The Appeal
The smash-hit bestseller
-
-
3.8 • 40 Ratings
-
-
- $7.99
-
- $7.99
Publisher Description
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
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At the start of British journalist, playwright, and screenwriter Hallett's ingeniously plotted debut, two young lawyers face a Herculean challenge: blitzing through almost two years of emails, texts, and messages so they can assist with an appeal brief due within days. Initially, the communications among members of a London area amateur theater group seem unremarkable, even banal. But things get real when troupe leader Martin Hayward shares that his two-year-old granddaughter, Poppy, has been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor—for which the only hope is an astronomically expensive experimental drug. Though plans for the show proceed, an urgent appeal to raise funds for Poppy's treatment takes center stage. As contributions climb and someone ends up dead, Hallett skillfully lays an intricate and twisty trail of bread crumbs that leads to half a dozen suspects, which should delight those eager for the opportunity to sift through the evidence. For others, however, reading this murder mystery may feel more like attempting to solve a large jigsaw puzzle without a picture for guidance. Either way, Hallett remains a writer to watch.
Customer Reviews
Great writ?
2.5 stars
Author
British. Former journalist, magazine editor and government communications writer turned playwright and screenwriter. This is her first novel.
Premise
Male barrister considering an appeal in a murder case for which someone has been jailed sets two young female law students the task of sifting through extensive written materials (emails, direct messaging, letters) to see if they can work out whodunnit (among 15 suspects!)
Setting
Small town England, late 2010’s
Plot
A prominent family dominates local affairs, including a community theatre group that is preparing to stage a new production At the same time, an infant child of one of the daughters is diagnosed with medulloblastoma. The family is unable to accept that the child’s cancer is treatable but not curable with available therapy. The oncologist mentions an experimental agent recently developed in the USA, which shows promise but is—surprise, surprise—eye-wateringly expensive. The community rallies around with fund raising efforts, which proceed relatively well considering how many different personal agendas are in play. After the students narrow things down suspect-wise, the barrister supplies extra information he has been withholding (he’s lucky he didn’t get murdered as well) to “get them over the line.”
Characters
Put your thinking caps on. There’s plenty of them. Character development is necessarily limited as a result, as well as by the fact the author is on a mission is to misguide.
Prose
Modern day epistolary novel whose rapidly alternating perspectives smack strongly of screenplay. Remembering which character is which when they’re identified by a name in a header rather than a face on a screen is challenging. I would have expected more direct messages and less e mails IRL. (More abbrev’s and emojis too, although those would likely have made the narrative even harder to follow.)
Bottom line
Interesting idea, but the execution (sorry) left something to be desired. Learned colleagues may disagree.
Different and interesting
A whodunnit told (almost) exclusively through emails and texts sent between the various characters. Reminiscent in form of The Documents in the Case by Dorothy Sayers. A good read, hard to put down.
Yes, great read couldn’t put down!
High enjoyable read that is worthy of its praise!