"The Christmas Appeal" really is a gift (admittedly, one you have to pay for yourself) for those who enjoyed Janice Hallett’s "The Appeal". All the characters from the original book who could come back (i.e. not dead or incarcerated), have done so and there is a festive murder mystery to solve.

Yes, the format which worked so well for "The Appeal" can feel a little strained at times but where "The Appeal" was humorous in parts, "The Christmas Appeal" is laugh out loud funny.
For fans of Janice Hallett, this is the perfect post-Christmas dinner relaxing-in-the-armchair winddown book for when you have had enough of TV/mince pies/family and there is a distinct temptation to formulate a murder. Hopefully "The Christmas Appeal" will be enough to distract you, rather than inspire you…

We're back with The Fairway Players, this time as they prepare to put on a one off panto show of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise money for the church hall roof. As with The Appeal, the (now retired) Roderick Tanner QC gives lawyers Femi and Charlotte a series of emails, messages and interview transcripts to look through to solve a mysterious murder.

I loved The Appeal and how it was written, I was so engrossed in the book and flew through it, despite its size. The Christmas Appeal is a lot more concise, being a novella, so if the idea of the non-traditional format of emails, messages and documents sounds daunting, then this could be a good place to start. It took a little bit for me to get back into the case of characters but once I had them in place, it was easy enough to keep track of. The storyline and the characters is a bit OTT, almost caricatures, which I think just adds to the humour. I laughed out loud several times, as I can just imagine the characters in this small town and the politics within the group.

As a murder mystery goes, this isn't a thriller. It's more a cosy, humorous crime. It's very low stakes, I think this falls more into a humour story than crime story. If you loved The Appeal, then you'll definitely enjoy this little peek into what the characters have been up to since then.

As its predecessor, The Appeal, this seasonal sequel is told through a collection of documents, interview transcripts, text messages and emails being analysed as a training or developmental exercise by lawyers Femi and Charlotte at the instruction of their mentor.

Gradually the source documents begin to reveal a picture: one of competitive rivalry between would-be leaders of the Fairway Players which leads to attempted sabotage; one of oblivious incompetence and miscommunication that results in criminal activity; and an unexpected body that was never meant to be part of the panto.

Readers of The Appeal will be pleased to see many of the same characters returning here (some can’t due to death, imprisonment and other obvious reasons!) and the format Janice Hallett uses in both stories allows for a really interesting narrative, highlighting the gaps between what is communicated, perceived, believed and the actual truth. In this piecemeal perspective, everyone becomes an unreliable narrator as no one (but Femi, Charlotte and the reader) has the full story.

I love the whole idea of these books and really enjoy reading them, but the chosen format does also have the effect of distancing the reader from the characters and making all of them appear somewhat unpleasant, idiotic or, at best, innocently foolish. While not detracting at all from the plot, the lack of connection to the main players does restrict my emotional engagement with the story and made me a little indifferent to the outcome for them all.

Regardless, I would still read more of these novels on the basis that they are well-written and the unique hook makes them a fun, light murder-mystery read.

Janice Hallett’s books are very unique and accessible, told purely through documents such as emails, texts and transcripts. The Christmas Appeal is set in the same village of Lockwood with some recurring characters from The Appeal, but could easily be read as a stand alone. This was right up my street with the village drama and pantomime!

It’s a bit of a predictable whodunnit, but as it’s short it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. My one gripe with The Appeal was it’s length, so this felt perfect. It wasn’t drawn out and kept me engaged.

A fun, festive read to end the year - would recommend popping on the audiobook whilst putting up the tree as I did! It’s only 3.5 hrs long and has a great cast. (NB ended up listening to the audio as it was already published by December - great production)

Fantastic as per usual. Janice has honed the kind of writing style that makes you want to jump right into the story.

This was a great festive check in on the character from Hallet's first novel The Appeal.

Fun and short, perfect for curling up by the fireplace with the Christmas tree lights in the background. Such a quick read, it can be read in one sitting.

If you're looking for a good mystery with a sense of community and lots of humour I highly recommend this series.

The Fairway Players take to the stage once more in this festive themed novella which returns to the cast of Janice Hallett's 2021 hit The Appeal. This time, they're putting on a pantomime but rather predictably, tensions are building, emails are whizzing through cyberspace and there are more mysteries afoot. Roderick Tanner may now be retired but he still has a stack of evidence for young lawyers Femi and Charlotte to sift through. Looking over their shoulder, the reader too must try to work out what kind of a mess the Fairway Players have gotten themselves into this time. A festive special at its most snarky and snide.

Naturally, the events of The Appeal necessitated an unfortunate regime change amidst the drama group. Hallett makes little effort to explain the unpleasantness but readers would be better off having read the first book already. The Haywards are gone and now Sarah-Jane is in charge although not all are contented with her leadership. She needs this year's pantomime to be a hit and will stop at nothing to make it so, even if it means dragging out a gigantic antique old fibreglass beanstalk to serve as prop. Never mind that it smells a bit and may possibly contain asbestos.

Times have changed in the local area with the development in Hayward Heights and the affordable housing around it. There are incomers of both the desirable and undesirable varieties. Still, most of the cast do return and it was nice to see the old faces again. I would have loved to hear more though concerning the ultimate fate of the Haywards after their stunning fall from grace.

Like all good Christmas farce stories, everything that could go wrong with the production does. I read the email sequence around this while on a bus and had a hard time containing the giggles. Hallett has a definite for compelling narrative - after I got off the bus and had to abandon the story until later in the day, it remained at the back of my mind. However, as with the first book, I was left feeling slightly dissatisfied with the ultimate resolution.

This one feels more like a festive stocking-filler than Hallett having an honest desire to return to the Fairway Players. Still, Hallett has a strong enough gift for combining comedy and crime that it barely matters. Let's just enjoy the high-kicking Christmas special and hope that next time things go a little smoother on opening night - the Devil works hard but Sarah-Jane works harder. I hope the poor woman catches a break soon!

A sequel to The Appeal, this novel returns to The Fairway Players with a whole new mystery, this time centred around the Christmas pantomime. In the same format as the previous novels, the book is made up of text messages, emails and WhatsApp chats between all the key characters. Whilst not as ingenious as the first novel, this is still a hugely entertaining read.

This is a light hearted, funny, short Christmas read- perfect for a cold afternoon and evening! It follows the fairway players panto season- new politics, new members and lots and lots of sarcastic, passive-aggressive emails and messages.
It's an easy read although there are a LOT of characters and i frequently was a bit vague on who was who. However it didn't spoil it at all. This is a great whodunit!

I loved revisiting these characters. This is such a good little glimpse after the events of the appeal, the club is putting on a panto!

Some parts made me laugh out loud, I love everything this author has written.

Thank you so much for granting my wish so I could read this!!

A return to the characters and setting of The Appeal- the world of amateur dramatics is rocked once again when a body is found to disrupt the Christmas pantomime.
Highly entertaining and extremely funny- definitely worth reading if you want Christmas fiction with a difference.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I really enjoyed this. A quick, fun whodunnit epistolary novella based around a pantomime, with murder, drug deals and the general bitchiness of a group of people!

Book Review: The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett is a delightful and immersive holiday caper that follows the uproarious antics of the Fairway Players theater group as they endeavor to put on a Christmas play and unravel a murder mystery that threatens to derail their production.

Set in the festive atmosphere of Lower Lockwood, the story revolves around the amateur theater enthusiasts of the Fairway Players who are fervently rehearsing for their holiday production of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise funds for a new church roof. However, amidst the holiday cheer, tensions simmer among the group due to petty rivalries, a suspicious beanstalk, and perennially absent players.

The plot thickens with the discovery of a dead body onstage, prompting lawyers Femi and Charlotte to launch their investigation. As they delve into Christmas letters, scrutinize emails, and pore over police transcripts, they race against time to unmask the victim and the killer before it's curtains for their holiday production.

The book's cover is undeniably stunning, drawing readers into its festive world. Hallett's storytelling prowess shines through in this novel, eliciting frequent bursts of laughter from readers. The unique narrative style, conveyed entirely through emails and messages, adds an innovative twist to the storytelling, although it may require some adjustment for first-time readers. Nevertheless, the novella format makes it an accessible and enjoyable option for readers seeking a lighthearted yet engaging read.

In conclusion, The Christmas Appeal is a captivating and entertaining read that seamlessly blends humor, mystery, and holiday charm. With its engaging narrative style and uproarious plot, it is a perfect choice for those seeking a whimsical holiday-themed escapade. Hallett's adept storytelling ensures that this novella is a superlative choice for an enjoyable and laughter-filled read during the festive season.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Christmas wishes really do come true…if a festive dose of murder and mystery is top of your list!

When I saw THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL first announced, Christmas had definitely come early! I was very lucky to be invited to Janice and Viper’s special Christmas party at Harrogate in the summer and I remember Janice saying that writing this book was like returning to old friends. I can confirm as a reader, it felt exactly the same! I loved being back in the gloriously back-stabbing company of the Fairway Players, feeling like I was snooping in their private affairs and overhearing their intimate conversations. For anyone that loves being a bit nosy, this is the book for you! It’s so much fun trying to piece everything together from snippets of messages. The mystery is really well constructed (as readers, we can expect nothing less from Hallett), but it’s also the wry humour and perfect social commentary that makes this book so hugely appealing (terrible pun intended 😉). Whilst I was frantically trying to work out what the truth was alongside Charlotte and Femi, I was also laughing out loud at the passive-aggressive emails Celia is continually sending, Sarah-Jane’s hilarious exchanges with her husband Kevin, and the two-faced nature of all of Emma’s communication! Hallett really taps into the small town mentality again and creates such a realistic atmosphere you could be forgiven for thinking you were reading a true crime book.

I don’t want to reveal too much of the plot, so I won’t go into too much detail. What I will say is that this book is full of surprises! Alongside the humour and the cracking mystery, there’s also a fascinating exploration of family, social prejudices, and social hierarchies. Hallett draws on her own experiences of being involved in amateur dramatics and creates a really plausible sense of the politics and in-house rivalry. It’s dramatic in all the right ways! If you’ve enjoyed any of Hallett’s other books or you’re a fan of mixed media novels, you’re guaranteed to love THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL!

So, put on a bit of Bing or Mariah (whatever floats your boat!), light that open fire and crack open those chestnuts…Christmas is here 🎄🎅🏻

An absolutely hilarious murder mystery featuring much of the cast of The Appeal. This can be read as a standalone, but I think you'll get more out of it if you've read the first book.

Another little cracker, just in time for Christmas.

Having read all previous books by Janice Hallett I was looking forward to a return to the world of community panto. Characters from The Appeal return and a new story unfolds.

Whilst the best ever Jack and the Beanstalk is being planned by Sarah-Jane, unexpected plot twists are being concocted by Celia yet no-one could ever have imagined the surprise visitor to the stage.

New cast members are introduced and our old faithfuls revisited adding new layers to the complexity of small town life.

I love how these books are written, through text messages, correspondence and police interviews and can’t wait for the next book to arrive!

Thank you for the ARC.
Having read the Appeal this was a must read.
Fun Christmas panto story with a twist. I enjoyed and would give 3.5 🌟 as it fell a bit flat in places for me, but I enjoyed it so have rounded to 4 🌟 it is nearly Christmas!

I really liked this book, the only downside was that it was super short, which is why it missed out on 5 stars. I could definitely have kept reading! Loved that it was set around a pantomime it made it Christmassy but not too much! Characters were great, love the style of the book with conversations being via WhatsApp and email.

What a first Christmas read off the year, this had the pace, the mystery and the laughs with the ReD, Green & Brown SWEETS !!! The Appeal remains in my head rent free ever since reading and my this shall go along side it, the layout of the information in different formats is a cognitive puzzle without being completely abstract or complex to follow the story line. I personally enjoyed the links back to the first book as a little reminder of it. Janice Hallett dose it again !!!!

I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Femi and Charlotte have been tasked with studying another case which involves the Fairway Players. This time the Fairway Players are putting on the pantomime Jack In The Beanstalk at the local church hall to raise money for the church roof. A body is discovered and it is Charlotte and Femi’s job to work out who the body is and why they died.

The story once again is told via emails and WhatsApp messages. I have always really enjoyed a multimedia format. The story is entertaining and is told with humour. This is just the type of story I love to read at Christmastime. Janice Hallett has become one of my favourite authors.