THE SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR
WINNER OF THE 2022 CWA JOHN CREASEY NEW BLOOD DAGGER
ONE MURDER. FIFTEEN SUSPECTS. CAN YOU UNCOVER THE TRUTH?
There is a mystery to solve in the sleepy town of Lower Lockwood. It starts with the arrival of two secretive newcomers, and ends with a tragic death. Roderick Tanner QC has assigned law students Charlotte and Femi to the case. Someone has already been sent to prison for murder, but he suspects that they are innocent. And that far darker secrets have yet to be revealed...
Throughout the amateur dramatics society's disastrous staging of All My Sons and the shady charity appeal for a little girl's medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. The evidence is all there, waiting to be found. But will Charlotte and Femi solve the case? Will you?
'Agatha Christie for the 21st century' THE TIMES
'Witty, clever and completely addictive' MAIL ON SUNDAY
'Gripping, ambitious and unusual' SOPHIE HANNAH
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
