*** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ***
*** WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH ***
*** THE SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH ***
'This dazzlingly clever cosy crime novel completely trumps Richard Osman. A modern Agatha Christie' - SUNDAY TIMES
'This is a case you're about to become obsessed with. A triumph' - ALEX NORTH
'Very different but very satisfying. I thoroughly recommend The Appeal' - ELLY GRIFFITHS
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In a town full of secrets...
Someone was murdered.
Someone went to prison.
And everyone's a suspect.
Can you uncover the truth?
Dear Reader - enclosed are all the documents you need to solve a case. It starts with the arrival of two mysterious newcomers to the small town of Lockwood, and ends with a tragic death.
Someone has already been convicted of this brutal murder and is currently in prison, but we suspect they are innocent. What's more, we believe far darker secrets have yet to be revealed.
Throughout the Fairway Players' staging of All My Sons and the charity appeal for little Poppy Reswick's life-saving medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. Yet we believe they gave themselves away. In writing. The evidence is all here, between the lines, waiting to be discovered.
Will you accept the challenge? Can you uncover the truth?
The standout debut thriller of 2021 that delivers multiple brilliant twists, and will change the way you think about the modern crime novel.
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'Gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach' - SOPHIE HANNAH
'A daring debut... Hallett will soon have you laughing out loud' - THE TIMES
'A brilliantly fresh, ingenious and original whodunnit. So, so good' - INDIA KNIGHT
'Extremely addictive, it will reel you in, one piece of evidence at a time' - ALEX PAVESI
'Takes the whodunnit to a whole new level. A rare feat' - ELIZABETH HAYNES
'Fiendishly clever and totally gripping' - CASS GREEN
'A cracking book. Fresh, original and very clever' - MEL SHERRATT
What a unique way to tell a mystery story. You have all the communications between the characters and no detective, sleuth or lawyer to guide you through. You, the reader, have to put the pieces together. I'll admit that I figured out one part of the mystery and not the other!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Colder seasons always put me in a thriller mood – anyone else? The latest novel on my thriller binge is The Appeal, which is actually a very different read than usual. It's why I picked it. Written by Janice Hallet, the novel is a series of documents and collected curios than a linear novel, and I couldn't resist.
The Appeal consists of a series of documents, including e-mails, texts, and message board posts, revolving around the Fairway Players' Staging of All My Sons. That in itself is not the exciting part or the purpose of this collection.
The truth is hidden inside these documents – revealing critical information about the death of one of the characters involved. The trick is finding that information before it is too late.
It's been a hot minute since I read an epistolary mystery, so I'm thrilled that The Appeal came across my desk. On that note, I'll be the first to admit that this is not a book for everyone. If you don't like experimental formats, or reading a collection of faux documents, then this might not be your cup of tea. However, if you enjoy picking up your sleuthing cap to try and solve a mystery on your own...well, that makes you the perfect candidate for The Appeal.
The Appeal is about two young lawyers sifting through a jumble of documents in hopes of discovering the truth surrounding a suspicious death. That would be the death of one of the Fairway Players' crewmates, to be precise.
It gets a little convoluted and twisty at times, but the puzzle pieces are available for readers to discover. So if you're looking for a mystery to solve, consider checking out The Appeal.
Thanks to Viper and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
