This is a unique mystery in that it is written almost entirely in emails between members of a small town theater group. There’s a dead body, a fundraising campaign, and an unusual cast of characters who do not all like or trust each other. Two lawyers are reading through all the emails as well as police interview transcripts to try to piece together what really happened.

What an interesting book. The Appeal by Janice Hallett is told completely through the correspondence between a group of people, mostly involved in a theater group putting on a play. Just as they begin, a child becomes ill. An entire community rallies behind the family and it leads to the death of one.

Two people who seem to be new associates of a lawyer are reading through a file containing all of these documents-emails, texts, notes-and trying to decipher what happened. At first the style of the writing was hard to get into. Surprisingly, it really started to work for me, after not very much time. It was so easy to get a feel for a character by reading what they chose to write to others and how the presented themselves to different people. I wonder if people are aware of how other people judge them based on their choice of words.

When it comes down to it, this is a who-done-it. Someone may be guilty. Someone may be unfairly believed to be guilty. A lot of people are doing a lot of things. It was easily apparent that there was something wrong with the entire production involved in the money raising efforts to treat this child. It reminded me a lot of doing a mystery subscription. I love those! The whole thing slowly unwinds through reading and inspecting documents. This was perfect for anyone who loves that.

The Fairway Players are preparing for a new production but before their opening night someone will be murdered. Roderick Tanner has assigned two associates from his law firm to review all of the correspondence that had been submitted to determine who was responsible for the murder. As the Players prepared for their auditions, Martin Hayward, their director, announced that his granddaughter Poppy had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Her best chance of survival depends on an experimental drug being developed in the United States. The Haywards are an influential family in a close-knit community and the Players step up to raise the money for the treatment. New to the community are Samantha and Kel Greenwood, nurses who have just returned from volunteer work in Africa. As the donations grow, Samantha begins to question Poppy’s diagnosis and the doctor who is treating her. She is also concerned with the source of the treatment and the use of the money.

Tanner informs his associates that not everyone is who they say they are and some use their texts to masquerade as others. There is also one series of texts from a person who does not even exist. Reading through all of the comminications, the associates see a community that organizes bake sales, a fund-raising gala and even uses the Players’ production to raise funds while the Haywards contribute little to the effort. Martin frequently tells his son, who has taken over as director of the Players, that they must discuss concerns in person rather than through texts or email, raising more suspicions of their activities.

Janice Hallett tells her story entirely through texts, emails, letters and transcripts of police interviews. Her story moves quickly and you truly get to know her characters through their own words, but you can not always trust what they say. Until the final revelation you can never be sure who is responsible for the murder and Hallett’s solution comes as a real surprise. After reading The Appeal I can not wait to read more from This author. I would like to thank. NetGalley and Atria Books for making this book available for my review.

I have forwarded you the communications between the members of the Fairway Players' that are tied to the suspected murder of one of their actors. You are tasked with helping uncover the truth of what happened that night and if our client is guilty of the crime they are accused of. I believe they are innocent but I want to see if you uncover the same theory as to who the actual guilty party is before I share with you my full findings. In these emails, I believe the true killer has given themselves away. Read through every detail surrounding the appeal for funds for little Poppy's life saving treatment and determine whether or not funds were misused and led to the death of our victim. Take great care not to miss the details you are searching for, our client's life is depending on your success. Author Janice Hallett has written an exceptionally creative who-done-it that puts you in the seat of an intern tasked with helping on a murder appeal case. "The Appeal" is composed entirely out of emails and texts acting as the evidence you need to decipher in order to determine who the accused is and if they are actually guilty. This felt like a modern day Clue that I had me so invested that I read it in a day. If you enjoy a quirky, creative concept give this a try. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To say that THE APPEAL will hook you from the first page.. is an understatement. Within the first few sentences you know you’re in for a real adventure. THE APPEAL is written in epistolary form, which gives you the complete feel of the environment, the background story, the setting, the characters… some of which you begin your suspicions of, while still trying to figure other’s motives.
I loved the plot, it was unpredictable, and some of the characters were so hard to read, while some it’s like you could picture as like your co-worker.
I never wanted it to end. IT WAS THAT GOOD. I am so excited and looking forward to what comes next for author Janice Hallett, author that has now been added to my must read author list!
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie (yes please!) and for everyone who loves a good unpredictable mystery, that will keep you guessing til the very end.

Can YOU uncover the truth of what occurred in a small English town? Was the fundraising appeal to help a little girl get a lifesaving cancer treatment all a fraud? When someone is murdered and an arrest is made, is the correct person on trial? In this intriguing mystery, the reader can find the truth by reading a series of emails, texts, and other correspondence between the many witnesses and suspects. Two young lawyers are given this same information from their boss and are told to look for facts that would help their client (whose identity is unknown to them) on an appeal.

This is such a unique book! The format of this book won’t be for everyone, but I loved it! It’s told entirely through various types of correspondence between the characters. It is amazing how much you can learn about the characters and the story just from emails and texts. There are some notes between the law students in the book, too, to help keep you on track. It is fairly long, but it was a fast read for me that I didn’t want to put down. I was able to answer some of the questions posed to the lawyers, but there are so many twists and turns, I wasn’t able to figure everything out. I know this is only January, but The Appeal is my favorite read so far of 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an advance copy of this book. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Janice Hallett’s debut novel, The Appeal, is unlike any epistolary novel you’ve read. Even the title has several meanings. And, the story itself? Don’t believe anything until you get to the end of the book. All you can do is guess with the clues you’ve been given..

The Appeal isn’t the type of book I normally read. While the victim is the most likable person in the small group, even the victim isn’t trustworthy. But, epistolary novels always interest me, and this one sucked me in. Before I knew it, I was halfway through, determined to learn the truth.

Hallett’s debut novel is compelling. Here’s my warning. If you make it through the introductory material, you’ll probably read the entire book. Let me know if the ending is what you expected. While I distrusted one person from the beginning, and I was a little bit right, the ending was still unexpected. Good luck!

Thank you Atria books and NetGalley for the review copy of The Appeal by Janice Hallet. I loved this mystery, it was unlike any I have read before and I am still wondering about how the author pulled off the plot and writing. I stayed up late last night just to finish this book not just to get to the resolution but also just to see exactly how Ms. Hallet would tie it all together.

The mystery unfolds via the reading of emails and texts from a group of people in a local playhouse who organize fundraising effort for a sick child for one of their members and as you read the messages you learn, along with the two law students, that a lot was going on among the members and those related to them, work colleagues, and a few others involved in the care for the sick child. You might ask yourself why and how a book based only on emails and texts would work for a mystery but it works so well and really gives a sense of what it might be like to rely mostly on this material during an investigation. As a wannabe sleuth this was really a great read for me.

Three big comments
1. As noted, I really appreciated the creativity and effort put into writing this story. I am impressed by how well I could get a sense of who each character was just by reading the different tone and writing style for each email and text. The plot also did unfold effectively via the emails and texts, a lot information was conveyed and kept moving the plot forward. I was never bored!

2. The plot has a lot of moving parts, which could be confusing or cumbersome in other books but here the author manages to keep them all organized and at times gives a break to the reader with a step back to the investigators who then are working on summary notes for their supervisor, which I thought was a great way to step back and see how the pieces of the puzzle came together.

3. The end!!! What a great ending, I loved it. A perfectly satisfying way to end this complex puzzle. I was not disappointed, even felt a little smile and a wink from the author at the end.

I can't stop recommending this book enough to my mystery book fans and book clubs. I think there is a lot to enjoy in this book and I would recommend it for a mystery book club. If you read it with friends I would even take breaks when the investigators do, talk to your friends about what you think is going on, and be a part of the investigation!

I am already waiting for this writer's next book, I hope it comes soon!

I'm a huge fan of epistolary novels and this thriller, told through a series of emails, texts, and other forms of written communication, immediately grabbed my attention. But while I enjoy slow burns, I wish the 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗟 had gotten to the good stuff sooner.

Two lawyers are handed a case with no information other than what they can get from files of correspondence that centers around an amateur theater troupe and people they know. The title refers to fundraising the group takes on when the head of the troupe's granddaughter gets sick and needs experimental treatment. As the lawyers sift through all of the messages, they try to determine who was murdered and who committed the crime, and realize that almost involved everyone is hiding something.

I enjoyed this unique take on a crime story but it took a while to reveal who died (although I guessed pretty early on) and to get to the whodunit and why. There's a large cast of characters to keep track of and I wanted a bit more explanation at the end than we got but the plot kept me engaged and playing along, wondering if I was picking up on the right clues along the way. The author is a screenwriter and it shows - I can totally picture this book as a film. If you're looking for a different sort of mystery, give this one a try.

The Fairway Players is a local theatre group that is rehearsing for a new play when the director gets some terrible news. His young granddaughter, Poppy, has a very rare brain tumor. The special treatment she will need is very expensive and the theater group rallies to raise money for Poppy’s medical costs. As this the group raises money, there are questions raised about the good intentions of those involved. Until finally on opening night a dead body is found and an arrest is made. Did the police capture the real killer?

This is a modern take on the epistolary novel concept. Instead of just letters, this story is told via emails, messages, and letters. It is definitely a different feel than your typical mystery book. I kept an open mind and it was a very interesting concept for a crime novel. It took me some time to get into the writing style, but in the end it was a good book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review

Oh my! This has to be one of the most uniquely told stories that I’ve read in quite a while. I must admit that when I first saw the format, I shrank back in fear. Because it’s told through emails, texts, and transcripts, I was worried that it would be gimmicky and hard to follow. When I’m wrong, I’ll admit it. I was wrong. So very wrong.

In this novel, we follow a group of amateur actors who are rehearsing a play, and we are introduced to the characters and the plot through those emails, etc. Soon, it is revealed that a young child has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. An appeal for financial aid to cover treatment is made, and as things so often happen, someone is killed, someone is arrested, and someone may have gotten away with murder. Your task is to figure out who these three people are.

It is a testament to the author’s skill that she can embody the voices of so many characters, successfully making each reprinted communication feel authentic. After only a few pages, I almost didn’t need the email headers anymore; I simply knew from the tone and topic which character had penned each letter. It’s awe-inspiring.

But let’s talk about the fun of it all, shall we? You aren’t the only ones reading these messages. Investigators are there with you. As they begin to uncover the truth, so will you. The clues are there. Can you find them?

For mystery lovers, this book is a treat, mostly because it really is an immersive experience. You will really feel as if you were interacting with these documents and hunting for a killer. At times, you will just be swept away by the chance to spy on the personal lives of these characters. Other times, you will gasp at the sudden yet subtle revelations. And the last 25%, WOW!! I’ll be reading this again soon so I can spot the clues I missed the first time.

I am such a fan of this author now. I need more. You need this, and then you’ll need more, too.

Don’t miss out on The Appeal.

I absolutely loved this thriller! The format/layout was so unique and different to any other thriller I've read before. I truly felt like I was investigating the mystery myself and I was piecing the story together as I read. I did not guess any of the plot twists and I honestly had no idea where the story was going until the very end of the book when everything was revealed. I absolutely flew through this book in just a couple of sittings and didn't want it to end! I wish there were more books with this format because I found it so engaging. I think due to the unique nature of the format makes this a must read for everyone! My only criticism would be that in the beginning I found it a bit tricky to remember all of the different characters and story lines and I would have appreciated a character list at the beginning of the book. Also I understand that the main character was meant to be unlikeable, but at times she got under my skin a little too much.

As a theater group in the UK find out their beloved directors granddaughter has a brain tumor, they are immediately all in to help raise the exorbitant funds needed for a new drug from the US.

Not all the cast members believe everything they hear. Doing their own research they start to question and ultimately end up dead after a confrontation. The question is “who committed the murder”? With so many suspects and a confession, it’s now up to a law solicitor and his colleagues to put the pieces together to win their appeal.

A totally unique and compelling who dun it as clues are gathered through messages, emails, and articles. Arm chair detectives will have a hay day with this captivating book!

I've never read a story quite like this. It's told in a series of emails from various characters, each with their own agenda, with occasional comments by two people assigned to review the case who act as a sort of Greek chorus. Five stars and. Can’t wait for the next one. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley

An appeal to earn the money for a young girl's cancer treatment is such a great cause. How could anything go wrong? The Appeal is a fascinating epistolary novel following law students as they sift through emails and texts preparing for the appeal for a crime committed while a wealthy friend group and drama club is earning money for one of the most influential families child's treatment.

The best most striking element of this story is the format in which is told. The modernized epistolary style is very engaging. It puts the reader in the middle of the same evidence as the law students are reading it. This was a fun way to try to unravel the mystery of what was happening within this friend group, and how things went so wrong.

The characters were not always likable in some cases, but they were never boring. They were all fascinating and many possible motives and suspects are brought to the forefront as secrets are revealed. This book is hard to put down, and reads very quickly. I would highly recommend this crime book if you want to be sucked in to the drama, deceit, and unbelievable stories of these friends.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Appeal by Janice Hallett is a 2022 Atria Books publication.

A group of caregivers and Thespians rally around a young child diagnosed with cancer by raising money for treatment that is costly and currently unavailable, except in America.

The parents and grandparents of the child launch an appeal for cash and people are quick to respond, but when a newcomer to the circle starts to ask questions, it would appear someone wants her silenced…

Naturally, when a synopsis openly challenges a veteran mystery reader by basically assigning them the task of solving the mystery with only text and email messages, I was intrigued.

Thank goodness someone, anyone, is willing to go off the beaten path, throw the formula out the window, and try a different approach, right?

That said, a fresh approach is not enough. It must work for it be effective, and unfortunately, the setup, imaginative though it may be, was too confusing and disorganized in the beginning. It didn't hold my attention at all, and I though I stuck with it, I was mostly bored.

Too many characters, random introduction of characters, a thread involving time spent in Africa that was entirely too vague and was never fully explained- though one does get the gist of it- mostly- it was just too disjointed, too busy, and not at all suspenseful, in my opinion.

I applaud the author for trying something different, but I didn’t feel this approach was successful. I really did have high hopes for this one, but it sadly it fell flat for me.

There has been some high praise for this one- so check this one out for yourself. Hopefully, you will have better luck with it than I did.

3.5 stars, rounded up
I think this would have been a sold 4 star book for me had it not been SO long and drawn out.

This is a fun epistolary mystery--told in a long series of e-mail, text, message board posts, and other forms of written communication. There are a large number of potential suspects, however once you get down to it there are only a handful of true possibilities.

The overall premise is that two young lawyers are tasked with sifting through these piles of communication. Someone has been murdered and the powers that be need to be certain that the one who is in jail is the person who should be there.

The case centers around a group of community members involved with a play, and a two year old girl who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. The community members rally around the family involved to raise money for experimental treatment to save the little girl's life.

I do think that the story could have been edited down somewhat in order to make it flow better. There are so many theories and they are all completely and thoroughly examined. After a bit I started to glaze over with the sheer number of names and connections. I did figure out a couple of the main twists ahead of time (which is one of the main reasons I compulsively kept reading, to confirm that I was correct!) The author very cleverly throws in clues that you have to be paying close attention in order to catch as the messages are flying fast and furiously. When something odd would pop up I would mentally file it away and then wonder how it fit into the big picture.

I was very satisfied with the ending and felt like everything was explained. It just took a little too long to get there. Still, if you are looking for a uniquely presented mystery, then this one should have strong appeal.

One of my favorite books of the year so far – a cozy, quirky mystery set in a small English town’s community theater group, where the daughter of the most prominent family urgently needs an expensive experimental cancer treatment. But lots of folks have secrets to protect, hidden agendas, and old grudges.

I loved this book; this is exactly the kind of mystery I crave, and I had such a book hangover after this one.

I’m a sucker for an epistolary novel, and especially for a modern take on an epistolary novel, and this collection of texts, emails, and other artifacts, really scratched the itch for me. I had loads of fun sleuthing along with the law students who are trying to figure this one out in time for justice – maybe– to be done.

I did not even mind that the dead body didn’t show up until more than halfway through the book, I was having such fun with this cast of quirky characters. The small town community theater setting was PERFECT, and I really admired how Hallett made such a huge cast of characters so distinctive, I rarely felt lost or felt like I didn’t know who someone was.

I adored the complexity and murkiness of the characters motivations an backstories; the aid workers for instance, felt like something I have not seen before in a mystery.

I guessed one of the central mysteries very early on, so some of the reveals didn’t land quite as solidly as they might, but I was just happily along for the ride with the characters, plus had the satisfaction of being clever enough to guess some things before the lawyers.

My only criticism is that at around 75%, I felt like the book really lost a tiny bit of momentum in the rehashing and rehashing (and rehashing) of events we’d already seen; I would have liked the resolution and denouement to be a little more flash-bang and a little less baby-step analysis.

But this is an extremely minor quibble; as a first novel, this is a total grand slam; I loved this book so much that I’ve already ordered her next book to be imported from the UK, and the author will certainly be an auto-buy for me for the foreseeable future!

wow! what a fun unique style of a whodunnit agatha christie style mystery!!!!!

one person is dead. one person is in prison. and everyone’s a suspect. lies and secrets are flying around the fairway players theater group - and it’s up to the reader to take the context of emails, texts, police reports, and newspaper clippings to solve the mystery.

I loved flipping through all of the characters’ personal lives!!! initially, I was a bit overwhelmed at just how many interweaving storylines and characters there were - but once I get into it, it became almost like a game.

the ending was so full of plot twists and revelations - once it all started coming together and the reader started to figure out the hidden secrets, it just didn’t stop until the very last page.

what a brilliantly written novel!! a huge thank you to atria books and simon & schuster for an advanced copy of this one in exchange for a review! this one is going to be talked about for ages!

rating: 4.25 stars
wine pairing: california merlot

Book Review📕 The Appeal- Janice Hallett 4 ⭐️ (Releases: 01/25/2022 in the USA)

I can truly say that I have never read a book quite like this. The format takes a bit getting used to as it starts with two people reviewing evidence and the content of their conversations are shown through emails or texts. Then the
evidence itself consists of texts, emails & notes between many, many people. I don’t want to share to much to not spoil the whole mystery…

While the book slowly becomes a suspense/mystery, as you start to get the sense that various things may be going on and eventually discover what the case the lawyers are working on is about. It is definitely an extremely slow burn so be warned if you don't like those, but I loved how it kept me guessing and how unique it was. It’s a book you'll either love or hate. I couldn't put it down. The resolution/ending dragged on a bit & I found it confusing but for a thriller/mystery I enjoyed it.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @atriabooks for an advanced copy (out 1/25/22 in the US; I believe it's already out in the UK) in exchange for an honest review.