'The Appeal' by Janice Hallett is a murder mystery novel that unfolds through emails, text messages, and other correspondence within a small town amateur dramatics society. The story revolves around the amateur production of a play and a fundraising campaign for a little girl's medical treatment, all while keeping the reader guessing about the motives and relationships of the characters involved. The format of the book, told entirely through written correspondence, provides a unique and engaging way to reveal the intricate web of social dynamics and secrets within the group.
The author, Janice Hallett, skillfully crafts a narrative that allows readers to piece together the events and motivations behind the mystery through the characters' own words. The book offers a fresh and original approach to storytelling, drawing readers into the lives of the characters through their emails and messages, creating a sense of voyeurism and intrigue as the plot unfolds.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes themes of murder and potential violence, as well as darker undertones related to manipulation within personal relationships.
From The Publisher:
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
"[W]itty, original…a delight." - Th e New York Times
Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell, this international bestseller and "dazzlingly clever" ( The Sunday Times , London) murder mystery follows a community rallying around a sick child-but when escalating lies lead to a dead body, everyone is a suspect.
The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward and his wife Helen, the play's star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival.
But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment's efficacy-nor of the good intentions of those involved. As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon, an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material-emails, messages, letters-with a growing suspicion that the killer may be hiding in plain sight. The evidence is all there, between the lines, waiting to be uncovered.
A wholly modern and gripping take on the epistolary novel, The Appeal is a "daring…clever, and funny" ( The Times , London) debut for fans of Richard Osman and Lucy Foley.
Ratings (25)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (11) | |
Liked It (8) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (62):
Read It (25) | |
Want To Read (28) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (7) |
1 comment(s)
This was great! Loved the format and I hope it inspires more writers to try it out.
My only complaint is that it was a bit lengthy. Definitely pick up a physical copy — there are a lot of characters and special formatting so this wouldn’t be as enjoyable as an audiobook.
What can you read after
The Appeal?
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