Her Hidden Genius

by Marie Benedict

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and The Only Woman in the Room !

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—one more 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.

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Feminism, France, Adult

461 pages, Library Binding

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Marie Benedict is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Queens of Crime, The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, and the novella, Agent 355. With Victoria Christopher Murray, she co-wrote the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. With Courtney Sheinmel, she co-wrote the first in a middle grade historical adventure series, called The Secrets of the Lovelace Academy.

Her books have been translated into thirty languages, and selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List.

Up next is the March 24, 2026 release, DAUGHTER OF EGYPT, the sweeping tale of a young aristocratic archaeologist — Lady Evelyn of Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey — who unearths the truth about a forgotten female Pharaoh, rewriting both of their legacies forever.

Reviews

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each year I look forward to whom Marie Benedict will spotlight in her stories of strong women in history. Her Hidden Genius published this week!

About the book: “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.”

Have you ever heard of Rosalind Franklin? Working on DNA, she is bright and maybe a little bit quirky. Part of her work involves attempting x-ray pictures of the double helix, which she finally is able to do… Of course she gets no credit for her work.

I’m so grateful this story was told. When I was taught about the discovery of DNA, only the names Watson and Crick were mentioned. Nowhere was Dr. Franklin. I also loved the way her life before and after the discovery were explored by the author.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy these types of important spotlights, learning new things, and detailed storytelling, especially, in this case, with a scientific angle.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/31/22: Again, denied. This year it is for . I was a top reviewer on . Denied, then got the book mailed to me in advance and 3 additional books, too. This year, I am definitely more in ‘Go with the Flow Mentality’ By the time I finish the other Marie Benedict books I have and all the other Science books I have, it will be January. 😂 Wish me luck and wish everyone else the same. 🧬 is Interesting. Her Hidden Genius was Excellent. I highly recommend reading it. Perhaps, hit Like and maybe I have an admirer at Sourcebooks, getting my book and chocolates together right now.

8/10/22: Excited~I just found out Marie Benedict’s next book about The Mitford Sisters is coming out in January of 2023! Looking forward to this one. . I just realized each Mitford Sister lead such different lives. Nancy Mitford was a famous author. I just was looking into a book about Zelda Fitzgerald written by her.

I learned a lot about DNA 🧬 and Science from Her Hidden Genius. Definitely, recommend this one. It is free on Kindle if you have Kindle Unlimited. Love the Cover, made to look like the Double Helix. So, glad Rosalind Franklin is finally being given the credit she deserves. She was a brilliant woman, yet 2 men got a Noble Prize without crediting her work. That was shameful. Definitely Recommend to Read this one.

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Update: I just finished this book and it was fascinating. I love to learn about science, especially women who work in science. I had only recently heard of Rosalind Franklin and the extraordinary work she did with X-Ray Photos to prove the structure of DNA. She was working at a time when it was very difficult for a woman to be accepted as wanting to be a scientist and taken seriously. She persevered anyway, was known as highly intelligent, and was doing groundbreaking work on the DNA structure for several years. Although she loved her work, she was still belittled and not treated equally. Her work was taken and she never received credit for her extraordinary contributions. Instead the Nobel Peace Prize went to James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins, which relied on her work but her name was not mentioned. It was really interesting to read about her fictionalized life, I think Marie Benedict did a great job researching it. I am glad she is finally getting the attention she deserves. So, really glad to learn so much information that I never heard at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory that James Watson oversaw. It really is shameful to not give another scientist credit and take it on as your own.
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Tears 😢😢😢 I did not get an ARC of this one. I was so excited when I saw my e-Mail b/c usually NetGalley only updates me if I got it. I don’t know how I am supposed to prove I’m active on certain groups or make weekly e-book recommendations to my 3 Libby Library Accounts and then they purchase that book. I tried. I posted pictures holding the book on Book Club Favorites. I am bad with links. Is this even right? https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookc...

As always, I can take a joke and wrote please feel free to laugh at me, not with me as I’m getting so wrapped up in getting copy of a book. 😂. Life these days has been pretty serious for many people, myself included. I have two parents in their 80’s. I was just trying to get a book from Sourcebooks and love that some people I know do awesome reviews and great and amusing blog posts, but I don’t think I’d be too great at that. I have improved my HTML skills and last year didn’t even know how to Post a Cover of a Book. Learned GR makes it easy, with the Insert Book button. This was all just in good fun, nothing serious.

I just went to the Cold Spring Harbor Library so many times when my daughter was young. Rosalind Franklin got no credit and wasn’t given a Nobel Prize like James Watson. So, I was shocked when I saw this book at my Favorite Indie book store on the Selling Floor. It was an accident and could not be sold. The Owner did let me take pictures. I know I am being silly. I have so many great books to read right now, but ever forget that and just decide you want another book? 📚 I will have to wait. I was going to purchase the Hard Copy in January anyway for my Daughter and I. I know there are much more important things going on.

I got the Book 😊. Now after all that, I must squeeze it in and read it! Sourcebooks sent me three other great books, too. I don’t know why, but very cool.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Reading the final chapters of this book may lead to WWE (Weeping While Exercising). Be sure to have tissues handy! Too icy to run outside today, so I jumped on my trusty elliptical machine to burn some calories (too many snacks last night while cheering on our hometown team -- Go, Chiefs!). This is why I read Marie Benedict. Her books are extensively researched and she sticks to the facts as much as possible when developing the character arcs of her leading ladies. This book is especially timely for our fight against the COVID virus and its variants. After isolating the helix form of DNA she worked on RNA. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines uses mRNA technology, if I have understood the facts I have read about them. There were times when the work Dr. Franklin was doing went beyond my understanding, but that is not the fault of Marie Benedict and did not diminish my appreciation for Dr. Franklin's work and her struggle to be recognized, to receive the funding and assistance she needed. One aspect of her life I really ponder is the conscious decision she made to choose science over the God of her Jewish heritage. I can't help but hope that as she studied the very building blocks of life she may have at the end finally recognized the Creator.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalind Franklin is known as the female scientist who played a major role in Watson and Crick’s generation of a theoretical model of the structure of DNA as a double helix. This would lead to the discovery of how DNA could be inherited, opening up the whole field of molecular genetics. For this discovery Watson and Crick were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. However, it was Rosalind, an exceptionally talented scientist who took the X-ray photos that led her to be the first to suspect that DNA was a double helix and she who made the many calculations from the data she collected that Watson and Crick used in their model. That her photo and data was shared with Watson and Crick at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge without her knowledge, leading to their discovery is one of the most shameful episodes in science. Watson himself wrote in his book, The Double Helix (pub 1968), about the discovery:

“Rosy, of course, did not directly give us her data. For that matter, no one at King's realized they were in our hands.”

Rosalind (who preferred not to be called Rosy) died of ovarian cancer at the age of 37 in 1958, so was unfortunately not eligible to be nominated for the Nobel Prize as it can’t be awarded posthumously (although it remains a moot point as to whether she would have been nominated had she been alive). Instead, Maurice Wilkins, the assistant director of her department at Kings College, London, who did none of the work and likely shared Rosalind’s images and data with the group at Cambridge, was awarded the Prize alongside Watson and Crick. Rosalind’s major role in the discovery was largely forgotten as they went on to claim the accolades. As a result, Rosalind has since become a feminist icon, seen as wrongly used by the misogynist male scientific establishment of the time.

Marie Benedict, who is well known for writing novels based on historically important woman, has written this excellent account of Rosalind’s life and work. She has clearly carried out a great deal of research into all aspects of her life including her Jewish upbringing and the places she worked. The clarity of Benedict’s writing shows she has a good grasp of the science involved as she explains it simply and accessibly to highlight Rosalind’s contributions to the field, in such a way that the novel never feels bogged down by scientific detail.

She also displays a deep understanding of Rosalind the woman, exploring her life both before her difficult time in the Anglican, male dominated world at Kings, when she was at her happiest in France, making friends and enjoying the collegiality there and later when she left DNA and London behind to work on viruses at Birbeck College in Cambridge. The portrait she paints is of a complicated, driven scientist who lived for her work but also had a great love of the outdoors and made many lifelong friends, including surprisingly Watson and Crick themselves. If you enjoy reading historical fiction based on real heroines, then I highly recommend this novel.

With many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netaglley for a copy to read

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For a non fiction biography I can recommend Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox (pub 2002) as well as a short article by her in the journal Nature showing the X-ray photo taken by Franklin that led to her prediction of the helical nature of DNA.
https://www.nature.com/articles/natur...

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
1. January 2025 is my "A and B Authors" Month; and,
2. Marie Benedict wrote it. Nuff said.

Praises:
1. I'm always impressed as to the massive research Benedict undertakes for the underrepresented historical women she is famous for characterizing, but to take molecular biologist, Dr. Rosalind Franklin's mindboggling DNA research and to make it semi-sensible to a reader like me, well that just leaves me gobsmacked;
2. Dr. Franklin wasn't all work and no play. Benedict expertly depicts her personal side, her personality towards family, friends, and colleagues, with a love for mountain climbing, making her a real-life human and not an automaton;
3. even though Dr. Franklin was respected by a handful of male colleagues, I really got the sense of the extreme misogynistic attitudes from various fellow scientists, especially in London, and although Rosalind could never prove it, one wonders as to how much of her research was "borrowed" without her permission, leaving her to not earn a well-deserved Nobel prize. Ever the consummate scientist, Franklin seemed willing to overlook this lack of professionalism and would continue to share any new findings, all in the name of science; and,
4. I appreciated the short chapters prefaced by pertinent dates and places.

Niggles: None!

Overall Thoughts:
I first learned of Dr. Franklin in LIFE's Special Edition: 100 Women Who Changed the World (updated in 2024.)

Benedict successfully portrayed a woman who loved science but felt frustrated within her personal and professional lives, especially in dealing with the stereotypes against females involved in STEM.

Prizes are nice, and competition can encourage people to improve, but how often does the wish to be publicly recognized (with possible monetary gains) lead to unscrupulous and dishonest behavior?
Personally, when it comes to STEM, I believe professionals in these fields must work together without the need to "race" for the common good of mankind, but what do I know? Obviously, the world doesn't work that way.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Rosalind Franklin has a brilliant mind, an eye for picking up details that others miss and she’s determined to unearth the secrets of DNA. In 1947, she starts working in Paris, and here she’s treated as an equal for the first time in her professional career.

Her parents start to pressuring Rosalind to return to England, after her heart is broken and she returns home. Her wealthy parents are Jewish, they believe in giving back to the community and they do through their philanthropy.

Rosalind has to deal with men being chauvinistic at her new job at Kings College, they don’t use her proper title, they call her names, she’s not invited to their boy’s club lunches, and her office isn’t secure. Three men are determined to make her life difficult, she constantly has arguments with them and their names are Maurice Wilkins, James Watson and Francis Crick. Rosalind and her assistant Raymond Gosling, do very through research and take thousands of photographs using x-ray diffraction techniques and x-ray crystallography, they discover sample “A” which is wet and sample “B” which is a dry crystalline, and their sure it's the double helix structure of DNA.

Rosalind starts working at Birkbeck College, she misses Ray and his name will included in any of her future scientific publications. In 1956, Rosalind has her annual medical check-up, after years of battling stereotypes, discrimination, her ideas been picked apart and stolen, and Rosalind Franklin’s given the devastating news.

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict, looks at the extraordinary life of Doctor Rosalind Franklin, a woman who excelled in physics, chemistry and was a brilliant scientist at a time when it was a male dominated field. She overcome so many challenges and setbacks in her life and you do wonder if she exposed herself to too much radiation and underestimated the damage it could do to her own health.

I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review, Rosalind Franklin’s the perfect role model and inspiration for young girls who have an interest in STEM and five stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KarrenReadsH...

[Katie Bogdan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Known for writing historical fiction that illuminates the stories of women who have been lost to history in some way, Marie Benedict seems like the perfect choice to tell the story of Rosalind Franklin. In my previous outings with her work, I have been impressed by her ability to delve deeply into the inner lives of these women to give their stories maximum impact.

I did not find that to be the case with Her Hidden Genius. Benedict begins the book in the middle of Rosalind's career, dropping us immediately into the scientific aspects of this book without giving us a picture of how Rosalind is as a individual. I kept hoping that I would eventually get to that bigger picture of Rosalind, but this somewhat repetitive and clinical story ultimately proved me wrong. I understand that the actual Rosalind's life was irrevocably tied up in her work, but I feel like I learned more about how she was a person by reading her Wikipedia page than I did this book.

The constant time-jumping also made the story feel merely like a series of somewhat repetitive vignettes. The storyline of Rosalind's work getting claimed by greedy men feels disjointed and oddly never feels like it impacts Rosalind all that much in the way that Benedict depicts the situation. The thing that feels like it has the most impact on her life based on the way Benedict tells it is a romantic relationship that is depicted in Part One that gets mentioned a fair amount throughout the rest of the book.

I do think that Rosalind Franklin's story is an important one to tell. I just did not find that this version did it justice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

[Elisabeth Plimpton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating novel about an amazing woman in history.

Doctor Rosalind Franklin is a brilliant young scientist who leaves her home in England for a research opportunity in Paris. There she experiences the warm camaraderie and acceptance of her peers. They value her keen mind and work ethic, something that was lacking in England.

After a budding romance gone wrong she decides to pursue work back in England. She is given the chance to use her advanced X-ray crystallography skills to study the structure of DNA in order to determine how it functions, a central question in the scientific community. Working with a loyal assistant, she makes major progress. However, she begins to experience animosity from her peers who are intimated by and jealous of her.

Rosalind is dedicated to her research, focusing on hard facts, details, and proving theories through thorough experimentation. She aims to achieve success for the sake of science and bettering humankind. Soon, Rosalind gets entered into the race to uncover DNA’s structure and function, a competition she wanted no part of. Her peers blatantly steal her data and discoveries from underneath her, wanting to claim the findings for their own personal advancement and accolade. Rosalind is unfortunately rushed and beat to the unjust finish life. She doesn’t have the chance to reach the final result, thus not receiving the credit she deserves.

It was disheartening to read about Rosalind’s colleagues undermining and excluding her because of her gender. Rosalind constantly had to stand up for herself, and you could tell the toll this took on her.

Rosalind eventually moves to a different university in London where she uses her wealth of knowledge and experience to study viruses. There she forms a team of unique but like minded scientists who support and respect one another, working together to make discoveries that will help humanity.

The author’s writing transports you into Rosalind’s world. Benedict brings to life the rich history and facts of the time, while depicting Rosalind’s personal life, including her friendships, romantic connections, family life, and inner thoughts and feelings.

Rosalind never married, choosing to fully immerse herself in her work. She was loved and admired by many, having passed away too soon. Her life was centered about science. It was her faith. She truly believed in how scientific advancements could better the world. It was interesting to learn how Rosalind loved hiking and mountaineering, seeing the beauty in the natural world similar to science.

Benedict does a beautiful job at shedding light on another powerful woman in history. One who’s key contributions were overshadowed by domineering men. Her Hidden Genius is an engrossing novel about a truly remarkable woman in history. Rosalind was intelligent, inspiring, mature, and a graceful yet strong woman. She didn’t let the opinions of others bring her down. She was force to be reckoned with, and her legacy lives on.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict reminded me of The Other Einstein. Dr. Rosalind Franklin is a scientist. She is working hard on discovering the structure of DNA as a double helix. She doesn’t get credit. It gets stolen by her co-workers who get credit by being nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1962 Rosalind never received credit for her research. She died at the age of 37 from cancer. Interesting book. Show’s what a man’s world Dr Franklin was still living.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Hidden Genius is the last of Marie Benedict’s current works that I haven’t read. So, I was looking forward to it. Alas, it starts by committing the cardinal sin of being more romance than historical fiction. It does switch back to being a true historical story, but it never truly engaged me.
Rosalind Franklin was an excellent scientist, but she was doomed to be doing her research in the forties, fifties and sixties, when women didn’t get the respect or acknowledgment. During her time at King's College, her colleagues routinely downplayed or stole her research. It’s depressing but it also isn’t anything new or different. I did get a kick that she was depicted by her male colleagues as being too “wedded to hard facts”.
While I wasn’t entranced by the book, I thought Benedict did a good job of explaining Franklin’s work in an easy to understand fashion. And I was pleased to learn about Franklin, another woman Benedict has helped pluck from obscurity.
I listened to this and Nicola Barber has an adequate narrator. And then the audiobook didn’t bother with including the Author’s Notes. The second cardinal sin for historical fiction.

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a long time Rosalind Franklin fan who just read my first Marie Benedict novel. I have to say is, this book was hot garbage. The writing was abysmal- see Rosalind Run. Run Rosalind Run- is the level of writing I'm seeing here. This has to be the first fictionalized history novel I have read that has absolutely 0 references or sources to where the author did her research.

Filing this under pop culture cash grab that is sure to be a big hit with white feminists everywhere. This book is infuriating lazy and half hearted in everything it tries to do.

Just read the Wikipedia page or better yet, go read the dozens of nonfiction books published about her.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star read. Marie Benedict is my author of the year, and I have to say that I really love her works. I'm thrilled to be getting caught up in the entire compendium! She is such a beautiful writer and her characters have shape and movement. There is something about her writing that I am quickly falling in love with. The Personal Librarian may be in my top ten for life. I really enjoyed the Mystery of Mrs. Christie and its matching quickie audible Smoke Signals (which is co-written with Kate Quinn, author of the Rose Code. Smoke Signals is a sort of a fun blend between the two books.) I thought the Other Einstein was truly terrific. I love how she takes unknown women who made massive contributions and elevates them. Which is of course the story of Rosalind Franklin. Her contributions were unknown for many years, until after she died. But she is the "grandmother" of DNA, and had to compete in a man's world that would not accept her, stole her work, mocked her because of her commitment to science, and generally treated her poorly. Her commitment to science was unwavering, and she knew she was giving a gift to humanity different than her parents wanted or expected of her. The portrait of her is stunning, coming vividly to life by Marie Benedict. I really loved reading it. What a great author to pick for the year.

*I've had to return Carnegie's Maid to the library twice now. I do have Lady Clementine queued up on Audio, and the Only Woman in the Room is actually an owned copy sitting in my Hall. I can't wait for her next book, which I understand is another co-write with Victoria Christopher Murray.

[Fanny Reads ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia de una mujer que permaneció en las sombras por el machismo y discriminación en una sociedad liderada por hombres, los cuales la subestimaron tanto, que cuando ella mostró lo que podía lograr no supieron cómo contenerlo.

La fábula de una científica brillante y rigurosa que pudo sacar de las sombras los secretos de ADN, un recuento de como tuvo que combatir los estereotipos sobre mujeres y científicas que hacen su trabajo y el precio que le cobro esa lucha, una crónica sobre la forma en la que otros se apropiaron de sus detalladas contribuciones sin su consentimiento y una exploración del basto y crucial legado de Rosaline.

Es fundamental ver como a su legado le crecieron alas después de estar tantos años en las sombras, es crucial ver como los legados de las mujeres tanto en la historia como en la actualidad deberían ser conocidos y celebrados y no enterrados.

En este libro me enoje mucho jaja pero igual lo disfruté muchísimo y no creí que me gustara tanto pero ya van varios días después de que lo termine y aún lo tengo presente, cosa que no sucede con muchos así que vaya que si lo recomiendo.

[Joan Happel · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie Benedict manages to write such a richly woven tale that balances the research with the story of a fascinating female scientist( Rosalind Franklin) that has often been overlooked in favor of her male contemporaries.

Set in the post-WWII era and jumping between Paris and London, we learn the incredible true story of Rosalind Franklin and how her work with X-rays was also tied to important DNA research.


I look forward each year to the women that Marie Benedict brings into the spotlight with each of her books. I am not of a science background but I felt that the way Rosalind Franklin, through Marie Benedict, tells the readers about her research, made me very invested in the storyline. My goodness, a woman had to have a very thick skin to deal with what Franklin and the other female scientists were forced to endure. I enjoyed learning about this fascinating woman.

Goodreads review published 29/05/23

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was ich an Marie Benedicts biografischen Romanen immer besonders großartig finde, ist die Auswahl der portraitierten Frauen, meistens Erfinderinnen und Wissenschaftlerinnen aus Technik und Naturwissenschaften. Sie holt mit ihren Geschichten Frauen vor den Vorhang, deren Genie nicht wirklich allgemein bekannt ist. Schon durch ihren Roman über die österreichische Hollywood Diva Hedy Lamarr (Hedwig Maria Kieslinger), die zusammen mit einem Partner die technischen Grundlagen für das Bluetooth Verfahren entwickelt hat, ist sie mir in dieser Angelegenheit sehr positiv aufgefallen. Nun hat sie sich der Wissenschaftlerin Rosalind Franklin gewidmet, die die Doppelhelixstruktur der DNA nicht nur entdeckt, sondern auch durch kristallographische Röntgen-Bilder bewiesen hat.

Franklins Forschungsarbeit wurde von männlichen Kollegen ausspioniert, gestohlen und Konkurrenzinstituten zugespielt, die dann den Nobelpreis für die Forschung einheimsten. All das wäre unter einem Mantel des Schweigens und der Buddy-Korruption der männlichen Wissenschaftler verdeckt geblieben, wenn nicht der größte Profiteur, Nobelpreisträger und Lump James Dewey Watson, der aktiv in den Wissensdiebstahl verwickelt war, in seinem Buch auch noch wagte, die Bestohlene als feindselige, unattraktive, besessene und engstirnige Wissenschaftlerin zu diffamieren. Und das auch noch nach dem Abstauben eines Nobelpreises, den eigentlich sie verdient hätte, auf ihr Grab spuckend, in das sie frühzeitig musste, weil ihr weiterentwickeltes kristallographische Röntgenstrahlverfahren, das die Doppelhelix nicht nur als Hypothese formulierte, sondern auch optisch beweisen konnte, sie vorzeitig an Krebs sterben ließ.

Nach diesem Affront, den selbst die am Diebstahl beteiligten Buddies von Watson nicht mehr goutieren konnten, machte sich ihre Forscherfreundin Anne Sayre daran, diese Ungerechtigkeit akribisch zu recherchieren, zu beweisen und Rosalind zu rehabilitieren. Durch Annes Buch Rosalind Franklin and DNA kam sehr spät und Jahre nach dem Vorfall dann alles ans Licht der Öffentlichkeit und Franklin wurde ein bisschen die Ehre zuteil, die ihr gebührte. All das wird auch im Nachwort von der Autorin dargelegt, was ihre Intention war, sich ausgerechnet diese Frau auszusuchen.

Was mir auch noch gefallen hat, ist der Umstand, dass die Fakten, natürlich soweit sie recherchierbar sind, alle stimmen. Um all das legt Marie Benedict dann einen biografischen Roman, der das Leben der porträtierten Persönlichkeit sehr menschlich präsentieren soll. Dabei bedient sich die Autorin aber meist einer etwas blumigen romantischen Erzählweise, die ein bisschen an einen Frauenroman im Bianca Format erinnert. Das ist ein Stilmittel, das ich leider gar nicht mag.

Schon in ihrer Zeit in Paris werden romantische Verwicklungen thematisiert, bei denen sich bei mir ob des schmalzigen Stils immer die Zehennägel aufrollen. Das Stimmungsbild in den einzelnen Wissenschaftseinrichtungen, insbesondere die fiesen Intrigen am Kings College, die zum Diebstahl der Forschungsergebnisse führten, werden aber sehr gut beschrieben.

Fazit: Das sehr interessante wissenschaftliche Thema von Forschung, Unileben, Intrigen, Männerwelt, Diebstahl von Ergebnissen, Wettlauf um den Nobelpreis, etc. wiegt in diesem Fall die teilweise romantische Umsetzung mehr als auf. Wer das nicht so gerne mag, möge das Buch von Anne Sayre lesen.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Benedict’s book “Her Hidden Genius” about Rosiland Franklin’s life and work on DNA/RNA is excellent. It is well written and researched. I was fully aware of Dr. Franklin and her work, but reading about her in a historical novel helped bring her more to life. Dr. Franklin was an expert in x-ray crystallography a technique for documenting molecular structures. She fully documented the DNA and its helix shape before Crick and Watson. In fact, they build their model on her work. Benedict accurately describes the attitude of men toward women scientists. Recently, the attitude is beginning to change but we still have a long way to go. Dr. Franklin died in 1958 from cancer caused by her work with x-rays. If you are interested in science, you will enjoy this book.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and forty-five minutes. Nicola Barber does a good job narrating the book.

[Ángela Arcade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro inspirador e imprescindible para comprender y reivindicar, a través de la historia de la química Rosalind Franklin, el rol fundamental de las mujeres en la ciencia.

[Rebecca Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

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, procedures, and the protagonist's desires 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.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that I read this at the wrong time and expected to get more out of the story than I did. I will definitely need to reread.
at this time 3.5 stars

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Writing and a Riveting Story

SUMMARY
1947: Dr. Rosalind Franklin is a brilliant young scientist who holds herself to the highest standards in the scientific community. She has just moved from London to Paris to accept a position continuing her previous research on the atomic structure of coal using X-ray crystallography. Her parents are not pleased with her decision to move away from their home in London and continually pressure her to return to the family business of philanthropy. Rosalind loves Paris, her work environment, her colleagues, and her research.

1951: After a devastating broken heart, Rosalind does move back to London to work at Kings College Biophysics Research Unit, where she is surprised to be assigned the study of the structure of cell DNA. It’s a far cry from her previous expertise on nonliving structures but capitalizes on her knowledge and skills as an X-ray crystallographer. She is also told she is expected to be the first to map the structure of DNA and unlock the exact location of genetic material. The competition to be the first was ferocious, and Rosalind needed to stay on guard to ensure no one stole her research while at the same time fighting vehemently against women stereotypes.

REVIEW
Author Marie Benedict significantly and keenly writes about women of the past who have contributed much to society but received little or no recognition for their accomplishments. Dr. Rosalind Franklin is a perfect candidate for Benedict’s pen. Many books have been published about Rosalind’s research, some crediting her with the discovery while others crediting the men who used her research. The story is riveting, and the writing is rich.

HER HIDDEN GENIUS is both a dramatic and an enlightening book of a woman of courage and determination. Benedict’s detailed research and her fictional presentation helps us imagine the struggles Rosalind faced and appreciate her not only as a researcher but also as a daughter, sister, friend, and colleague. Readers will love the challenge of learning about x-ray diffraction and the study of DNA.

Other notable women that Benedict has written about include Mitza Maric (THE OTHER EINSTEIN), Clara Kelly (CARNEGIE’s MAID), Hedy Lamar (THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM) and Bella De Costa Greene (THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN)

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark
Published January 25, 2022
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. Great on audio narrated by Nicola Barber. Much thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advance review copy!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2/5

I don’t usually care for fiction about real people written in the first person, but Ms. Benedict is indeed a gifted writer and has been able to pull it off with aplomb.

Ms. Benedict has taken pains to bring to light women of the past whose herculean accomplishments have largely been overlooked, and she had done one heck of a job at it! I have enjoyed most all of her books to date. For this one it was the scientific jargon that put me off perhaps because it’s all gibberish to me.

The vast amount of scientific detail must have caused Ms. Benedict a headache to put together and caused my brain to overheat.

Rosalind Franklin was an English chemist and X-ray crystallographer who I had never heard of before. Her work was ground breaking when women engaged in medicine &/or science were not taken seriously and their work often attributed to men. She found some comradery working in France. In England – not so much!

As it turns out any DNA structure used today is largely thanks to Dr. Franklin’s research for which she was never given proper credit during her lifetime.

**The National Human Genome Research Institute web site as of today:
DOUBLE HELIX: this is Watson and Crick's incredible realization back in 1953, but it will stand in history as probably one of the most significant scientific moments of all time. **

It was Rosalind that kept me reading the book to the end. She was completely dedicated to her calling in science to the point where she had little or no personal life, no husband, no children.

It’s impossible not to be impressed by her accomplishments which I’m sure is the point of the book. It makes clear that even well into the 1950’s women in science and medicine were discounted and disparaged simply because they were female.

[Becky Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Marie Benedict fan, I love the way she takes little or unknown woman and shines a light on her strength and contributions. The plot usually captivates me with some unusual turns or facts and the thorough research is made easy to understand. This book does none of that. I found the research hard to follow and boring and the redundancy of her life in research, despite changing locations, unappealing. I have an advanced science degree and still was not impressed with the story nor any 'ah ha' moment. I respect Rosalind Franklin and Marie Benedict for their talents. Not sure this story needed to be told in a 270 page novel.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict is an excellent historical fiction that focusses on the life of Rosalind Franklin. I just loved this book!

I have been a fan of Ms. Benedict for some time and have read, and loved, every one of her books. Obviously, I was super excited that she has written yet another gem that highlights the beyond fabulous Rosalind Franklin.

As a Biology major, I have obviously read, researched, and learned about not only this impressively intelligent woman, but also how her groundbreaking discoveries towards the structure and overall makeup of the double helix (genetic material) that helped create the foundation of Genetics in general.

She was a fascinating, complex, and beyond under appreciated woman that was well before her time. It has always been so heartbreaking to me to see her not be fully recognized for all that she discovered and sacrificed for the progression within the fields of science. She was forever fighting an uphill battle due to her gender, politics, and colleagues (rivals), and she also paid the ultimate sacrifice for her research.

I am so glad that over the last few decades, more light has been shed on this wonderful woman and all that she has rightfully contributed towards the advancement of so many pivotal and fundamental concepts within so many fields within biology/physics.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/25/22.

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. I have enjoyed Benedict's other books - enormously. This one I found very difficult to follow. Disappointed.

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story about a remarkable woman named Rosalind Franklin, a true pioneer in the experimental science of x-ray crystallography and discovery of DNA, who would 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. Infuriating!

Marie Benedict is a gifted writer and historian who brings intelligent trailblazing women to life. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Jaclyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay so I'm sure the author did lots of research into how the discovery of DNA came about, but holy hell was this book boring. Paris was a little interesting, but once she came back to England every chapter was the same: take some x-rays, fight with colleague, try and figure out of DNA is a helix and throw in an occasional fight with dear old dad. Wash, rinse, repeat. I literally could skip pages at a time and nothing had happened.