Janice Hallett's 'The Appeal' is one of my favourite mystery novels ever - a hilarious, ingenious and unputdownable whodunnit set in the cutthroat world of amateur dramatics. In 'The Christmas Appeal', we once again meet the Fairway Players, as Roderick Tanner KC presents young lawyers Femi and Charlotte with another dossier of messages to investigate.

It is December 2022 and the Fairway Players are preparing for their Christmas pantomime - an 'authentic' production of Jack and the Beanstalk using a 1970s script. It doesn't take long to sense that there is discord between the 'power couple', co-chairs Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald, and their rivals Celia Halliday and her husband Joel (OBE). The MacDonalds are hoping the production will be a big success and raise lots of money to repair the church hall roof, but the Hallidays don't want anything to overshadow their own 'triumphant production' Glengarry Glen Ross.

Tanner keeps Femi and Charlotte guessing what the mystery will be - does it have something to do with the enormous beanstalk last used 30 years ago? Or the nice new couple who auditioned for parts in the panto and haven't been seen or heard from since? What about the rumours that a convicted murderer is on the loose in Lockwood? And why exactly is there so much correspondence about the sweets Sarah-Jane is trying to procure for Santa to give out?

As with all Hallett's novels, the solution, when revealed, is immensely satisfying and hinges on a number of clues which are cleverly planted earlier on in the story but easily missed. But this is only part of the pleasure of 'The Christmas Appeal' - I enjoyed it as much for the brilliantly observed communications between Hallett's memorable cast of characters. There are plenty of cringeworthy round robins, passive aggressive e-mails and two-faced WhatsApp messages to relish; Sarah-Jane's blunt replies to timewasters remain a highlight this time round, and I almost cheered out loud at the return of another favourite character from 'The Appeal' midway through this installment.

This is a quick read which I devoured in a single sitting and was a most welcome early Christmas present. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.