I have read three books by this author and I’m not going to read anymore. The writing style of this book pisses me off. Told in interview form, articles, and text messages. Also way to many characters to keep up with. This book is hard to follow and just is not good. I don’t suggest anything by this author. This book seems like someone put a bunch of random stuff together and said here’s my book. This was an awful reading experience. Don’t suggest.

I didn't know I missed this little group of amateur actors but I did. Janice Hallett knocked out of the park again. This is a perfect read for Christmas or all year around. I really can't wait to read more from Janice Hallett.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for letting give my honest review.

Via Goodreads:

Thank you, NetGalley & publishers, for making my life complete & gifting me with an ARC of this wonderful/hilarious/brilliant novella by Janice “can’t go wrong” Hallett.

“The Christmas Appeal” returns us to the world of the Fairway Players at Christmastime during a Panto production of Jack & The Beanstock as we are tasked, via written correspondence, to solve yet another murder in Lockwood. (Why, don’t mind if I do…)

Not only was this the warm up to the holiday season I definitely knew I needed, I was SO pleased to get to spend time with these characters again! There was every bit of suspense, surprise twists, and clever writing as in its predecessor and if you’re in the market for a truly charming read, expertly done with surgeon like precision, this one’s for you. Christmas did indeed come early this year!

Hilarious. I read The Appeal and devoured it, this was no different. Moments of laughing out loud, which is the best kind of book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review in advance.

I really have been enjoying mystery books written like this. It was interesting to enter back into the same world as the appeal. The characters are totally reminiscent of small town drama. I did have a hard time staying interested in the story. I think if it would have been 30 pages shorter it would have been better. But I'm looking forward to more from this author.

It took me a moment to get my head around the style but then I quickly fell in to it. A murder mystery told through WhatsApp messages, emails and police interview transcripts. The Christmas element comes from the action being built around the rehearsals and performance of a pantomime but otherwise it’s not heavily festive and could be read anytime of the year. I really enjoyed this simple but entertaining mystery.

Once again an amazing mystery from Janice Hallett. Truly love that we get to revisit the Fairway players at Christmas with a new mystery afoot. Love the use of multi media that helps us piece together who done it! Would highly recommend!

This is a good quick read and I enjoyed being thrown back into the drama (both rehearsed and real-life) of the Fairway Players. It's been a minute since I read the first one, but it's not completely necessary to read that one before this novella. This story and all the correspondence builds up to a body being found during a pantomime performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. My favorite think about Janice Hallett's books is going back and looking back at the clues once I know the outcome/solution, It's all there to be discovered, it's just a lot of other hijinks that are also going on!

I loved Janice Hallett's book The Appeal and was so excited to read this one which includes a lot of the same characters. I love the unique format of both these books -- told mostly in e-mails, text messages, and news articles.

This book was very engrossing -- once again it follows the Fairway Players as they are rehearsing and getting ready to put on a play. There have been some leadership changes since The Appeal, and it's fun to see the power dynamics shift around.

I couldn't put this down, the format makes it so quick to read and I was engaged the entire time.

I would definitely recommend reading The Appeal first, as parts of it are discussed in this book -- and it does give you a good look at many of these characters. Both are so good and I am looking forward to reading more from Janice Hallett!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I love Janice Hallett and I LOVED The Appeal. So I couldn’t wait to read this one! I didn’t even realize it was a “sequel” to The Appeal. I love the writing style of these books. I fly through them and feel like I’m a part of the investigation. While I loved the writing style and the characters as much as the first book, this story line fell a little flat for me.

I love Janice Hallett's books. Twyford Code was one of my favorite mysteries when it came out. The Christmas Appeal is a novella with a Christmas community play as the backdrop. The plot unravels through a series of emails and text messages.

Janice is an extraordinary writer as you find yourself immersed in her world. There were a few twists and mystery wasn't hard to predict. Being a novella, I don't think the whodunit part was the point of the story. I enjoyed the unraveling of the plot and understanding the politics of the group.

I am eagerly awaiting the release of her book as well.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review an advanced copy of this book.

The Fairway Players are doing a pantomime of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ as their Christmas production. The group has some definite conflicts within themselves as the battle for leadership is very hot. There are troubles with casting, the schedule, scenery, and all of the other details, including getting treats for children. If things do not go well, the roof of the Parrish hall, which they use, may never get fixed and they might lose their venue. When one couple tries to surprise everyone, a mystery is revealed and the whole operation might be forever doomed.

The story was interesting, but the format did not hit me in the best way.

The goal of the Fairway Players is to raise enough money to put a new roof on the church with their Christmas production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Their goal will be met but not before the players have dealt with player politics, dirty tricks, global warming, asbestos poisoning and murder. Or, as a member of the players puts it “Jack and the Beanstalk turned from a pantomime into a farce and then into a Christmas tragedy.” The novella is told by email, text messages and police transcripts. We watch as the former player leaders plan a coup to return to power and glory. It will not go well. Nor will the gender neutral gift bags, stuffed with unusual sweets. The Christmas Appeal is a quick, clever read. Put you feet up and enjoy this early Christmas present! 5 shiny Christmas stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Janice Hallett for this ARC.

Mrs. Hallett never fails to write a five star, immersive mystery. They are filled with drama, secrets, ridiculous antics, and always an investive mystery. This is my 4th read from the author, all are five stars. I love the mixed media format so much. Never gets old for me. I can't wait to pre-order her next book for 2024, The Examiner, when available.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Janice Hallett kills it once again!

The Appeal is one of my all-time favourite mysteries and a spin-off felt like an early Christmas gift. Despite being just slightly over 200-pages, this book was brimming with intrigue, tension and drama. I loved it all!

No one does epistolary whodunits like Janice Hallett and this one certainly kept me guessing. Even though it didn't blow my mind as much as her previous works, I enjoyed every moment. Can't wait for her next!!!

Cute, quick read. This book takes place as transcripts from emails and text chains, so it was definitely different from what I've been reading. I have not read the first book in this series and I might go back and read that. There was some character development that I missed by not reading it but it didn't detract from the plot at all.

The book was a very quick read, a lot of build up and then it did seem like a rushed ending. I enjoyed it though!

I know August–let alone the October release date!–is far too early to contemplate murder at the holidays. But “The Christmas Appeal” was another delightful entry in Janice Hallett’s unique epistolary style novels. The back and forth nature of the text and email exchanges adds layer upon layer as you, the reader and amateur sleuth, decode the relational hierarchies, the hidden grudges, and the petty remarks. I would recommend this for a lighthearted read by the hearth with a cup of tea, as appropriate to what is spilled in this funny little mystery.

This was a fun little murder mystery and a good sequel to the original. We see quite a few returning characters but definitely different power dynamics within the Fairway Players Theatre group. Similar to the previous book, the murder itself is not revealed until about halfway through the book and even then you're left wondering until about 75% of the way through who was actually murdered so that was probably my only little bit of frustration. It's hard to feel invested in a murder mystery if you're not even sure who was actually murdered and how they are related to the story. The storytelling format was pretty interesting just like in the original, it's mostly done through electronic communication. I'll be excited to read another installment of this series in the future for sure.

Jack in the Beanstack is the play being put on to raise money for the church roof.
Much to everyone's dismay many shenanigans take place and it seems that the play will not see fruition.
Then there is the matter of a dead Santa.

This Christmas cozy has enough mystery to keep me going and enough Christmas sentiment to be just the right antidote for a busy holiday season.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc! I loved the synopsis of this book when I requested it. However, I did not realize the format of the book, and that it was only told through; emails, text messages, articles, newspaper, etc etc. I made it a solid 12% before I had to quit. I loved where the story was going but this "epistolic" (Relating to letters or epistles; in the form or style of letters) is just NOT for me. I hated it, to be honest, and will never be able to read this type of book to completion, but if you can handle this style of writing.. Read it! It sounds like a really fun murder mystery, and it's set during.... CHRISTMAS!!

I did learn a new word through this book though: epistolary, epistolic. Now I will drop that word into so many conversations and be a genius!