"𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂... 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆."

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒔, 𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 - 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆."

The Fairway Players are back at it again, with chaos, gossip and murder! This novella sequel to The Appeal is so much fun.

Janice Hallett continues to use the modern epistolary novel, told mostly through emails, text messages, and transcripts, to great effect. Knowing the characters of the Fairway Players means that it was easy to dive back into this format; I thoroughly enjoyed the chaos that surrounded them as they try to put on a Christmas pantomime - the snark between Sarah-Jane and Celia once again remain a highlight, alongside the drug mix-up as Kevin attempts to make things right. Hallett naturally introduces new characters, as new housing developments come to Lockwood; I especially liked Dustin. Once again, I loved that we didn't know who was dead and were piecing it alongside Charlotte and Femi. The short form allowed things to move at a brisk pace, and the clues didn't get convoluted. The mood is delightfully festive, even if the story leans more on the humour side than the mystery side.

The Christmas Appeal is a story of jealousy, control, status, gossip, and funny disasters. I loved reuniting with the Fairway Players (and getting an update on a certain convicted murderer). I wouldn't mind Hallett coming back to Lockwood again! Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun follow up to the Appeal. I loved the Christmas setting. What I love so much about Janice Hallett's writing is how funny she makes these characters and their interactions. Everything is so quietly funny in such a real way, because she's created these quirky characters that are incredibly realistic. The overall murder mystery was fun as well. I'd love to stay in this world with these characters and their plays.

Cute Christmas mystery with the same characters as the book The Appeal. I think it would make more sense if you read the appeal first. Good Christmas mystery though.

First I want to thank NetGalley, the publishing agency, and Janice Hallett for this e-arc! I’m a slower reader so I finished this after the publication date but nonetheless, this was a cute Christmas murder mystery novella! I didn’t realize before reading that there was a first book in the series but it didn’t matter too much! I really enjoyed the characters and plot of this book and the format was quite unique! After reading, I will definitely be picking up the first book in the series!

4.5 Stars rounded up I really enjoyed Janice Hallett's The Appeal and The Christmas Appeal was a delightful story. We are back in Lower Lockwood and the Fairway Players are preparing for the Christmas Pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk. Not being from the UK, I am not completely sure what a pantomime is, but it is really looked forward to by the residents, especially the children. The gist of the story is that during the performance, the beanstalk breaks open and a dead man in a Santa suit falls out. The audience thinks it is part of the show, but it is not. Lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with a chore to examine Christmas letters, emails, and police transcripts to identify both the victim and killer before the curtain closes on their holiday production. This will put their deductive skills to the test, keeping them sharp for their jobs.

This was another enjoyable and entertaining story from Janice Hallett. Although it was only a novella, it was a perfect story to read and/or listen to in an afternoon. In The Appeal, there were a lot of characters and using the epistolary format, I was confused at times. There were just the right number of characters and pieces of information to make this one easy to follow and fun to try and figure out. Of course, it was almost the end before I did that. With humor, interesting side stories (Illegal Sweets might be involved), missing actors and jealousy, it all comes together in a great Christmas read.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!

The Fairway Players are back at it! I found this book to be a bit hilarious compared to The Appeal lol communication between Kevin and Sarah-Jane really got funny at times!

This was a quick mystery read!

I wanted to wait to read both The Appeal & The Christmas Appeal as close to the holiday as possible. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. The Christmas Appeal is much shorter and funnier than the original. A bunch of the original characters returned in this book and it’s written in the same epistolary format of texts, emails, etc., with Femi and Charlotte trying to identify the victim and the killer.

This time, The Fairway Players are performing Jack and the Beanstalk to raise money to repair the church roof. There are, of course, rivalries and drama going on backstage, including a rumor that the old beanstalk is filled with asbestos. But everything is mostly kept under wraps until the performance…when a long dead body appears on stage, wearing a Santa suit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

The Christmas Appeal follows the Fairway Players as they put on their Christmas play. Someone is found dead and the goal is to figure out who is dead and who did it.

I love Janice Hallett's take on murder mysteries. She gives us the evidence and the goal is to try to solve it along with Femi and Charlotte. This makes for a fun, unique reading experience. I fell in love with her writing style in The Appeal and was so excited to be able to follow some of the same characters in another of her books.

The plot was enjoyable and funny. There were several points in the book where I laughed out loud. Though I had a fun time reading The Christmas Appeal, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Appeal. I found this storyline to be too rushed and chaotic. There was so much going on and not enough time to delve into all the different aspects of this book. I wish the book was a little bit longer with some more of Femi and Charlotte's discussions. Everything wrapped up very nicely in the end and all the evidence came together well.

I definitely still recommend reading it if you liked The Appeal and want to spend more time with those characters.

The Christmas Appeal is a fun Christmas-themed mystery novella.
It is told through the suspects' correspondence (texts/emails/etc..) while Lawyers Femi and Charlotte investigate what had already happened. The best part is that you the reader investigate along with the "detectives". If you have ever played one of those investigative mystery party games with some friends, it feels just like that. Femi and Charlotte pop in a few times to offer theories and guide you the reader but it's so fun to try and figure out what's happening along with them.
It is a spiritual sequel to the Appeal, but I did not read it before this and I was able to follow along pretty well. As long as you can accept that something happened before that gets alluded to onalu you will be fine. The events get referenced but they overall do not affect this story. Overall get all the information you need and to me, Hallett did a fantastic job of giving just enough information for you to solve but not too much that it was overwhelming and gave the ending away.
I had a great time and loved discovering and solving the mystery of the play. It was especially fun to not fully know what the crime was. I had fun and look forward to now reading the appeal, possibly even with my "book group" and spitballing off each other.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review

“The Christmas Appeal” by Janice Hallett is a gripping and clever holiday mystery that masterfully weaves a tale of deception, secrets, and long-buried truths. Set in the quaint village of Little Wesley, this intriguing novel follows amateur sleuth Katherine Roper as she investigates a cryptic appeal for help during the festive season.

Hallett’s writing skillfully creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere, only to have it disrupted by the ominous and puzzling events that unfold. The story is expertly layered with subtle clues and red herrings, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they accompany Katherine on her quest for the truth.

Katherine, the village’s former postmistress, is a delightful and relatable protagonist. Her inquisitive nature and genuine concern for the community make her the perfect amateur sleuth. Her interactions with the other villagers reveal the complex web of relationships and long-standing tensions within Little Wesley.

One of the standout aspects of “The Christmas Appeal” is its exploration of the intricacies of human relationships and the power of appearances. Hallett skillfully exposes the cracks beneath the seemingly idyllic village facade, revealing secrets and lies that have been hidden for years.

The supporting cast of characters adds depth to the narrative, showcasing the complexities of human nature. The character development is superb, making it easy to become invested in the lives of the villagers and their interconnected stories.

The pacing of the book is well-balanced, with each new revelation and twist expertly timed to keep the reader engaged. The mystery at the heart of the story is clever and intricate, making it challenging to predict the outcome.

In conclusion, “The Christmas Appeal” by Janice Hallett is a captivating and intricate holiday mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its skillfully crafted characters, masterful plot, and atmospheric setting, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre.

Always fun visiting Lockwood! I absolutely loved The Appeal and equally loved The Christmas Appeal! This one was full of chuckles with a fun mystery to solve. I really enjoy the way that these books are written though correspondence and e-mails. Makes it fun and keeps you on your toes! These are fun and easy reads and I hope that she will continue this series!

A fantastic festive mystery to read if you love a Christmassy book but don't like Hallmark or romance. I am not a huge mystery reader and even I had a blast reading this book!

I admittedly was not the biggest fan of the original The Appeal book aside from the modern epistolary style of writing. It was too long and there was nary a likable character in the whole cast. Despite my feelings of the original, I was excited to see a Christmas entry in the Fairway Players saga. I can never pass up a holiday/seasonal edition involving familiar characters and this one did not disappoint!

The length was perfect and the characters were a bit more likable (maybe the rose-colored lenses of the holiday season brought out the best in each of them?). I loved getting to see a bit more about the more minor characters from the original, such as Nick, Barry, and Harley, and I also found the entrance of a couple of new characters to be charming and unique. I will definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves a cozy mystery with a holiday setting - it was quick and charming and I had a hard time putting it down!

A fun Christmas mystery novella. It's told through texts, emails, and letters which adds to the mystery. There are sections that kind of sum up what is happening in the form of texts from one friend/lawyer to another and that was really helpful. A good holiday read!

In the community of Lower Lockwood, it is time for the annual tradition of the Christmas panto ("a loud, fun, enjoyable musical comedy theatre production" - according to an in-the-know website). The community has its own group of dedicated thespians, known as The Fairway Players. But even a small theatre group can see its share of petty jealousies, divas, and dictator-like behavior. But when things start to go wrong, someone needs to step up and take charge, right?
The Christmas play this year is Jack and the Beanstalk. Since money is tight - tighter than usual - so they're renting a very old, slightly run down beanstalk. But a rumor starts to spread that the reason the old set piece is taped up is because it's made with asbestos. The truth, though, is much worse. There's a body in there, well decomposed.

But what's a little mummification when there's a show that must go on? And how do you keep control over a cast that mistakes illegal drugs for the sweets intended for the children?

I am not familiar with author Janice Hallett, nor the first book in this series (The Appeal), but I was looking for something with a holiday theme, and as I've read some very good mysteries lately (even a few good cozy mysteries) I put this one on my Kindle. Unfortunately, it really didn't work for me.

First off is the style of storytelling. This entire story is told through a variety of short communications - tweets, WhatsApp messages, incident reports, and interview transcriptions. I've seen this kind of method before and I rarely find it enjoyable. It's very difficult to build to a climax when the method of telling changes (and it never builds here). Additionally, we have some odd timing issues. The bulk of the story is told through flashback, bookended by legal memos in the present day.

Perhaps because I hadn't read the previous book, but I didn't ever feel that I knew who these characters were other than one or two of the main people, and they seemed to be caricatures, or at best, stereotypes of community theater leaders who take their work much too seriously.

This is a cozy mystery, and for me a reminder of the kinds of cozies that I don't enjoy. The death of the victim is not part of the action of the book and in fact seems to be a minor part of the story. It's more a farce about keeping a play together when everything falls apart, but it wasn't funny or clever.

This didn't work for me.

Looking for a good book? Nothing appeals about The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

this one was not for me. The format was awful. It was ALL instant messages and emails so there was very little character development and made it hard for me to keep track of who was who without much context. I felt it dragged for such a short book.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review!

As a big fan of The Appeal, it was fun to revisit The Fairway Players theater group and all of their silly drama and hijinks, as they find themselves smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery.

Though technically a standalone, I’d say this novella is best read after The Appeal. The familiar epistolary format makes for another fun, fast-paced read.

Not particularly Christmas-y, unfortunately, but enjoyable nonetheless! Funny and cozy!

4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the review ecopy!

The Christmas Appeal was a great way to get back to Lower Lockwood, discovering new and old characters and getting to know what they had been up to in the last couple of years. I loved the new dynamics and the tension behind the scenes of the new Christmas production of the Fairway Players theatre group. And, of course, the looming sense of mystery. And the yummy, yummy pettiness. It really did hit the spot.

Unfortunately, I liked everything around the mystery except the mystery itself. This because (1) I had figured out the central people and pieces of the mystery quite early on; (2) within the book, the mystery itself was solved quite quickly, and I didn’t find the solution as satisfactory as in The Appeal; (3) I did not like the way Femi and Charlotte talked about the case, I found their explanations a bit too forced.

Despite the mystery in itself being a bit underwhelming, I read The Christmas Appeal in one sitting, glued to my reading chair, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would warmly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a distraction in this dreary weather!

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Any reader who enjoyed Hallett’s The Appeal will undoubtedly be thrilled by the return of the Fairway Players. This time they are working on a Christmas panto, Jack and the Beanstalk (and oh, that stalk!) Once again, there is trouble ahead in this uniquely told tale.

Two young attorneys, known to readers of the first book, are given a series of documents and asked to figure out what evil deed(s) may have transpired. Readers can try to solve the case as they read the documents along with Femi and Charlotte.

I loved the snarkiness of aspects of this novella. Anyone who has ever gotten an overly braggy Christmas letter from a friend or family member will grimace in recognition at the one that starts the story. The responses to it are pretty funny.

Those who enjoy Christmas mysteries and who are looking for a quick read will, I think, enjoy this book. I did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this title. All opinions are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy.

This novella was so much fun! The over the top drama coming from a small town theater group was just a riot. I laughed more than I thought I would and found myself highly entertained! The story did have an Agatha Christie feel, and I’d for sure describe this as a cozy mystery.

This novella stems from the original book, The Appeal. I have not read it, but I had no problem following this story. However, it does make me wonder what I missed. The Appeal is now officially on my TBR!

I loved that the story was told via emails, texts, and online messenger chats. This was a unique was to read the story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!