The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is a compelling read. Well written with fully defined characters. Well worth the time!

If you’ve read Janice Hallett’s The Appeal (and it is ideal, though not strictly necessary, to do that before reading this book), then you’re familiar with the Fairway Players, an amateur theatrical group in the English village of Lockwood. As with The Appeal, the story in this book is presented in the form of documents, mostly WhatsApp messages, emails, and the like. This format helps to convey the chaos of trying to put on a Christmas pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk with a group of amateurs, some of whom are dim, many self-absorbed, and a couple downright determined to show up the current director as a failure.

The chaos reaches its crescendo during the one-night only performance, when a corpse in a Santa suit tumbles from the onstage giant beanstalk. Was it murder? If so, whodunnit? Even if not, how did the body get in the beanstalk and why?

This novella makes a fun short read, perfect for those long afternoons during the holidays.

An epistolary tale of a amateur dramatic society's Christmas pantomime gone wrong. From emails and texts flying back and forth one deduces that the success of director Sarah's classic panto is in the sights of a rival director, temporarily tying the whole production into knots. Although I am not familiar with the beloved Christmas panto-- I only know there is such a thing-- I loved it; witty and a lot of fun, reminiscent of "the play that goes wrong" players if you like them.

This book was such a fun read. The witty writing had me laughing out loud. The characters had me invested. And as much as I want to reread this in December, the mysterious aspects made me enjoy it in October all the same. Very fun!

A fun holiday take that returns us to the world of murder and the Fairway Players.

The Fairway Players are busy this holiday season rehearsing for their production of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise funds for the new church roof. Of course, like in The Appeal, there are tons of petty rivalries and seemingly-minor backstage problems. Then a dead body shows up on the stage. Who is to blame? Lawyers Femi and Charlotte again investigate letters, emails, and police transcripts to identify the victim and the killer.

It was delightful to be back in the world of the Fairway Players. Everyone seems to be so enmeshed in petty drama and acts of sabotage. I enjoyed getting to figure out the mystery along with Femi and Charlotte. It's interesting to see how their interpretations varied from my own. I think the only real drawback of this story is that it's really only novella-length. I think getting a chance to explore all the corners of the story a bit more would have been fun.

Overall, if you're looking for a fun Christmas whodunit, I definitely recommend picking this one up. It's fast-paced and surprisingly emotional (both laughter and sadness). Take a look at the content warnings, as there are some tough topics discussed, but overall it's a lighthearted taste of chaos.

I struggled with the way this book is written- the plot and characters are fine but their presentation is so disjointed that it is difficult to maintain interest.

Name of Book: The Christmas Appeal
Author: Janice Hallett
Publisher: Atria
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: October 24, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars!
Pages: 208

Tis the Christmas season and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive holiday production of a pantomime of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ to raise money for a new church roof.
However, things go bad as it seem despite this goodwill, someone is trying to stop the production. There is mention that the fiberglass beanstalk may be full of asbestos.
Then Santa is found dead Yikes Why is Santa on the naughty list?

Story is told via email, WhatsApp messages, text messages, etc.
(Have to admit - been there done that! - Several stories have uses this format and I really wasn’t a big fan. Hmmm! Will Ms. Hallett be able to carry it off? )

This is book "1.5 in the Appeal series, I had read "The Appeal" nearly two years ago and have forgotten most of the characters so did a quick review of my comments.

This story isn’t bad but I didn’t enjoy this format – The WhatsApp group chats were so small (typically with Kindle you can enlarge – nope WhatsApp has a mind of its own and I found it annoying- lol) But!!! The cover certain did 'appeal' to me!

Although I didn’t love this, I certainly will read another story by author, Janice Hallett!

Want to thank NetGalley and Atria for granting me this fun early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 24, 2023.

If you are looking for a quick holiday mystery book to read in one sitting, The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is just for you! I flew through this book in one night. I read her previous title The Appeal, so I was already familiar with the Fairway Players crew and their dynamics. I actually preferred The Christmas Appeal more because it was much easier to follow the story. I would absolutely recommend for fans of The Appeal looking for a quick Christmas Caper this holiday season!

I was provided this book as an ARC review in return for my honest review.

I have never read any books by this author and was pleasantly surprised by this writing style. While it's not my top choice of styles to read, I ended up actually enjoying it. I liked how it gave you multiple point of views from all the characters. So if you get started on this book and don't think it's going to be for you, I say give it a chance! I loved the mystery throughout and the little twists and turns to keep you guessing. The banter between all the characters was infuriating, yet humorous. I always love when a book can make me feel the things the characters are feeling, and this community of people can really get under your skin.

Overall I think this was a fun holiday mystery read. You will see multiple points of view from all the characters which guide you through the story. You get to experience the suspense from all angles which was very fun. As I mentioned before, the writing style wasn't my usual go to but I stuck it out and actually really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. This is also more of a suspenseful read than a holiday read, which is what I initially thought it was. However, I also didn't dive deep into reading the details of the book before reading because I like to be surprised throughout so that was probably just a misstep on my part.

Definitely a fun read for the holiday season especially if you like suspenseful, lighthearted books!

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is an absolute must read!
A phenomenal novella that sucks you in on page one.
I just couldn't stop turning the pages and trying to piece everything together.
The author delivers twist after twist that blew my mind, with each reveal leaving me more and more shocked.
The characters in this story are well-crafted.
And the author never fails to deliver an intriguing and compelling murder mystery.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to atria books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: a community theater is putting on a Christmas play/fundraiser for the church. One thing is for sure, the fairway players will put on a show that no one will forget.

What I liked: I love me a cozy mystery and this is the coziest one I have read. Set in England at Christmas, a community theater with all your favorite character types(know-it-all, exasperated leader, couple of jokers, loyal members, bumbling husband ). This novella is a series of emails, texts and conversations so it reads very quickly. It also allows you to really get to know the characters. The play and season definitely add to the appeal of the book. I enjoyed it very much. Full disclosure I haven’t read the first book but pick it up after reading this. I don’t think there were any spoilers but not sure.

It’s a great read to get you into the holiday spirit and perfect for cozy mystery fans.

I read the original “The Appeal” this year and some characters annoyed me to no end. I don’t like to read Christmas-themed books because they feel like you can only read at a specific time of year, but The Christmas Appeal thoroughly surprised me. I liked it more than The Appeal. It was a faster story with less confusing twists. Plus, because I was already familiar with the characters, I picked up on personalities quickly. I would definitely read another one of Hallet’s novels set in this town and these characters just because the drama is so juicy and eye-rolling.

This was a quick, solid read. The format took some getting used to, and although I was able to work out who was who, I believe it would be helpful to read Janice Hallett’s previous book, The Appeal. I enjoyed the theater setting and the holiday overtones.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Fairway Players are back and this time they are performing Jack and the Beanstalk. The performers and stagehands are their usual jolly (and backstabbing) group. It’s no surprise when a dead body shows up in the middle of the performance, since drama just seems to surround these people.
Just like in The Appeal, the plot moves along through texts and emails. It’s a quick read, only 208 pages, and it was enjoyable to see how, or if any of the players had changed. There is a mixup with the sweets purchased for the children (just one of many) and once again, Charlotte and Fern figure out whodunnit and why. I’m not sure if the author will return to Lower Lockwood again, but this was definitely an enjoyable return visit.

I know what you're thinking. What is a Christmas story doing here in the middle of spooky season? While October typically revolves around tales of ghouls, ghosts, and chilling narratives, it also marks the beginning of the holiday season in the publishing world. Many authors release their festive stories early, hoping to capture readers' attention before the holiday rush. When my friends at Atria Books presented me with the chance to read Janice Hallett's holiday-themed follow-up to her book The Appeal, I couldn't help but get swept up by the holiday spirit. It provides a gentle introduction to the season, one tinged with a touch of mystery that I couldn't resist.

Lower Lockwood is embracing the Christmas season, with the Fairway Players fervently rehearsing their holiday production of "Jack and the Beanstalk" to raise funds for a new church roof. However, goodwill is in short supply among amateur theater enthusiasts, with petty rivalries, concerns about asbestos in the beanstalk, and persistent absenteeism among the cast.

On the night of their production, a dead body is discovered onstage. Who could have harbored ill intentions toward the victim during this festive season? Lawyers Femi and Charlotte embark on an investigation that involves analyzing Christmas letters, scrutinizing emails, and delving into police transcripts to unmask both the victim and the killer before the final curtain falls on the holiday production.

The Christmas Appeal provided a much-needed respite from my spooky reading. Hallett presents the story through firsthand correspondence, offering insights into the lives and motivations of the Fairway Players members. I couldn't help but become engrossed in the petty drama that permeates this community theater organization, reminiscent of my own experiences with church music groups. Everyone is a volunteer, and everyone believes they're in charge. While the murder mystery itself may be somewhat ordinary, the vividly portrayed characters and their interpersonal conflicts make the narrative incredibly engaging. The added stress of the holiday season heightens the tension. The Christmas Appeal is a delightful and brisk read, offering an escape into the holiday spirit ahead of the bustling season.

Janice Hallet has hit a home run with her writing style yet again. The Appeal was such a fun ride with an immersive group of characters! Needless to say, I was thrilled when Net Galley approved me for The Christmas Appeal!

The Fairway Players are back! This time, a Santa sized mystery plagues the theater group. Hallet nails the story telling, character development, and overall plot! I finished this book in about 3-4 hours and will recommend to all fans of The Appeal. What a wonderful extension to the original. 4/5 stars!

While it took me a minute to remember who everyone is and what their role in The Fairway Players was, once I got back into the swing of things I enjoyed the book. Some of my favorite characters were back and causing a ruckus at the theater once again. I like the style of writing and the characters. While I understand the needing for a framework I didn't feel the outside looking in characters were really necessary. But overall a fun, short, holiday read.

A matter of texting back and forth is the catalyst for this book There’s also the matter of the dead body onstage. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they investigate Christmas letters, examine emails, and pore over police transcripts to identify both the victim and killer before the curtain closes on their holiday production—for good.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

This was a quick, engaging read that unique in itself. The unfolding facts of this Christmassy murder mystery takes place in email correspondence, transcripts, etc. I haven’t read a novel written like this, and it felt like a deep dive into a chaotic mailbox that was both a fun and intriguing experience. This was a quick read and left me feeling satisfied afterwards. It struggled a little with character development, especially due to the layout of the novel, but overall the read was enjoyable and I would gladly pick up more by this author!

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome back to Lockwood, where the Fairway Players are preparing for their annual Christmas pantomime. Emotions run high and goodwill toward men is definitely lacking. Then there's the whole matter of the dead body that appeared.

This epistolary novella is witty and the perfect short read for the upcoming holiday season. I laughed aloud several times throughout the book, and found myself on a thoroughly enjoyable ride. The format really worked for me, which is not something I often say of epistolary writing. I also liked that this could be a stand alone novella. However, I do want to mention that if you haven't read THE APPEAL (which is where you're first introduced to these characters, the Fairway Players, and the Lockwood setting), it will likely spoil its mystery.

I'd recommend this for readers who enjoyed THE APPEAL or want a Christmas caper to read!