who'd rather conspire about genetics with James Watson and Francis Crick than work alongside her. Then it finally happens—the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what unfolds next, Rosalind could have never predicted. Before she could reveal to the world her discovery, three men, Wilkins, Watson, and Crick, took the credit after having gotten hold of her research. Years later, it was finally revealed through books about her life the role that she played in the discovery of DNA.

Marie Benedict is a marvelous author and has a real talent to reveal the lives of little known women in history and the role they played. Her description of Franklin, her battle with Wilkins and others, and the ultimate price she paid is so well done. She obviously did a lot of research into Franklin's life and character as well as those around her including her friends, family and colleagues. I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this outstanding book.

The Marie Benedict historical fiction books of women continue to impress. This novel of Rosalind Franklin, a scientist working tirelessly on DNA research, was well told. I may not have followed all the science as well as some of the occupational details of Benedict’s earlier books, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the struggles she experienced because she was a female, the unfair treatment she received from some male scientists, and especially the scientists, family, and friends who supported her. An excellent read!

Marie Benedict is doing fantastic work sharing the stories of women who history, if not forgot, doesn't honor as much as it should. Rosalind Franklin's story, and her discoveries that had remarkable and lasting impact on today's scientific understandings, is fascinating. At times this story is infuriating- seeing the ways in which being female caused Rosalind to be dismissed, ignored, harassed, and stolen from despite what she brought to the table. Benedict also brings Franklin to life- readers get to see her flaws as well as her humor and passion. While some of the scientific language was more in depth than I was necessarily interested in, this is overall another excellent story from Marie Benedict.

”I feel like you’re on the brink of a major discovery…”

If you love historical fiction or stories of women in STEM, add Her Hidden Genius to your TBR list! Rosalind Franklin is a fascinating figure in real-life scientific history, and her story, as told by Marie Benedict, is artfully-crafted and compelling.

”So to answer your question, Papa—‘to what end’ is my work? I’ll be researching how life itself replicates… Papa, the science I’ll be conducting is the study of life itself.”

Rosalind Franklin was a scientist and chemist in the 1940s whose work was integral to our modern understanding of DNA. This book tells the story of her rise through Parisian laboratories and London universities as she worked to uncover the mysteries surrounding the building blocks of life. But, in her male-dominated field, Rosalind’s greatest challenge wouldn’t be finding the answers—it would be earning credit for her work…

”You have only one choice then, my dear Rosalind. Protect your science at all costs.”

Her Hidden Genius incorporates many of the more intellectual aspects of Rosalind’s career and scientific knowledge, but also places great emphasis on her interpersonal relationships. The story paints Rosalind as more than just a brilliant scientist—we get to see her as a loyal friend who found great joy in the company of her “people;” as an adult child of parents who just can’t seem to understand or appreciate her for who she is; as a perpetual outsider in her field because of her gender, persistently fighting for a seat at the table. She is multi-faceted, layered, and incredibly relatable.

”Could it be possible that for the first time in my life, I’ve found a place to belong?”

I love the way Marie Benedict takes little-known, real-life people, and recreates their histories, their relationships, their narratives, in ways that go so far beyond any superficial mention in a history textbook. Her writing is impeccably researched and grounded in reality, yet always engaging and deeply moving, with empathetic portrayals of the challenges and struggles her characters likely faced. Her Hidden Genius is no exception - Benedict has hit another home run here!

”Even in my sleep, I’m trying to solve the question of the structure of life. I know that it’s just within my grasp; I need only to stretch a little more.”

I loved every minute of this book, from the warm camaraderie of the researchers working together in the labs to the shocking betrayals committed by other scientists trying to stay at the top of their field. Fans of Atomic Love and Kate Quinn will love it too!

——

A huge thank you to Marie Benedict, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the third book I have recently read by Marie Benedict and it certainly will not be my last. The book details the life of Rosalind Franklin a brilliant English scientist who was denied acclaim during her short life. She began her career studying the molecular makeup of coal but found the scientific community in England stulifying and unwelcoming to females. Her dream job took her to a "labo" in Paris just after WWII where men and women worked as equal colleagues. However, an unfortunate personal interlude caused her to leave Paris and return to England where she began concentrating on DNA research. Again, scientific research in a male-dominated facility caused her to eventually leave her position for another where she began studying viruses. After her death three men were awarded the Nobel Prize based on her groundbreaking discoveries without any credit to her work.

As usual, Marie Benedict unearths the story of a woman deprived of earned respect and acclaim during her lifetime. The author's research is evident and it is blended seamlessly with the fiction to relate an incredible story of an unsung heroine. The ARC I read was on offer from The Well Read Librarian adult newsletter and NetGalley. It included discussion questions, the author's afterward as well an interview with the author. Those additions were both beneficial and interesting. I am happy to have had this reading experience.

Marie Benedict is one of my "automatic read" authors. I'm loving her emphasis on women who deserve more recognition, and eagerly await each one.

Like a few other reviews have said--this may start a bit "slow" for you. Stay with it. This is a moving, heartbreaking, infuriating, and ultimately, beautiful story of a genius who battled family and societal expectations to become a science legend. Be prepared for the last several chapters to crush you--in a bittersweet way.

Librarians/booksellers: This will probably be an automatic purchase--Benedict is a favorite among historical fiction readers1

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an amazingly detailed, well described historical fiction novel about a scientist names Dr. Rosalind Franklin.
The time frame if from 1947 thru 1058 at the time of her death.
Franklin worked continuously to discover and prove the double helix structure of DNA.
However, it was a man's world and the credit was never really shown to this amazing scientist.

I enjoyed this book and actually could believe I was right in the lab with her at times, but I do believe that without a science interest and or background, it may seem lengthy and definitely confusing.
The bigger picture is that Marie Benedict has done a remarkable job in the writing and research of this character to bring Dr. Rosalind Franklin to the public eye!
Well done!

I have read every novel that Marie Benedict has written.
I'm a SUPERFAN!!!
And yes, meeting her in real life would reduce me to a stuttering, blushing fangirl. LOL
I'm telling you this so you know I'm predisposed to enjoy this book.
BUT I LOVED IT!!!
I love reading about the lost histories of women. It's a passion of mine.
And reading about Rosalind Franklin's experiences ,,, how she was treated in the scientific world ... just made my blood boil.
Ms. Franklin, for being one of the first and forging a path for the women who came next, THANK YOU!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this historical novel, it was wonderfully written about a woman that I had never heard of before. The story was well done and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.

In Her Hidden Genius, Marie Benedict tackles the life of another famous woman in history. Rosalind Franklin is known for her work in the race to discover the structure of DNA. In this well researched novel, the author traces Rosalind's research from Paris to London and outlines her encounters with other scientists in the heavy male-dominated field of biochemistry research. The book is very heavy on the science of DNA and the methods used to study it's form and shape. If you are not a reader that is fond of heavy science books, this might not be for you. Her Hidden Genius was an excellent novelization of the life of a female scientist in the late 1940s through the late 1950s. The Author's Note at the end is an excellent summary of the life of Rosalind and those in the DNA race surrounding her.

I received an ARC via NetGalley.

overall, I found it took me way too long to read a book that is only around 300 pages- it was dense with scientific terms, and we spent so much time in the lab, I felt like the reader did not get to know much of Rosalind's life outside the lab. I guess the point was she really didn't have much life outside the lab. But as a reader, the scientific discoveries were just not enough to sustain my interest in this book.

As much as I enjoyed the science behind the historical fiction (being a science teacher and having undergrad degrees in chemistry helped in deciphering the jargon), I think this one fell flat. There isn’t much of a plot and hardly any real climactic events or drama. There really isn’t much of a story at all, to be honest, until about halfway through the tale. Only then do we find that Watson and Crick were typical wieners who stole Rosalind’s work, all while belittling her brilliance. No surprise there and pretty on par with most of the scientific community’s mentality toward women at the time. While Rosalind’s story is quite boring, that isn’t to say that she wasn’t marvelous or important. She was, to put it bluntly, married to her work. That doesn’t necessarily make for great historical fiction reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the chance to read Marie Benedict's newest book, Her Hidden Genius. This in depth examination of the "race to DNA" examines Rosalind Franklin's important contributions to the discovery of DNA/double helix research career, and experiences with misogyny and sexism as well as how her exposure to radiation lead to her cancer. The novel, though fictionalized in some ways does justice to Dr. Franklin's impressive career, her passion for research, and her intelligence (impressive for anyone, not just for a woman) and the underlying themes of misogyny and mistreatment she experienced in research settings/academia are believable and justified.

What stood out to me as a reader was how much effort and time Ms. Benedict put into making DNA related research understandable; I am sure other reviewers will say it was hard to follow but I disagree or at least suggest that is the point, this area of study was unknown, challenging, and so to imagine being so capable, focused, and accomplished before the age of 40, even in the face of a sexism, loneliness and isolation, and then a health crisis, is worth thinking about and writing about. I appreciate that Ms. Benedict made this material accessible, saw that including the scientific writing was necessary, and that she offers readers a chance to learn more about this science as well as Dr. Franklin's life.

If I can find a limitation with this book, it is that I wanted to know a bit more about Dr. Franklin's early life, what lead her to be who she was but I also recognize that there are biographies and other sources out there for this information and the goal of this book was to explore her research career. I simply found the suggestions and implications that her family disapproved of her work and were not a source of comfort or care to be of use in understanding some of her reticence towards personal relationships in later life and her at times singular focus on her work. I also found the pace of the book to be fast, which was appreciated as a reader engaged in the material but I also wanted some sections to explore more what was going on with Dr. Franklin's thoughts and experiences (and I suppose if this were a fully fictional book this would be possible so I respect the decision to not over fictionalize Dr. Franklin or make up parts of her life).

This is actually a book I would most recommend for women/academic book clubs, readers of Ms. Franklin's other books, and for a reader who wants to know more, in an accessible way, about Rosalind Franklin's work.
I also recommend this for high school readers as I think it could be a valuable complement to what is learned in science classes and would be a great way to discuss the people behind the science.

Where to find my support for this book: dont-stop-reading.com (mini review now, full reminder/review in Jan with publication), instagram (this week and pub day post in Jan), and reviews will be copied to bookoutlets. This book has been placed on my bookshop.org affiliate page as well for pre order support.

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict. The story of Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant and largely unknown scientist who played a key role in deciphering the human DNA. Although Crick, Watson and Wilkins won the Nobel Prize for DNA research, the novel reveals the shocking treachery behind the scenes. Marie Benedict once again presents us with the delightful story of an obscure heroine pitted against skeptical and at times non-supportive mentors. It brings home the ironic realization that no matter what the century, office politics and gender discrimination rule at the workplace. While the author has done some commendable research, the scientific jargon was a bit much to absorb and I had to skim through it a lot. All in all, an interesting read. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book beginning was so slow for me. It dragged and I wasn't sure I would finish. Well I stuck it out and SO GLAD I DID! listening to Rosalind travails was so familiar to me because I had similar experience in the photographic field after college. I could really empathize with her experience of, dare I say shallow and small minded men? This book pulled at my heartstrings and had me rooting for Rosalind from beginning to end. I don't quit follow the minute details of the tests she was conducting but knew enough to keep up with the story. And if you love French, the French words are a comfort in the story or at least I found then to be. I say 4.5 stars rounded up because the story ended up being far better than I thought when I first started. Sorry Ms Benedict no disrespect here! I loved your story.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion..

Marie Benedict gives us another story about a strong, independent, and courageous woman, Rosalind Franklin, who in the late 1940s and 1950s became one of the first scientists to map the structure of DNA. Benedict presents a story of scientists stealing her research and creating an environment of harassment and bullying. However, Rosalind perseveres and pursues her discoveries in a stringent, scientific manner even as it may cost her the recognition of being the first scientist to construct the DNA model.
Benedict has done careful research into the life of Rosalind and the science behind the discovery of DNA. For me, it was difficult to believe that Watson and Crick should be so cavalier with their scientific research. The relationships between the scientists, especially after the publication of the DNA model, was puzzling. However, the biggest disconnect to me was how a dedicated and careful scientist could ignore the indicators that her health was suffering from her experiments.
Recommended for fans of Benedict and strong women characters.

Marie Benedict is a fantastic writer and I recommend this novel you like science and specifically the history of a woman scientists. As much as I like Benedict's writing the scientific terms and procedures were over my head. I hate to admit to this, because it is really well done, but the subject matter is just not to my taste. Never-the-less, if you like science, this historical novel is unique and worth reading.

I loved THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN so much, and was very excited to read another Marie Benedict book. I didn’t even look to see what it was about. Unfortunately, HER HIDDEN GENIUS was far too science oriented for my taste. I wasn’t that interested in crystallography or the race to discover the structure of DNA, and I tired of the “labo” pretty quickly. I always applaud stories of trailblazing women, but this one didn’t catch fire for me. Benedict is a skilled writer, and I definitely plan to read some of her more history focused novels.

I received an advanced copy of, Her Hidden Genius, by Marie Benedict. Rosalind Franklin has a great story as a scientist and a women. Discovering xray machine, and then getting cancer from the radiation.

Her Hidden Genius brings an intense historical woman whose high standards of ethics and drive to serve for betterment of humankind were instilled in her childhood and carried her to one of the greatest discoveries in scientific world, thus, influencing the humanity.

France, 1947. Rosalind Franklin is a new researcher at chemistry institute in Paris. As a woman researcher, she felt discrimination in her native England. That’s why she welcomed this opportunity to be working in Paris where male-minds seem to be much more open toward female scientists.

Using a somewhat new scientific approach, the institute hopes to make further discoveries in molecular worlds, which further can serve a purpose for humanity. With her skills and the institute’s methods, they hope to find the ultimate purpose. While enjoying her research, she also enjoys the openness and friendliness with other colleagues, which she lacked in England.

She receives an invitation to have her research published in one of the most esteemed scientific journals and attend a scientific conference for which she is grateful. She just doesn’t know if that might be a cause of jealousy.

With certain reason, she returns to England, even though she thought she’d stay in Paris forever. In England, unexpectedly an opportunity presents for her to be working on uncovering the structure of DNA. But there are others who want to be the first to map the structure of DNA and to have a claim to what she has just discovered. Will old alliances prevail or will the promise of this research given to her be kept?

I enjoyed this heroine very much for whom the solitude of the scientific life appeals. The work as a scientist excites her despite being forced to change positions a few times due to toxic atmosphere. She comes from an affluent family, where women were encouraged to be well-educated and to use their intellectual gifts for the betterment of mankind. Pursuit of pure science is not necessarily what her family had in mind. It’s more through such work as charity. But she follows her heart. She knows herself better than anyone else and she knows that life of submission to men is not something that would make her happy. The life of science gives her freedom, which fits her perfectly.

Written with crisp prose, the novel brings informative descriptions of the scientific progress in identifying the structure of DNA, including the famous photo 51. It gives a good picture of heroine’s scientific progress, but it does not overwhelm the story. We also get to know the brilliant heroine who is much disciplined, working many hours and determined to achieve something for betterment of humankind. The time period she lived in while trying to be a female scientist is well-presented.

As with her other novels, Marie Benedict continues to shine a light on women whose talents were hidden by male dominated world. Women whose discoveries brought one of the greatest contributions to humankind and whose stories deserve to be told.