Janice Hallett's 'The Appeal' is one of my favourite mystery novels ever - a hilarious, ingenious and unputdownable whodunnit set in the cutthroat world of amateur dramatics. In 'The Christmas Appeal', we once again meet the Fairway Players, as Roderick Tanner KC presents young lawyers Femi and Charlotte with another dossier of messages to investigate.

It is December 2022 and the Fairway Players are preparing for their Christmas pantomime - an 'authentic' production of Jack and the Beanstalk using a 1970s script. It doesn't take long to sense that there is discord between the 'power couple', co-chairs Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald, and their rivals Celia Halliday and her husband Joel (OBE). The MacDonalds are hoping the production will be a big success and raise lots of money to repair the church hall roof, but the Hallidays don't want anything to overshadow their own 'triumphant production' Glengarry Glen Ross.

Tanner keeps Femi and Charlotte guessing what the mystery will be - does it have something to do with the enormous beanstalk last used 30 years ago? Or the nice new couple who auditioned for parts in the panto and haven't been seen or heard from since? What about the rumours that a convicted murderer is on the loose in Lockwood? And why exactly is there so much correspondence about the sweets Sarah-Jane is trying to procure for Santa to give out?

As with all Hallett's novels, the solution, when revealed, is immensely satisfying and hinges on a number of clues which are cleverly planted earlier on in the story but easily missed. But this is only part of the pleasure of 'The Christmas Appeal' - I enjoyed it as much for the brilliantly observed communications between Hallett's memorable cast of characters. There are plenty of cringeworthy round robins, passive aggressive e-mails and two-faced WhatsApp messages to relish; Sarah-Jane's blunt replies to timewasters remain a highlight this time round, and I almost cheered out loud at the return of another favourite character from 'The Appeal' midway through this installment.

This is a quick read which I devoured in a single sitting and was a most welcome early Christmas present. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I raced through this book, there is something comforting about Christmas in August.
Once again Janice Hallet has written another stonker of a book. Seeing and reading about the Fairway Players’ and their past exploits always brings an unbridled joy. I read this book in less than a day, THAT’s how brilliant it is. I implore everyone to read it and love it!
Well done, Janice.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book long before publication. If I could award it a whole galaxy of stars ⭐️ I would. Such a fantastic achievement and book. Merry Christmas 🎄

In her acknowledgements, Hallett refers to writing this book as meeting back up with old friends and that is definitely how it felt to me.

Anyone who has read The Appeal will be familiar with The Fairway Players and their internal politics. At just over 200 pages, this is a quickly devoured novella, and it reads much quicker given that the majority of the novel is told through emails, WhatsApps, transcripts etc.

If you enjoyed The Appeal, you will love this too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, Viper for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this return to the antics of the Fairways Players. The perfect festive read that can be read as a standalone novel but has all the characters I enjoyed in 'The Appeal". I read it in one sitting and was chuckling and laughing out as I read the passive aggressive mesages and hilarious amateur dramatic pantomine of Jack and the Beanstalk. This is a really fun read with a clever mystery I enjoyed trying to unravel. I'm really impressed with the way the personalities of each character is conveyed so well eventhough this is a relatively short read. The perfect read to go in your Christmas stocking.

I loved this novella. Janice Hallett brings back “The Fairway Players” for another mystery. I loved “The Appeal” and was very happy to see the characters again, along with new residents. This novella is written in messages and emails just like previous books and from the perspective of two police officers investigating the case.

I read this in one evening. An absolute page turner with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Janice Hallett at her best.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viper Books for the ARC

I think I let out a little squeal when I saw this read was available to me, after the huge success of the original read.

This one doesn't disappoint either.

Packed with just as much drama off the stage as on. As a member of a local am dram company this is scarily accurate and makes for fun reading.

It takes a while for the action to get going, which was surprising for such a short read. That being said it didn't put me off, and it was glorious being with characters with that sense of familiarity again.

A thrilling read, oh yes it is!

Having read and loved The Appeal, this was a must read. The plot is presented in the same way as the original (text messages/ WhatsApp messages/ letters) and centres around another event with the Fairway players. Pacy, twisty and fun!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I devoured it in one sitting, it was a fabulous read that I will be recommending to everyone that I know.

I love Janice Hallet’s style of writing and The Appeal was fabulous so I couldn’t wait to read this novella. Again there’s a mystery associated with The Fairway Players which has many of the original members with some new ones too. The communication continues to be occasionally bitchy and hilarious especially as there’s competition for leading the group and I read through this far too quickly I loved it so much. The mystery was really well thought out and I liked the degree of ambiguity of the ending, this is a worthy sequel which will be much enjoyed by many.

Omg Janice hallet does it again I read this book in one sitting and adored it I could not put it down. I love the writing style and the way the book is told. This authors style is very engaging and can't wait to get my physical copy to annotate and see if I can pick up on clues

What a wonderful, ingenious novel! And now I'm off to read 'The Appeal' straight away for more shenanigans in the company of the Fairway Players.

Anyway, on with the review before I delve in.
'The Christmas Appeal' acts as a follow-up to 'The Appeal' but it is not necessary to have read the first book in order to enjoy our Christmas whodunit. But considering how much I laughed while reading 'The Christmas Appeal', I would recommend reading both, ASAP!
'The Christmas Appeal' is a contemporary, cosy mystery mystery, set in the feverish and amusing world of amateur dramatics with The Fairway Players'. The story is introduced by one Roderick Tanner KC who provides his junoir colleagues with a detailed collection of messages (voicemail recordings, texts and emails). Femi and Charlotte are now tasked with reviewing the dossier contents and determine "whodunit".
This dossier actually forms the bulk of the novel as the reader, reads along with our two lawyers, and try to investigate what really happened. While I've come across other novels that have used the inclusion of articles, emails to great effect, (for example the fab Cara Hunter does this), it did take a few pages to settle into the novel and sensibly Hallett has included a "Who's Who", to help the reader interpret the connections between the characters.
Tanner has refused to provide Femi and Charlotte with the background to the murder, and instructs them to investigate, solely using the dossier - avoiding any influence from his knowledge and allowing them to make the same discoveries as the reader.
With such an enjoyable tale, there is a tendency to speed through the passages (and certainly the combination of texts, emails etc makes this very easy to do), but I would advise taking a slower pace. There is an extensive cast of characters and so many interactions that the reader risks missing a valuable clue to the "Whodunit", or even some of the numerous jokes packed into the text. With committee members involving themselves in complex political machinations (or to put it bluntly, trying to stab in each in the back on a near constant basis), anyone who has ever spent time in a committee will enjoy recognising personalities and traits. I found myself identifying some characters/behaviours from real-life scenarios.
The level of 'one up man ship' leads to lots of laugh out loud moments.

Janice Hallett has such a fantastic way of making me feel nostalgic towards people I’ve never even met.

The Fairway Players are a mysterious amateur dramatic group with more than one of them hiding a secret. Written in the same style as Halletts earlier work - the story is told through a variety of correspondence alternating between text messages, emails, and police witness statements. All of which will keep you guessing until the very end.

The subtle nods to characters from the previous book provided some much needed closure for a nosey Parker like me.

I've loved Janice Hallett's previous works and this really didn't disappoint. We're back in the company of the Fairway Players, who featured in The Appeal, and this time they're putting on a pantomime to raise money for a new church roof. Naturally an unexpected discovery means turmoil and a mystery to be solved - again the story is told through emails and texts between the Players themselves and the lawyers looking into the case. I absolutely raced through the book, it's a quick read and very, very funny - it had me laughing out loud on many occasions. A great read, especially for the build up to Christmas.
Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in return for an honest review #NetGalley #TheChristmasAppeal

Another cracker from Janice Hallett, this time a Christmas cracker. A sequel to the Appeal, there’s more murder and mayhem for the Fairway Players of Lockwood. Again mainly told in emails and what’s app messages the dialogue and characters are hilarious as they prepare for a once only performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. The Beanstalk is the star of the show but the backstabbing and gossip lays out the clues again for trainee barristers Femi and Charlotte to discover the truth.

I was so excited to be approved for this book as I have loved every one of this author’s novels. It certainly didn’t disappoint in any way. It’s ingenious and compelling with a fabulous cast of characters. The way the tale is unfurled is really cleverly done with more than a dash of humour too. I loved the randomer in the WhatsApp group for example. Janice Hallett is the new queen of crime.

When this book was announced I was so excited to be going back and reading exploits of the Fairway players and this novella does not disappoint.

Femi and Charlotte are once again investigating a murder that has occurred in the players Christmas Panto, they are sifting through emails, WhatsApp messages etc and this again makes the book very addictive.

i loved reading the round robin Christmas emails and the messages between everyone, and the conflicts and downright bitchiness that happens when people are together.

The mystery was enjoyable and kept you guessing until the last page..

a lovely short read, with all the players from The Appeal, a smashing Christmas treat

‘Date: 1 November 2023
Subject: A conundrum for you’
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What a joy and a privilege to be back with The Fairway Players! A wonderful surprise too, as I didn’t even know this was on the horizon! Will Janice Hallett ever final to be one of the most creative writers out there currently? I doubt it! She’s on a massive roll and every book so far has been an utter joy!
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This short story hit just as much as The Appeal did, and being back with these wonderful characters as they embark on yet another interesting production feels like coming home! With wonderful throwbacks to the first in this series, we follow these characters on as they deal with even more local scandal and gossip, and I found myself, yet again, audibly laughing at points. These characters are so wonderfully real that you can place them all in your local community. A triumph from one of my favourites!
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Thank you SO much to netgalley and the publisher for this early read, and for making Christmas come that little bit early! Very excited to see the buzz that will be surrounding The Fairway Players once again!

Well, well, well. If you read Janice’s debut and were charmed if a little frightened by the inhabitants of Lower Lockwood, now’s your chance to reacquaint yourself with them and the Fairway Players. After much calamity (and murder) over a play some years since, the Players are rehearsing this year’s pantomime – warts and all. Though it’s all in aid of the church roof campaign, I doubt Hollywood films have more drama and kick-offs. Arguments over a long-hidden beanstalk, a removable wall, sweets, gender neutral sweet bags and new and old participants abound as well as a few who’d do whatever it takes to ruin the panto before curtain up. Of course, there’s the teeny tiny issue of a dead body but who is it and why have they turned up as they did? It’s another case for lawyers Charlotte and Femi to tackle and we are here for it.

Is it a delight to be offered an advance copy of this new Janice Hallett novel, and to be back in the company of the Fairway Players of Lockwood? Oh yes it is!

This sequel to 'The Appeal', is everything a reader could hope for. This is like a Christmas special of your favourite tv ensemble comedy drama, with the comedy turned right up.

This time, the story is wrapped around by the Fairway Players staging of their annual panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, and never has a beanstalk been so integral to a murder mystery plot.

Boo the baddies, cheer the goodies, gasp at the return of familiar characters, and wonder at the joy of her writing.

She's done it again folks. Easy five stars.

I raced through this lighthearted little mystery! Fans of The Appeal will love catching up with their favourite characters but this could also be read as a stand-alone. With characters you’ll love to hate (Celia takes over the role of the incredibly annoying Isabel this time round) there’s lots of amusing sniping and backstabbing. This follows the same format as The Appeal being comprised entirely of text messages and emails. The hilarious exchanges between husband and wife Sarah-Jane and Kevin had me laughing out loud! A brilliant read, I really hope it’s not the last we see of the Fairway Players!

Thank you Netgalley, Janice Hallett and Serpent’s Tail for this Arc.

Oh I didn't think the Appeal could get a second instalent but this was a treat!

I would say you don't have to have read the Appeal before this one (although it helps, the persoinalities are so clear in the early stages of this novella that it's not necessary), given that I'd forgotten a lot of the specifics of it before diving straight into this!

It's set around a panto production, and all the joys that brings - having worked in Am Dram in the past, I can tell you most of this is very accurate!!!.

Merry Christmas everyone, you're in for a treat with this one!

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced pdf copy of this for my review.

A return to The Fairway Players sees rehearsals for a Christmas panto take place amid a power struggle for control of the amateur dramatic group. Gossip abounds when hints of asbestos begin and end with a dead body.

Janice Hallett wrote the extremely unique The Appeal, which centered around a murder involving The Fairway Players. The Christmas Appeal sees us returning to the village of Lockwood a few years later as The Fairway Players rehearse for the annual Christmas panto.

I did nothing but chuckle from beginning to end. Misunderstandings and misdirection are front and centre as the group rehearses a 1970's version of Jack And The Beanstalk. There are all the stresses and strains you would expect in the month of December, compounded by the pressure of rehearsals and trying to ensure everything is perfect, but added to this is the friction between the chair of the amateur dramatics group and the woman who believes she should be in charge, Celia Halliday. Celia is the stand-out character in the story, you can just picture her, in fact you probably know someone just like her! Every time the OBE was mentioned I laughed out loud and I think I actually snorted at the "no-BE".

The use of text messages and emails makes this an easy and engrossing read, however, it's impossible to guess what is going to happen, or the number of things that go wrong. You'll gasp with shock at the cavalier way some of the disasters are handled.

The building of two new housing estates nearby has increased the opportunity to introduce new characters, the few that we meet are fantastic additions. I do hope that we see a return to The Fairway Players again.

Janice Hallett has done it again in this
acutely observed novella featuring a return for the Fairway Players. This story centres on a one off performance of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise funds for the church roof. I can’t say when I last laughed so much when rewarding. There are some thruway lines of pure comic genius, a scene of pure farce when a body is discovered and within all that, some sharp and wry comments on human nature.

Hallett manages to capture all the small absurdities, jealousies, petty rivalries and backstabbing that go on in day to day life. She takes the ordinary into the theatre of the absurd without losing credibility and I absolutely loved this short story. It’s a reprise for characters
from The Appeal in a brilliantly well imagined festive tale. Miss this at your peril.

Receiving The Christmas Appeal felt like an early Christmas gift - unexpected, mysterious and thrilling - that brought equal joy. Although I love all Janice Hallett’s books, The Appeal remains my favourite; thus, I was thrilled to get my hands on this little gem. The author’s adept writing continues to astound me, particularly her ability to vividly portray characters solely through emails and WhatsApp messages, eliminating the need for conventional descriptions. The characters are distinct and never cause confusion, each boasting vibrant personalities and individual writing styles. Amidst the twists and suspense, there are many laugh out loud moments and witty, astute observations. My only regret is that the book wasn't longer, as I was reluctant to see it come to (a very satisfying) end.

Reading a Christmas book in August?!!! Madness…I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get into the vibe as it’s hot outside today in the garden. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong, it doesn’t feel Christmasy, despite it being set in December and about a pantomime- yes, I know…what’s more Christmassy….what do I want…

The plot is set out in a series of WhatsApp and email exchanges, it works really well and I have to say it’s absolutely hilarious. I was genuinely laughing on each page. It’s just brilliant!

My thanks to Netgalley and Rachel Quin Marketing for sending me this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up

Mr Roderick Tanner, KC (retired) piques the interest of Femi Hassan and Charlotte Holroyd (The Appeal) in a sequence of documents relating to a case concerning The Fairway Players. Their latest production is a 1978 West End version of Jack and the Beanstalk, directed by Sarah–Jane McDonald, ably assisted by husband, Kevin. What the documents tantalisingly reveal is a panto, like no other as a real pantomime definitely occurs, if not a macabre farce. So, who dunnit? That would be telling.

How Janice Hallet manages to so cleverly. tell a fantastic story via mixed media is beyond me, but she’s nailed it, again. It’s so clever, and in places, so funny that I laugh out loud. The emails between the Fairway players reveal so much, we’ve got masterful manipulation and deliberate undermining as a power struggle is occurring before our very eyes. The undercurrent and subtle and not so subtle attempts at sabotage are at times hilarious. There are some glorious putdowns and irony would you wouldn’t have thought possible via the medium of pantomime, but this is from 1978, so there’s no “woke” “society in that script. The emails/WhatsApp messages also demonstrate how the area has changed with local tensions between the “old“, the posh new development of Hayward Heights and the new affordable housing. Add in rumours abounding and a cast of characters whose personalities are certainly clear to see in their messages, so which ones resemble the goodies and baddies of pantomime for us to hiss, boo, and cheer??

The night of the pantomime is simply mesmerising! We have a debacle over sweets, we have some shenanigans and a shocker two in an ENORMOUS Beanstalk, some dodgy moments on and off stage with the added deliciousness of much malice aforethought. I love the way that Tanner (i.e. the author) keeps us in suspense right to the end, revealing pieces of information at a time, keeping Femi, Charlotte and us guessing right to the somewhat ambivalent end.

This is a brilliant festive (or not, why wait til Christmas?) quick read with many a twist and turn. “Oh no, there isn’t“, “Oh yes, there is“. You’ll definitely need to “look behind you“ and generally all around to see if you can spot the clues …….. Maybe I did, did, did or maybe I didn’t, didn’t, didn’t!

What a fantastic cover too! Does the contents real justice.

Although characters from The Appeal are also in this novella it can very easily be read as a standalone.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Serpents Tail/ Viper/Profile books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Janice Hallett is surely 100% on the nice list for writing this novella. I love her writing style and was so excited to get back to the world of The Appeal and The Christmas Appeal was everything I was hoping for. It’s so cleverly written and very witty. She has captured the small village snideness and rivalry so well. As with all her other books, The Christmas Appeal makes for compulsive reading. I couldn’t put it down and then wished I hadn’t read it so quickly.

Prepare to devour this novella quicker than your Christmas Dinner and feel just as satisfied after you’re done.

Thanks to Janice Hallett, Viper and NetGalley for opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and publishers for a copy of “ The Christmas Appeal” for an honest review.

I’ve loved all of Janice Hallett’s previous books so Christmas came early for me to get an ARC for her latest.
I was going to keep it to read closer to the festive season but I just couldn’t resist.
I think this is my favourite so far. This was such a clever and humorous read , with brilliant characters and I was gripped from the start.
I’ve recommended her books to numerous library users and I’ll definitely be suggesting this as a must read !

Readers of The Appeal will be delighted to see the return of The Fairway Players in time for panto season. Personally, I was thrilled to be invited to read an early copy and couldn’t wait to get started on it, re-arranging my reading schedule to fit it in at the first chance possible. So, now having read it – in one sitting and after lots of chuckling – I’m ready to review it. Now, if you haven’t read The Appeal, don’t worry. The quirky writing style and format will draw you in, and if you’re in any way familiar with community groups or collaborative creative projects, you’ll soon recognise the internal dynamics as sooooo believable, only this time – as a voyeur – you’ll be able to see the funny side of their “banter”. Enjoy!

Retired KC, Mr Tanner has sent a set of documents for review to lawyers Femi Hassan and Charlotte Holroyd without telling them exactly what they might be looking for, but he’s convinced they’ll find the info – emails, texts, Whatsapp messages – interesting as well as a chance to “reconnect” with The Fairway Players who are preparing their latest show, a pantomime: Jack and the Beanstalk. The Players have a new chair team in Sarah–Jane McDonald and her husband, Kevin, who’ll be managing the performance in every aspect from casting to show night.

From the moment Sarah-Jane issues a casting call, the group dynamics are tested by an opponent to her leadership. With passive-aggressive emails to The Players , it’s clear Sarah-Jane’s rival wants to create a division within the group. It’s deliciously revealing and sets the tone for the rest of the group’s communications. Criticisms abound – but oh so subtly, and never face-to-face!

As Sarah-Jane and Kevin overcome challenges regarding the overlarge beanstalk, rumours of asbestos in said beanstalk, selling tickets (and not giving them away) and providing refreshments and goody bags, it finally looks as though they’re ready. But, of course, they’re not. Enter stage-right Chaos and Mayhem. When the best laid plans goes hilariously awry, the audience – unknowingly – are in for the treat of their life.

Meanwhile Femi and Charlotte are struggling to see why Mr Tanner wants their thoughts on the documents… and it’s only then that he provides a few more snippets of info that, along with the details of performance night and all its craziness ultimately prove there was a method to his madness.

The attempts by keyboard warriors to manipulate others by criticising and stirring up old tensions to change things in their favour are quashed with glorious one-liners and sublime putdowns that are the essence of the pantomime ethos that good will conquer evil.

The ending – and the reason why Tanner got Femi and Charlotte involved – is as off-the-wall as you could ever imagine, so worthy of the pantomime plotline. The personality clashes are as clear as ever, the rivalry as cutting, and the humour as sharp. I defy readers not to laugh aloud as they read through the messages and try to solve the mystery, because it’s a corker. Oh, yes it is!

Janice Hallett is one of my favourite authors, I even got to see her in Edinburgh at a Toppings event to celebrate her hardback release of The Alperton Angels. I absolutely adore her writing and The Christmas Appeal did not disappoint.
This cosy, festive murder mystery revisits the cast from The Appeal to solve a new murder which happened in the small town. But don’t worry, you don’t need to have read The Appeal to read this book, it is all very self-explanatory.
Books which let the reader solve the crime themselves seem to be the rage at the moment on bookstagram and booktok, so I’d definitely recommend getting your hands on this one – right in time for Christmas!
Thank you again to Janice Hallett, Rachel Quinn, Viper and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one author who will always shoot straight to the top of my TBR pile and The Christmas Appeal did exactly that. At just over 200 pages, this perfect nugget of joy was devoured in an evening. It features a return to the lives of the superb cast of The Appeal where the Fairway Players are planning a Christmas panto to outdo all previous productions until the usual mayhem descends. Building on the unique nature of The Appeal’s storytelling, the Christmas edition again features emails, what’s app messages and an utterly hilarious round robin letter.
I defy anyone who has enjoyed any of Hallet’s novels to not love this one too.
I thought it was brilliant and very enjoyable reading, despite me usually being a confirmed Grinch especially when it comes to Christmas-adjacent books.

Really enjoyed this book just as much as the first one in the series. It was nice getting back with some of the characters from book one. I would highly recommend reading the appeal before reading this as some repeat characters are in this book. But I really enjoyed this book.

I adore Janice Hallett and I was lucky enough to get a copy of her latest novel #thechristmasappeal via #netgalley

Fabulous as always, it is a lighthearted, cosy sort of crime and if you've read #theappeal already then you will recognise many of the characters.

The cast of suspects are as always enthusiastic in the endeavours and expertly entertaining.

I found myself with a smile on my face the whole time I was reading.

I really hope this isn't the last time we hear from the Fairway Players.

What a delight to be back in the company of the Fairway Players as they rehearse their Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, in aid of the church roof repairs. The usual hilarious backstabbing, one-upmanship and ludicrous casting and design choices are all evident in the round robins, emails and text messages under scrutiny from the two young lawyers Femi and Charlotte. Can there really have been another murder in this small but active community, and who is it this time. Slyly observed and sharp as ever, this is a short but sweet festive treat not to be missed.

This book should come with a warning not to read it in a public place because omg it made me laugh out loud so many times and got me some very odd looks !!
I was so thrilled to be given an early copy of the book from the publisher and also over the moon to be back with the Fairway players from the previous novel The Appeal and I absolutely loved it. I am actually lost for words to describe what an incredible read the book was it had everything that I love in a story and I can honestly say there isn’t anything about it that I can fault.
So superb writing , a whole cast of wonderful characters and a clever plot Janice Hallett gives us all of these things and more I really can’t praise her enough for giving me such a wonderful reading experience … this is why I read to be taken out of myself and loving every minute of it, so a massive thank you to her.
This is a 100% , 5 star must read please don’t miss it it will light up your day.
My thanks to NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail / Viper / Profile Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

So pleased that Janice Hallett has reunited us with the Fairway Players for a Christmas novella set in the same world as "The Appeal", this time in "The Christmas Appeal". It did remind me of "The Play that Goes Wrong" and a series of loveable characters in farcical situations. It would be the perfect book to give a crime-lover at Christmas.

really enjoyed this book. wacky group of characters, would love some more, exploring the exploits that these charters get up to whilst trying to put a play on

This was such an amazing comeback to the Lockwood and the Fairway Players circle! I devoured this in an evening, relishing in how amazingly Hallett works intertwines plot with the email format. Anyone who read the Appeal and loved it will love this seasonal novella as much or even more!

The perfect "cosy crime" Christmas read!

I laughed out loud several times whilst reading the Christmas Appeal which just goes to show how much I enjoyed it.

Comic misunderstandings, cloying and not entirely truthful, round robin Christmas letters, a mishap prone play and talk of a murderer arriving in the area, what more could you ask for?

When a dead Santa is discovered, we're left wondering how it happened and who was involved.

With rivelries amongst the actors simmering, it's interesting to see how this unfolds!

Perfectly written and I enjoyed that it was written in a WhatsApp message style format as it allowed for conversations to flow between the characters.

I absolutely loved Janice Hallett's 'The Appeal' so it was a joy to be given access to 'The Christmas Appeal' - a chance to rejoin the Fairway Players as they grapple with a pantomime, plus an unexpected dead body!

As with 'The Appeal', we're given access to emails and messages that fly between members of the amateur acting society, with occasional commentary on the documents by Charlotte and Femi, the lawyers we met in the first novel who are tasked with unravelling the case. It's fair to say that I missed a lot of clues - but the documents are a joy to read as there is a much more humorous (and obviously festive) focus to this book.

This story follows the Fairway Players as they prepare for a Jack and the Beanstalk charity panto evening in aid of repairing the church roof. There is definitely a power struggle at the helm of the group - the way that Celia undermines Sarah-Jane is cleverly-written and often hilarious (bat patty made me snort out loud!) Throw in a few misunderstandings, some very quirky characters, outlandish rumours and this is the perfect recipe for a fun, festive read. Yes, some of it is kind of incredible and played for laughs (a bit like the panto itself!), but I absolutely loved it. Janice Hallett presents the different voices and perspectives brilliantly - and with a real comic touch.

A lot of the characters will be familiar to fans of 'The Appeal', but there is also fresh blood for the Fairway Players from the new housing estates in the area - cue a lot of snobbery from Celia, of course. Events from 'The Appeal' are referred to, but I don't think you would necessarily need to have read it first - 'The Christmas Appeal' does work as a standalone (even if it would provide spoilers if you then wanted to go back and read the first book).

If you're looking for a fun, Christmassy read, then this is the book for you. It lacks the depth of mystery of the first book (as this is quite short in comparison at about 200 pages), but it makes up for it with Janice Hallett's clever skewering of characters' pretensions and hidden motivations.

A short one but great fun once again. Really enjoy this style of writing and the humour and sarcasm are spot on. Keeps me satisfied for now but can't wait for her next one.

Thank you NetGalley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, Viper for my approval to read and review this book.

Wow, this book was amazing!! I couldn't put it down!! It was lovely to revisit The Fairway Players and they certainly feel like friends now after reading their second book. The premise is they are putting a Christmas Panto - Jack and the beanstalk. It certainly has very memorable moments where you will laugh out loud at what has been written, especially when the comedic moments within the panto itself. It's a fast paced read with plenty of plot twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown in. I highly recommend you read this book.

I do love the inventiveness of Janice Hallett and that the devices she uses are so original. Nevertheless, it is nice to see her go back to her first format in this follow up to "The Appeal". This short story is not as intricate as the original novel but it is still a fun read and it is good to be back in the theatre watching the same backbiting and shenanigans continue. I don't think this one will shock you and it's pretty easy to work out what's going on, but a fun read nevertheless and one that Hallett fans will definitely enjoy.

The Christmas Appeal reunites us with the Fairway Players and god, was it good to have them back.

The brilliantly insufferable snob Sarah-Jane is now co-chair of the players and they’re putting on Jack and The Beanstalk as this years panto.

Poor Sarah-Jane has to deal with busybody Celia trying to sabotage her play AND a body showing up right in the middle of it all.

Lawyers Femi and Charlotte who are looking over evidence to try and solve the case, and the book is told entirely through text messages, emails and police reports as they try to piece together what happened.

It’s probably strange to say I adore a book about somebody dying but I honestly love Janice Hallett’s writing so much, it’s so fun and inventive and this follow up to The Appeal felt like I was returning to old friends. I loved it.

I’m a huge fan of Janice Hallett, I absolutely loved The Appeal, and this shorter christmas story with all of the familiar characters is so wonderful!! It’s gripping, the character development is fabulous, it’s so funny and comic at times, it is a perfect cosy winter mystery. I cannot wait to get a copy of this book so I can lend it to other people. I think this will get people out of reading slumps. This is just the sort of book that makes me fall in love with reading, I am so grateful that I got to read it before publication!

I absolutely adored "The Appeal" by Janice Hallett and was extremely excited to see that another instalment was coming up.

Janice Hallett has returned to her very best form in this book, revisiting many of her beloved previous characters. It was so well-paced with lots of twists and turns along the way in addition to plenty of funny moments and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I particularly appreciated the way the plot unfolded through a range of documents to find the solution and it was extremely clever. A definite five-star read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of The Christmas Appeal in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, what fun it is to read about a one-corpse, sweet-filled play!

What a treat! This short instalment from Janice Hallett revisits lawyers Femi, Charlotte and Roderick Tanner KC and The Fairway Players, who fans of the author will remember from her extraordinary bestseller ‘The Appeal’. It’s three to four years since the events of that book and it would appear that the amateur dramatics group are still battling on with their productions. As ever, we find that the sniping, conniving and duplicity continues through WhatsApp and emails and we also meet new characters ready to lend a hand with the 2022 Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Fans of Janice Hallett’s previous novels will already be familiar with the highly original format; I still very much enjoy following the plot through the correspondence of The Fairway Players, police interviews, newspaper articles, plus Femi and Charlotte’s observations. The plot is fun, with a gentle sprinkling of social and moral issues to provide food for thought – the book starts with a quote from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ after all. If I had to provide any criticism it’s that I didn’t find the sweets plotline added anything particularly, but I can see that it makes for a few comic moments.

That said, nothing but five stars for this Christmas cracker, a delightful ‘amuse-bouche’ while we eagerly await the new full-length book from Janice Hallett in 2024!

My thanks to Rachel Quin and the elves at Viper for the advance copy on which this review is based.

Everyone loves a Christmas Special and this is definitely something special for this Christmas.

I’m not shy about my love for amateur theatre, so it’s great to be embroiled in yet another mystery involving The Fairway Players – although surely signing up new members is going to be a challenge after yet another murder.

The perfect boxing day read. This book is more than just a stocking filler, it’s a wonderful Christmas treat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant - I loved returning to the Fairway Players in this fun novella. I found the style of the book just as interesting and innovative as when I read The Appeal. I liked that it was mostly the same characters with a few new faces.

Really enjoyable!

This was a compelling read. I loved the Fairway players. They were such a diverse bunch. The death of a father christmas was a real who dunnit. The usual politics were playing out in the amateur dramatic group. Femi and Charlotte were really thorough in their investigation of who killed santa. Loved it.