Christmas all wrapped up in a stunning cover and end pages. I absolutely loved the merger of a favourite whodunnit novel with a Christmas read. Janice Hallett takes us back to Lower Lockwood and the cast of the Fairway Players as they put on a festive pantomime with all the usual dramatics off stage as well as on. A fibreglass beanstalk explodes in style revealing a lot more than the audience bargained on. Lawyers Feni and Charlotte have received news of a possible murder at the panto and have been sent all the emails , logs and transcripts of the various key characters in an attempt to decipher whether there has been a crime and who may have committed it. A superb seasonal read coming in at under 200 pages. #thechristmasappeal #janicehallett #netgalley #viperbooks

3.25

Setting: UK
Rep: n/a

This was a short Christmas novella set in the world of the Appeal; it's a quick easy read with more of the same fun formatting (all emails/interviews) but it didn't have the drama or grit or tension of the author's other books.

I really enjoyed The Appeal, so I was looking forward to The Christmas Appeal. It’s a fun, quick read that reunites us with the familiar faces of the Fairway Players.

The story is told in Janice Hallett’s usual epistolary style and unfolds through emails, texts, voicemails, and transcripts. Each character has such a distinct voice, even in these short messages and the writing is full of Hallett’s witty, sardonic humour.

This novella is more lighthearted than Janice Hallet's previous novels. It feels less like a true whodunnit and more like a humorous drama that just happens to involve a murder halfway through. I guessed what had happened fairly quickly, and the reveal doesn’t come with quite the same twists as Hallett’s previous books.

The holiday setting felt a little underplayed, so don't expect a super festive read. However, I did I enjoy spending time with these characters again and if you enjoyed The Appeal, I think you will enjoy this one too.

This was a fun novella returning to the Fairway Players who were the focus of the previous novel, The Appeal.

Again in the form of emails, WhatsApp messages and other forms of mixed media, we are given the information to solve a murder mystery within all the drama and melodrama caused by the Fairway Players.

*The Christmas Appeal* by Janice Hallett is an absolute delight! Who would have thought that an amateur dramatics production could be so entertaining and dangerous? The plot is both funny and engaging, making it a perfect read for the holiday season.

The story is packed with great twists and turns, keeping you hooked from start to finish. The phrase "the show must go on, whatever happens" has never been more true than for this performance. The characters and their antics are incredibly entertaining, and I found myself laughing out loud at several points.

I devoured this book in one sitting, unable to put it down. It's a testament to Hallett's writing that she can take such a seemingly mundane setting and turn it into a rollercoaster of a story. If you're looking for a funny, fast-paced read with a touch of mystery, *The Christmas Appeal* is the perfect choice!

love Janice Hallett and really enjoyed this Christmas special - not quite hitting the mark as superbly as The Appeal but a bit of escapism for the festive season!

As far as I’m concerned Janice Hallett can do no wrong. Her books are always an absolute treat. The Christmas Appeal was no exception. Fans of The Appeal will definitely love this festive treat.

It was great to return to the Fairway Players in this short and sweet mystery from a favourite crime writer. Even in fewer pages she had twists and turns and I couldn’t predict what was coming. Janice Hallett is an automatic buy.

This is a beautiful book and it is so amazing, the story is so lovely and very enjoyable to read. i loved everything about this book and i would recommend to anyone who loves reading to give this book a go. it is a lovely book and i will read other books from this author.

I absolutely love Janice Hallett’s style of writing and this book was another excellent 5 star addition!

The story is told via emails, texts and what’s app messages.

A retired QC gives his students a case to look over involving a local amateur dramatics group, a Christmas panto and a dead Santa!

It was great to catch up with the Fairway Players once again with a few new additions, having absolutely loved the Appeal.

Although this is a shorter book, I devoured it in under 2 days! The characters are so well written.. some endearing, some annoying (in a good way!) and some just damn right hilarious! Sarah-Jane and Kevin are brilliant!

This is a great, light hearted Christmas read with lots of fun and laughter… even with a death chucked in.

I literally can’t wait to read her next instalment of the Fairway Players…. Please do another one!! 🙏

Thank you to Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Janice Hallett's writing and The Christmas Appeal lived up to expectations. A clever and well written book, with a satisfying conclusion.

Just perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Another fabulous mystery from the brilliant Janice Halley. The perfect Christmas read (or really for any time of year)!

The Fairway Players have moved on from the dramatic events described in "The Appeal", and all their energies are focussed on pantomime season and "Jack and the Beanstalk". For anyone who has taken part in local voluntary organisations, or on local committees, these novels (this one and "The Appeal") will prove particularly hilarious. The character foibles, snobbery, and petty politics are all splendidly displayed in emails, text messages, and postings on social networks.
Anyone enamoured of the classic round-robin Christmas letter will curl up in delight at the perfect pastiche provided in the opening chapters; if you have already read "The Appeal", you will appreciate the stretching of the truth behind the descriptions of the fantastic year the writers have had - but if not, it is all beautifully revealed by the recipients scathing reactions in their emails to one another.
This is an obvious stocking filler for Christmas, but also a lovely follow-on revisiting the characters we met in the Appeal.
[Though I did rather miss Issy, who appears rather briefly].

read this just before christmas and forgot to review! i loved this book and others by the author, i would highly recommend

A stand alone novella featuring some of the same amateur theatrical players as previous novel by Hallett. After the brain-scratching presentations of Hallett's novels, which I enjoyed, this was a perfect seasonal mystery, with contemporary cozy vibes and laughs alongside the mystery. Great fun with surprises as usual. A pleasure to read.

This book was a fantastic follow up to The Appeal. The story was clever, amusing and tongue in cheek. A great seasonal story that left me feeling Chrismassy and cosy. The perfect book to curl up with for a few hours on a festive afternoon. Janice Hallett is my favourite auto-buy author.

The Appeal is one of my favourite books, so when I heard the sequel was coming out I had to pre order it (even though I was accepted for it on NetGalley, thanks to the publisher). This is such a fun book, just like the first one. The book is again filled with emails and text messages, and it was quite fun to try to work out what was going on. I say try because I figured out nothing haha. The characters are ones we know from the first book, with a few newbies thrown in too.
I love Janice Halletts books, I now want The Appeal 2 to happen (This is book 1.5).

I've now read all of Janice Hallett's books (at least since The Appeal) and I was very pleased to jump back into that particular world with the same characters. All in all, I found it, in my opinion, not up to the heights of The Appeal, possibly because it being more a novella, but better than Twyford or Alperton. Good easy fun and a smart way to get back into the amateur theatre!

This was a really fun read with so many laugh out loud moments. I love Halletts style, its so distinct and incomparable! A good read.

I throughly enjoyed this read. I love a good mystery novel and this one didn’t disappoint. I absolutely love the mixed media story telling of this book. I think it is extremely cleverly done and well executed. I found the story to be intriguing along with humour made this rather enjoyable.
For any pantomime lovers this book will have you wanting more. Massive thank you for allowing me the pleasure of reading this.