The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
This was an entertaining Christmas mystery based around the same amateur dramatics groups who featured in The Appeal. The lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with solving the mystery presented to them by their now retired mentor. The evidence upin which they have to make their judgement comes in the form of e-mails, WhatsApps, voice recordings and even Christmas Round Robins.
The characters were in the main familiar and were not therefore given a backstory. There was a lot of humour in the way in which the group try to get one over on other people. It was also amusing when all the extra people turned up at the performance and . There are some funny sections involving the dog which cannot be controlled in the church hall and the confusion over the “sweets”.
A quick read and an unusual addition to the idea of a Christmas Mystery. Many thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Oh Janice Hallett. I feel like I have just been for a visit with old friends!

The Christmas Appeal takes us back to Lower Lockwood and our favourite amateur actors. This time the Fairway Players are putting on a performance of a pantomime - oh no they're not - sorry I couldn’t resist. Once again we are faced with the temperamental egos of the players along with a dead body. What could possibly go wrong?

I really enjoyed The Christmas Appeal. It was such a tonic - funny, dry and full of warmth. Perfect for when the weather outside is cold and yuck.

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is available now.

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Ah, what a gem of a book. This had me hooked for a couple of days as I lived the torture of putting on a Christmas panto via the various WhatsApp messages flying around between those involved. I had been contemplating moving house to a more remote community recently but after reading this, I'm seriously wondering if that's ideal, given the amount of backbiting and sarcasm in the local theatre group.

I haven't read The Appeal and if I had, I'd undoubtedly understand a little more about what was happening at the beginning and end with the lawyers involved in reviewing the case. That said, it did not detract me from thoroughly enjoying the unravelling of the mystery this book describes and it had some genuine laugh out loud moments. I think some of my favourite moments were the messages between Sarah-Jane and her husband and son.

This is a perfect book for the festive season.

A fast-paced, festive frolic with everything I loved about The Appeal. I adore the way these stories are told via the e-documents and how it leaves me being able to piece together the mystery for myself! I read this in one sitting and whilst it didn’t exactly knock my socks off it was still extremely enjoyable!

Thank you to Viper, Janice Hallett and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest (late) review.

The Fairway Players of Lower Lockwood are back, getting themselves involved in another murder mystery (haven’t they not learned from Janice Hallett debut, The Appeal?). This time, the cutthroat of amateur dramatics are busy rehearsing for the Christmas panto, Jack and the Beanstalk. Expect, not everyone is feeling the good cheer. The fake smiles and catty, pettiness is out in force. The beanstalk might be full of asbestos and, of course, there’s the matter of the dead Santa…

Lawyers Femi and Charlotte are reading the emails, the WhatsApp, the Police reports to find out the truth.

I am going to admit it: I haven’t read The Appeal. Though it’s been on my radar since it was first published, I never felt the urge to read it. And when I did try to dip my toe into read another of Janice Hallett’s book, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, I quit at their 35% mark as I found it such a slog and I didn’t care for the case nor the main characters. Though I might be tempted to try via audiobook if it ever become available at my library.

But when I first of this, I was strangely intrigued as this is a novella so could easily read it within a day (actually, took me a nice long weekend), it’s Christmas and it had a cosy murder mystery feel to it. And I hoped that this might make me intrigued enough to try this author again (maybe with The Appeal).

This novella was a little delight. Mainly because it was so funny. I wasn’t sure at the start, but once I started reading the pettiness within the emails and the catty, bitchy backstabbing WhatsApp and texts between the members, I found myself cackling away. It was the humour that made this work for me. Because we all know these people in real life. And the idea of putting their egos to one side for the greater good (raising money for the local church roof) is a ridiculous request…

The build-up was lovely, though I do wish the body of the dead Santa would have appeared sooner (that’s a me thing. I always like to hit the ground running in a mystery/thriller) and the clues are so subtle that, while satisfying when revealed, it did feel a little out of the blue.

I think this is a lovely warm-up for Christmas and I can imagine fans of the Fairway Players reading this novella over Christmas Day and being annoyed when they have to stop for Christmas dinner, listening to the King’s Speech and watching the Christmas Day Eastenders episode to find out the mystery of The Six…

I absolutely loved Janice Hallett's The Appeal, which introduced the reader to the eclectic cast and crew of the Fairway Players: Lockwood's premier amateur dramatics society. So I was delighted when I heard that the Fairway Players were back for a Christmas special - and that they'd have another dead body on their hands!

The Christmas Appeal picks up a couple of years after the ending of The Appeal and the passage of time has seen several changes in Lockwood - and in the makeup of the Fairway Players. The ever-organised Sarah-Jane and her husband Kevin have taken charge of the Fairway Players but their reign is being contested by former queen-bee Celia and her husband Joel. Two new estates - an executive development and a development of social housing - have brought new members and new tensions to the town. And reports of a murderer being spotted locally are bringing back uncomfortable memories of the events that marred the Players' production of All My Sons.

Despite this, the show must go on and Sarah-Jane is determined that the Player's charity Christmas panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, is going to be a success. She's even hired an enormous vintage prop beanstalk (which may or may not contain deadly asbestos) to be the centrepiece of the production. Unfortunately open night gets off to the wrong kind of bang when, halfway through the production, a dead body in a Santa suit falls out of the beanstalk. Who is the victim? And who might have killed them? It's up to lawyers Femi and Charlotte to investigate yet again.

Like its predecessor, The Christmas Appeal is told through a series of letters, emails, and texts. This form gives the novella real pace and compulsion - I steamed through it in a couple of evenings - and makes it a quick, pacy, and enjoyable seasonal read.

Catching up with the Fairway Players will prove to be a real delight for fans of The Appeal, especially given the changes in the hierarchy of the group. The simmering tensions and behind-the-scenes cattiness that made the first book such fun are back in abundance and, if anything, The Christmas Appeal is a funnier and lighter novel than its predecessor. The spirit of Christmas panto is infused through the text with a good dose of slapstick (including a drunken pantomime horse and the accidental purchase of some highly illegal 'sweets') and sarcasm to keep the pages turning and the laughs coming. Although a truly awful human being, I was particularly fond of snooty Celia's communiques, the 'holier-than-thou' tone of which made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion.

Although the story of The Christmas Appeal does work as a standalone mystery, I do think you'll get much more out of this festive novella if you've read The Appeal. Although Hallett alludes to previous events, there isn't a huge amount of backstory provided and the relationships between the various characters aren't outlined in any depth.

For fans of The Appeal, however, this return to the world of the Fairway Players is a welcome festive treat. Perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's evening, this is a page-turning, light-hearted seasonal read. Although I read an eBook version (unusual for me as I struggle with e-reading), the hardback edition is beautifully presented (just look at that cover) and would make for the perfect Christmas present for a Hallett fan.

I loved Janice Hallett's debut novel The Appeal and was delighted to be able to return to the trivial dramas of Lockwood and the Fairway Players. Full of humour, small town gossip and a thoroughly compelling mystery, The Christmas Appeal was the perfect, quick festive read. With characters that are fully fleshed out and a clever, unique narrative structure, I loved how I was able to slip back into amateur detective mode alongside Femi and Charlotte as they piece together the clues. I laughed out loud and somehow managed to keep the vast cast of characters straight in my head. As my first Christmas read of the year, I am now ready to sink into some more!

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is a Christmas murder mystery story about a group of players performing in a church hall and a dead body is found on the night of the play. An old fashioned type of who did it and why but full of entertaining characters.
Recommended

Anyone who has been around my blog for a bit will know I’m a big Janice Hallett fan, and that I’ve categorically stated on multiple occasions that The Appeal is, in my humble opinion, one of the best crime fiction novels ever written, as well as being one of my favourite books. So as soon as there was even the mention of returning to the Fairway Players for panto season, I was ready.

As always, Janice Hallett doesn’t miss a beat, and drops us into the middle of a mystery head first. There’s all the old faces, and a few new ones too, and despite the fact that it’s been a long while since I read The Appeal, the characters immediately leapt right back off the page and into real life once again. I knew who was responsible for which email without looking at the names, and it was just like being reunited with an old group of friends. I was grinning from ear to ear within just a few pages, and even more so as our story got started.

Woven with wit and wisdom, we see the changes that time has brought to the Fairway Players, and maybe more curiously, the things that have remained the same. Just like the first time around, the dynamics and interactions are fascinating, and I drank it all in. I adored the Christmasy vibe underneath the stress and tension of actually making an amateur dramatics performance happen; it was like a throw back to the good bits of school mixed with a dash of my husband swearing as he puts up the Christmas lights.

Although the book is shorter than the first book, it still packs so much until the number of pages, and will have you guessing multiple times over all the way through. It was a superb addition to the author’s novel collection, and a wonderfully festive dip back into one of my favouite settings for a novel. A small town setting is always interesting. A small town like this one? Fabulous.

I am such a huge fan of Janice Hallett - I've read all of her books and I just can't fault them in any way. I love her unique style, I love the epistolary crime format and I love how immersive they are, allowing the reader to take part in the mystery alongside the characters in the stories. I do tend to get a thrill when I hear about upcoming crime releases, but the excitement level when I saw the news about The Christmas Appeal was honestly through the roof! I think this was mainly because The Appeal was such an iconic book which made such a big impact on me when I read it, but this also meant that there was a lot of expectation on my part, and I'm very happy to say that I absolutely loved returning to Lower Lockwood!

With some familiar characters back and rehearsing for their production of Jack and the Beanstalk, the pressure is on to raise money for a new roof for the church hall, but this is the Fairway Players we're talking about, so obviously things aren't going to go to plan. A dead Santa is discovered leaving the am-dram group at the centre of a mystery once again...

In my opinion, it's the characters in this book that really make this story pop. When I was younger I used to take part in the local pantomime every Christmas, so I am very familiar with the am-dram crowd. What makes this so funny is that to anyone who hasn't had this type of experience, that drama and the backstabbing and the pettiness might seem over the top, but let me tell you, it's incredibly realistic! For me, part of the charm of this story is that it took me right back to those rehearsals, waiting backstage and just observing the hilarious behaviour of some of the people involved. We may not have had any suspicious deaths to deal with, but it put a smile on my face the whole way through.

A dead Santa at a pantomime, a festive murder mystery and a sprinkling of sarcasm - what's not to love? The Christmas Appeal even got this grinch into the Christmas spirit!

A robin round should bring good cheer
Though in some minds it carries fear
Celia Halliday, Queen of this prose
sends it out to keep all on their toes.

In Lower Lockwood, Christmas cheer is on the rise,
The Fairway Players will stage a grand surprise.
A pantomime, “Jack and the Beanstalk” their aim,
To raise funds for the church roof, they claim.

But beneath the stage, where pantomime should bloom,
Lie shadows deep, and whispers in the gloom.
In the midst of festive songs and laughter,
There lurks a storm; just who is the gaffer?

Within this troupe, goodwill’s far from glowing,
Amongst these amateur dramatics, tension’s growing.
Sarah-Jane, our AmDram Chair, fends off these threats,
In her new position, courage she begets.

But who’s behind this feud, this cold attack,
And does the beanstalk conceal a hidden trap?
Asbestos fears, a looming danger seen,
Within that towering beanstalk’s painted sheen.

Someone’s bent on ruining the show,
Before the curtain rises; before the lights aglow.
Amidst the chaos, there’s a darker scene,
A body found, a mystery unforeseen.

Who could harbour such a wicked scheme,
And leave dead Santa in this wintry dream?
Femi and Charlotte, lawyers on the case,
Unravelling the secrets, at a steady pace.

They read round robins, emails, transcripts line by line,
Seeking the truth, the answers they’ll define.
Will the panto go on, despite this dark despair?
Can Christmas magic heal the rifts laid bare?

In Lower Lockwood, mysteries they’ll unmask,
As they journey through this tangled, twisted task.
For Jack and Beanstalk, heroes and foes,
Unveil a grisly tale amid murd’rous throes.

Gentle reader, pick up this book if you dare
And free the panto cast from this nightmare.

Verdict: Sadly, Janice Hallett does not write in rhyme. Despite this it is a read sublime. The Christmas Appeal, so rich in squeals, brings to us all some great reveals. So gentle reader, do not dither, buy this book and be a present giver.

A murder mystery to keep you on your toes !

Going into this one I didn’t realise it was a sequel/novella from another novel, however I found I enjoyed the book well enough on its own that I definitely want to go and read the first book!

I struggled at first with the format of this book, reading on kindle can be difficult when presented with a story over emails and texts but once I got the hang of it I found I flew through this one surprisingly fast.

It’s the only novel I can think of where I disliked pretty much every character but still came away enjoying the book. The author is incredibly talented at not only giving us detailed flawed characters but immersing us in a mystery which keeps us guessing until the very end.

The one thing I love about a mystery is that I can’t guess the truth despite how much I tried!

The only thing that stopped me giving the book five stars was the reveal at the very end. It seemed a bit like the author was just putting things in to shock the reader, it does give the impression there will be a follow up, but as this is a novella I doubt it’s likely.

I recommend this one to fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder and it’s perfect for nosey people who like to know all the gossip (like me!)

Thank you so much Netgalley and Viper for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

The appeal was one of my favourite books I read last year and I was delighted to see it make a return in the form of a Christmas Novella!

I loved that the story used the same mixed media format as the previous book! This is the perfect cosy crime mystery for everyone this Christmas!

This book was just as good as The Appeal and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to revisit familiar characters.

I really enjoy Janice’s books and this was just as good as the previous ones. it was great to be back with some familiar faces and the panto was a perfect opportunity for the pettiness, back stabbing and whining to start again!

Cleverly written as email and message communication again, I whipped through this book super quick, it’s shorter than the others but there’s still just as much packed in. I didn’t work out who Santa was or the reason for the death, but once you know all the clues are there. I definitely think Janice’s books deserve a second read, just to pick up on the clues you miss first time round.

A great not so Christmassy, but set around a panto so that counts, read that had me turning page after page till it was done.

It’s November 1st, I’ve seen both Mariah Carey and Michael Buble on television adverts, and I’ve got my Christmas cake in the oven – it’s (un)officially the day when we get to start thinking about Christmas.

My first Christmas present to myself has been unwrapping the latest novel by Janice Hallett, author of ‘The Appeal’, ‘The Twyford Code’ and ‘The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels’. In this latest novel, the Queen of the Epistolary Mystery has brought us back to the small town of Lockwood, where the Fairway Players are once again putting on a play: Jack and the Beanstalk, complete with a show-stopping centrepiece for added drama.

Hallett’s dark humour shines through as we see the hapless bunch once again muddling through a play that will only ever end in disaster. Following on from the shady exploits of some of the Fairway Players in ‘The Appeal, their management has been reshuffled and new members of the group have been recruited – unfortunately, all the back-stabbing, prejudices and inflated egos are as present as ever.

At just 224 pages, it won’t take you long to get through the round robins, emails and police transcripts that make up this novella, but I assure you that it is just as twisty and clever as Hallett’s previous full-length titles. A thoroughly enjoyable read, ‘A Christmas Appeal’ will make a perfect stocking filler for anyone who’d enjoy a quick mystery after their Christmas dinner.

Thank you to NetGalley UK, Janice Hallett and Profile Books Ltd for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I was a huge fan of 'The Appeal' and was so excited to get stuck into 'The Christmas Appeal' - and I was not disappointed.
Hallett again sets this around The Fairway Players and this time they are putting on a Pantomime - what could possibly go wrong?! Being a returning book, we do revisit some previous characters which is always delightful and I liked seeing what they have gotten up to and what they get up to. I also liked the introduction of new characters to keep the book feeling fresh. Setting this around Christmas really gives the book a cosy, Winter feel and I enjoyed curling up and reading this. 'The Christmas Appeal' is a shorter read so it was over quickly which was a shame but I enjoyed my time reading it and only wish it was longer.
The biggest appeal for this book is Hallett's writing style which again focuses on WhatsApp messages, emails, documents and texts to tell the story. This makes for unique reading and helps the reader gain an understanding into the mindset of the characters. This also helped to keep the mystery going for longer. Overall I really enjoyed reading this very Christmassy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viper for an advance copy.

I absolutely adored this little Christmas novella, and relished in the opportunity to meet the characters that we know & love from The Appeal again. It was definitely a cosy little read, with plenty of Janice’s signature twists and turns. There was also a mixture of hilarious and heart warming moments, and I just couldn’t put it down!

I’d definitely recommend picking up this book to get you in the festive thriller mood 🎄

An enjoyable murder mystery, unusually told via transcripts, text messages and emails. Good characters and an interesting read. Will keep an eye out for this author in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Cosy mystery. This was my first Janice Hallett, quite entertaining I must say. It is fascinating to follow how people are messaging to each other and are playing the real game to their own benefit. It’s fiction but it could easily be transported to the real life. The reveal of the murder in the end didn’t bring the punch I was anticipating, but it’s cosy mystery so the ending suits the genre.