I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the world of the Fairway Players and their silliness in the world of crime!

So I have read everything by Janice Hallett now and she's one of my favourites for her innovative way of presenting evidence of a crime and showing the people we see in everyday life as the silly people they really are!

We're back with the amateur dramatic society again, this time when they are putting on a panto and something bad happens with the giant beanstalk they have on stage. A mixture of different media, like emails and messages are again shared with Charlotte and Femi, two trainee solicitors who have been given this evidence by their mentor as a training exercise. Can they work out what crime has been committed and by whom? What will be done about it?

I think my favourite thing was being back in the world of silly characters again, where we read messages between characters that seem genuine or a round robin letter you might receive detailing all the excellent things a family has been up to, and then the next minute you see a back stabbing text and we know what people really think! Passive aggressive, petty and full of self importance, even if you're not part of an amateur dramatic society you'll recognise these people from your local PTFA or any community get together!

A lot of fun for Christmas, I'd highly recommend 😊

As Christmas approaches what could be better than re-visiting the Fairway Players as they stage their annual pantomime?
Of course, things aren’t running as smoothly as they could, Sarah-Jane and Kevin McDonald are now co-chairs and determined to put on the best panto ever, while Celia and Joel Halliday are determined to undermine their effort in every way possible.Many of the old gang are here, with some great new faces sprinkled in. In the meantime Roderick Taylor has tasked Femi and Charlotte with solving another mystery that occurred during the pantomime so everything we read is in the form of transcripts and emails. It’s a very clever form of writing, and Janice Hallett’s trademark. The skill here is to give us a novella with as much brilliant characterisation, attention to detail and a proper whodunnit as a far longer piece of work. I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Appeal, laughed out loud several times ( shouldn’t have read it on the tube!) and I think I may well read it again as the festive season gets closer - it will certainly make its way into a few stockings!

I really enjoyed this! It was fun to revisit the characters from The Appeal and see how they handle another murder mystery

3.5 rounded to 4.

As always I really appreciated the format in the way that this was written! I enjoyed it! It was a little teaser to get Christmas season kicking off and I just love how Hallett forms and tells a story!

I still love this world and Halletts writing style. The wittiness, the banter, the arguments and the twisty storyline that makes you doubt your own thoughts. I shall forever read her books.

I was a little disappointed that Izzy wasn't really featured in this book because she was my favourite in The Appeal. That said it was still a brilliant read and one I have recommended to everyone. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy.

The Fairway Players are about to put on their annual pantomime but there is dissent and rivalry within the ranks. When a dead body emerges from Jack's Beanstalk, a murder investigation ensues.
I know that Hallett is a very popular writer but when I first read one of her books I just didn't get it at all. Therefore I thought I'd try again with this very short festive themed book. Told in an epistolatory manner, this is a mash-up of high farce, nostalgic slapstick and with a mystery hidden deep inside. Yes, it was amusing in places but, to be honest, it did nothing for me. I know the writer has legions of fans so I will emphasise that this is a personal opinion only!

Returning to Lower Lockwood & the characters of The Appeal is like putting your snuggly slippers on. Comforting & cosy, quite appropriate for the title & time of year.

The Fairway Players are front & centre once more with a raft of messages to decipher, be they emails, WhatsApp exchanges or texts etc. Alongside which, Jack & the Beanstalk must be performed using some old props…

Due to the writing style these books are easy to dip in & out of but this one is really short at just over 200 pages. Perfect as a stocking filler for any budding amateur sleuth.

✨ My Thoughts ✨

I’ve read every one of Janice’s books so I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this one and see if I could solve the mystery myself and of course get back involved with the Fairwyay Players.

It’s fair to say I couldn’t solve the mystery because it was such a shocker.

The story had me laughing out loud.

It’s such a funny read and when you think of all the backstabbing and sly comments some players make to each other via email and texts it gets you thinking of what more could be at play?.

It’s the Perfect Christmas mystery.

Now I am not a big Christmas fan but that doesn’t mean I wont tuck into a christmas themed book especially one that comes highly recommended by several people that have been responsible for my ever increasing TBR pile and I can honestly say that I have never laughed so much at a book in my life. The Christmas Appeal follows the Fairway Players in the run up to their annual Christmas Panto and there is as much drama off the stage as there is on it. Now as a child I was involved in a local group that put on similar productions each year and although I was young, I am pretty sure our group was a little more sedate and organised that the Fairway Players seem to be.
Janice Hallett has written the book as a string of emails, text messages and Christmas newsletters. It is this that makes it unique and feel quite pacy. The reader gets quite an insight into some of the members of the group, showing a sense of entitlement and inner snobbery to such an extreme that you cant help but laugh at the stupidity of the seemingly intelligent group and to a certain extent everything that happens is possibly no less than they deserve.
This in not just about the panto though and there is a surprise or two that no one quite expects (although the kids in the audience love it) and the aftermath of it manages to provide a final twist in what you think you know. If you are looking for a christmas book that is slightly different from the norm and will bring a smile to your face then I would 100% recommend this is added to your list.

A contemporary, festive murder mystery revisits Lower Lockwood, revealing a unique blend of gossip, prejudices and secrets. A retired barrister and his two former pupils judge the events and face a moral dilemma once they realise the truth.
This story has many levels, from the mundane to the secretive, revealed through electronic media. Set against the rehearsals and performance of the annual pantomime, the story plays out with an unexpected body, plot twists and numerous suspects.

The unusual and distinctive writing style is addictive reading. It also encapsulates the pantomime ethos. I like the believably flawed characters, the festive setting and the clever use of contemporary writing tools.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the second book I have read by this author and I can’t wait to enjoy many more.

I devoured this book, it was so fast paced and the story was so enticing I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely follow on from The Appeal. To feel like you know the characters I think its best read as a follow up rather than a stand alone.

The joy in the book is going back to these characters. The mystery feels very risk light and I felt like it played farcical humour well, even if there were some in The Fairfield Players snotty about Farce as a genre.

Its a short one, but a fun, light read with a festive spice for fans of The Appeal to return to Lockwood.

If you enjoyed The Appeal, then this is going to be the perfect festive read for you.

Back with the Fairway Players as they attempt to put on an ambitious pantomime.

There’s a power struggle going on, gossiping and snarky comments galore. There’s costume disasters, an enormous beanstalk that causes havoc, casting issues and rehearsal dramas.

Through emails and transcripts of WhatsApp conversations and texts, the conflicts and secrets of the Fairway Players are revealed.

The night of the performance arrives and it is chaotic and fun and a bit bonkers. And then Santa turns up! Who is he? And how has a body ended up in a beanstalk?

I think this will work better for a British audience who understand the humour and traditions of pantomime. It also probably wouldn’t work as a standalone – there’s definitely an assumption that the reader is familiar with Fairway world.

I really enjoyed this. It’s like meeting up with old friends. Janice Hallett can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned!

Thank you to Netgalley for my gifted digital copy of The Christmas Appeal.

I really enjoyed The Appeal by Janice Hallett so I was excited to read the next instalment. The Christmas Appeal was such a lovely, humorous and quirky read that I utterly loved. The length was perfect, not too drawn out and I managed to read it in one sitting. A whole host of fabulous characters with great personalities. I really enjoyed catching up with The Fairway Players. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

I loved the original Appeal. It was cleverly wrought, the characters were all too recognisable and the format worked perfectly with the tension (and humour) of the content. I was nice to revisit the socially conscious and bumptious people of the Fairway players with all their in-fighting and self-importance. This time a new regime in place following the scandal of the original book and not everyone is happy about the new leadership, though they’d never say it to Sarah-Jane. We know that something dark is in the wings because once again Roderick Tanner, KC (now retired) has been in touch with his erstwhile protegees Femi and Charlotte with all the snide emails, texts and flyers that make these stories such a hoot. With theatrical infighting, missing cast members, a giant beanstalk and a body in the wings Hallett has created a fun sequel with a Christmas flair as the Fairway Players set upon staging a pantomime like the world depends on it. Sure, it’s more of a fun return to a familiar setting and characters than a proper sequel but it’s very entertaining and with just enough heart, moral ambiguity and tension to make it a worthy partner to the original hit novel.

If you loved The Appeal then you will love this one!

The Fairway Players find themselves in a kerfuffle again whilst organising this years panto. Struggles with casting, mix up with sweeties and a clear power conflict within the group. It’s drama filled!

Once again the drama is told through emails, text messages, interview transcripts etc. It’s a short story, an easy read full of laughter. Hallett just does characters soooo well, her skill at having characters come to life (especially when using correspondence to tell a story) is fascinating.

A brilliant read at Christmas time, I would definitely recommend and it’s out now!

Unfortunately, this was not for me and I quickly dropped the book and DNF.

I had two main problems with the text.
First, apparently there was an earlier mystery that introduced the characters and setting, and which I had never heard of. I found it hard to understand who everybody was and their relationships, and since nobody seemed very likeable, I wasn’t interested in trying to get up to speed either.
Second, I really struggled with the plot being told via emails. I couldn’t even begin to fathom who was lying, when, who hated who or what it was all about, so I quickly gave up.

However, other reviewers who had read the earlier novel loved this, and you might too. It’s mainly a question if you like the way the story is told.

I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

We’re back in Lockwood with the Fairway players and what a welcome return it is. I absolutely loved this book, it had me laughing out loud and as always Hallett’s format of emails/texts and newspaper reports lends a fast paced tone to the novella. I wanted a full book it was so bloody good. More please!

I read this in one sitting and am glad that I did, it was a good novella to follow the very popular previous novel from Hallett.

Whilst it was lovely to be back with the characters we know from The Appeal the mystery itself was very clearly signposted from the start and didn't hold the same twists and turns as the first novel, I also found the interactions between Femi and Charlotte (the 'investigators') a little forced and their dialogue seemed out of character from the previous installment.

Overall a good festive read and anyone who enjoyed the first book will likely enjoy dipping back into this.