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.

This was such a great book to read around the festive season and I was really lured into picking it up after I saw press coverage for it and saw how much people love Janice’s writing. This was my first book of hers but I want to read more

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

5*

Easily accessible novella from Britain’s best crime novelist. There were laugh out loud moments, puzzling moments and moments that shocked me.

There are so many good reviews of this sequel to The Appeal but I think I must have missed something. I did read it quickly - it’s very short after all - but the gambit is wearing thin now. There is nothing of substance in this book, enjoyable though it was.

Janice Hallett has cornered the market in telling over showing. In writing her modern epistolary novels, she has managed to make exposition seem cool again. Although I was a fan of The Appeal, this book was simply dreadful. The mystery doesn't appear until three quarters of the way through the book and is over just as quickly, with very litle investigation at all. Blah.

Here in her latest short story, we are returned to the Fairway Players who we first met in her debut novel. It is Christmas, so it must be Pantomime season and the chosen production of Jack and the Beanstalk, doesn’t necessarily go to plan when it appears that the Beanstalk is holding a secret of its own.

Told in the format of transcripts, emails, letters, messages and the two young lawyers notes who we met in the first novel we discover what exactly is going on in Lower Lockwood. Why there appears to be drug deals going down, the class system alive and well on who is or isn’t allowed to attend the pantomime, let alone be in it. Plus exactly what has happened to Celia’s son?

A delightful pantomime of a book which is the perfect antidote to Christmas and all those who take amateur dramatics a bit too seriously! I do enjoy seeing what Hallett can come up with next.

Rated 4 1/2 stars on my Bookmarks and Stages blog

Christmas is over, but its still holiday time, with that festive feel all around and pantos go on with the show, bringing their unique entertainment, but how can Santa be Dead? There's a sinister edge to the backdrop of the fun and frolics of Christmas. Enter and allow theatrics to consume you until the last page.
Amateur dramatics is cut-throat and no more so when Panto season is around. The Fairways are putting on Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022 as it would have been performed in the 1970's. Along the way, there are major power struggles and rivalries, even though the production is supposed to be raising money for a good cause. The spirit of good will and good nature doesn't always flow easily through everyone to get a project done for the greater good of a community. A certain mood is captured rather well.
There's a mystery that ensues and some twists and turns along the way of this book that has everything from WhatsApp messages to emails and more, to follow through to search for the clues and learn what's really been going on during what should have been a pleasurable, successful time.

It's quite a different book with a Christmas theme to keep readers guessing what's going to happen next in what is a darker side to the festive season.

I adored The Appeal and was delighted to meet all my favourite characters again in the Fairway Players again. I flew through the book over an afternoon. I love Hallett’s unique style of writing and can’t wait to read more from the author in the future!

This was such a fun continuation of the world created in the appeal. The Fairway Players are back and you can be sure that the drama is here to stay. I just had such an enjoyable time reading this one. I flew through it in just a couple of sittings and was rather surprised at the twists throughout.

This one follows a largely different group of characters to The Appeal, so it's not necessary to have read it, although there are fun little nods to the original story. It was fast and dramatic and I think it's a perfect little read for the holiday season.

After having read Hallett's other three wonderful novels - I was very excited to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint.

The story is presented in the same way that the Appeal was - in texts and emails, which is still a great selling point. I love unique presentations.

It was engaging - I read it very quickly because I was so hooked!

I think it is one of those books that I will read again and pick up on the clues much earlier.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I am a huge fan of Janice Hallett, her epistolary style has had me gripped from the first book. It's nice to catch back up with the Fairway Players (and a few newbies) in this short and festive mystery. A little predictable, but good fun, especially for anyone who has read The Appeal.

Good for fans of the Appeal but not quite as amazing. Aspects of the book were fun but I found parts a little long winded.

Janice Hallett is such a gifted storyteller. I love how engaging her work is; how easy it is to get into, yet so difficult to put down. The Christmas Appeal is a delightful pre Christmas treat and one which sent me on a path of reminiscence back into the many many years of church pantomime which I did during my school years. If you are new to Janice's work, you may be unfamiliar with her style of writing. Rather than traditional prose, Janice crafts her story utilising e-mails, messages, and letters. I know this won't suit all readers, what does, but I really enjoy this method of storytelling and in some ways it feels like you really are a part of the story and almost reading something that perhaps you shouldn't be. I love the change from my usual reads, a nice modern twist which loses nothing but adds a whole lot.

As with many a community group, there are power struggles and little spats within which threaten the success of the winter pantomime. Some of these go way back and are constantly grumbling along; others flash on and off with calm between. There is a hierarchy and whilst new members are always welcome to join, some new members are more welcome than others, depending on who you talk to. If you have read The Appeal then some will already be familiar but if you haven't I still think you'd enjoy this book without any prior knowledge.

The blurb is busy but gives you an overview of the many happenings and mishaps which will unfold in this short but action packed read. There are parts where I almost wept with laughter. Anyone who has ever taken part in any sort of production or community venture you'll definitely recognise elements of the characters from personal experience. This is a delightful read which will make you laugh and brings some delightful pre Christmas cheer - treat yourself, you deserve it!