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A Thrilling Whodunit with Multiple Twists - Read 'The Appeal' Now!
I had the pleasure of reading 'The Appeal' by Janice Hallett and I have to say, it was one of the most thrilling reads I've had in a while. The novel is pr... READ MORE
The Appeal
What an amazing book,I haven't been able to put it down The Appeal has you hooked from page one. The way it is written in E mail and text form helps you se... READ MORE
A modern murder-mystery
I really liked the format of this book - telling the story through a collection of emails and text messages. It was a modern take on a murder mystery and I... READ MORE
So much fun!
A very different style of novel to anything I've read recently. I couldn't put it down!
Evidentially, quite marvellous!
The concept and execution of this novel is excellent.
We, the reader, are given all the evidence necessary to decide who was murdered, who was guilty and... READ MORE
Exceptionally Clever
Well, wow!! I haven't been able to put this down.
I've never read anything quite like this, format wise, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Filles with subtle... READ MORE
Mind blowing
This is totally different to any other mystery I've ever read. You get the evidence via emails, notes and media at the same time as the investigators. What... READ MORE
Something very, very clever.
I felt like I could not put this down, it physically pained me to do so. It's very rare to come across a truly addictive read, but this is one. Set out in ... READ MORE
Get ready to be addicted...
I was so intrigued by this, not only because I love a good mystery BUT because of the way it's told throughout various different mediums like emails, texts... READ MORE
Can you solve it first?
Amateur dramatics, a life-saving charity appeal for a sick toddler, social hierarchies and etiquette. The ins and outs of middle-class village life. The ar... READ MORE
Synopsis
Waterstones Thriller of the Month for July 2021
Shortlisted for The British Book Awards 2022 Crime & Thriller Book of the Year
Winner of the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2022
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.
- Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9781788165303
- Number of pages: 464
- Weight: 364g
- Dimensions: 198 x 128 x 34 mm
Customer Reviews
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I read this due to the positive reviews but I was a little disappointed by it. I have to say I don't think it is that innovative. Told as a series of email... READ MORE
A big disappointment
I think this is very much a Marmite book and for me it was a huge let down. I found trawling through the endless emails a chore and by the half way point I... READ MORE
Tiresome
The format, while original, become tiresome after a very short while. The quirky presentation of the characters and story seemed more important than the ac... READ MORE
A Warning Note!
This book has a lot of content regarding childhood cancer and death which is not clearly explained on the back cover. I found this unsettling and this mar... READ MORE
Cleverly written, interesting format
A story with lots of plot twists written mainly in the form of emails but still easy to read. It holds your attention to the end.
Book of the year contender!
WOW. My head is REELING from the twists in this book. I'm still trying to work it all out!
I love books that have an unusual approach, and this is about ... READ MORE
A complicated read
An entirely different format from any other crime book. Instead of chapters and paragraphs it is a collection of emails and text messages. It is important... READ MORE
Good read
This book is a good all round read. I enjoyed the way it was set out and found it to be very clever - a really good method of building a picture of the cha... READ MORE
Brilliant read
This was a really good read and such a clever story. The way it is written with a collection of emails and text messages and their informal writing style ... READ MORE
What a wonderful book!
Absolutely loved this story and just how interactive the book was. Got totally swept away with the characters and the setting. Would highly recommend this ... READ MORE
Compelling, and quite different to anything else!
When I started reading this, I really wondered whether I would enjoy it.
The format is largely a collection of emails, SMS messages and then WhatsApp chat... READ MORE
Highly enjoyable
Unputdownable and unlike a number of whodunnits that I have read recently the story (including the denouement) hangs together really well. Some people may ... READ MORE
Good read
It took me a bit to get into this book perhaps because of the format but once I did, I really became engrossed.
Something different
This is a who done it with a very contemporary twist. The story is good, And I liked the way the characters were built so we got to know them all, however,... READ MORE
Wonderful
The Appeal took a little while to absorb all of the characters, but a cracking read and kept you engrossed to the end.
The Appeal
The format of this book made sure it was a book you can pick up and put down at any time. Loads of characters, suspects and red herrings. enjoyed trying ... READ MORE
Whodunnit with a difference
I thoroughly enjoyed this different approach to solving a murder. The layout could be off-putting to some readers, with emails and text messages the only i... READ MORE
Full marks for original structure
The Appeal deserves full marks for structure: a new and revealing way of handling epistolary writing. Truly groundbreaking. That said, I read all 400 plus ... READ MORE
I loved this book
Nosiness helps when reading this book. It was easy to be sucked into the story while reading strangers emails and text messages. The story line was a beaut... READ MORE
Disappointed...
The Appeal is a whodunnit novel about a charitable appeal that ends in murder. The story is told via an original format and we, as readers, are challenged ... READ MORE
Not for me ……,
I liked the idea but in reality it didn’t work for me. It had no sense of ‘place’ - Emails contain no context.
‘ Couldn’t put it down!’? I read it till t... READ MORE
Amateur Dramatics Noir
Set out as a series of e-mails and text messages this fascinating crime novel ticks all the boxes!! Cleverly written, fabulous plot and a cast of charact... READ MORE
What a page-turner!
If you’re looking for something really different to read this summer, this is the book for you!
The novel is set in the small town of Lockwood, England, w... READ MORE
Gripping and a brilliant twist
I bought this book as it was recommended, thought I would take a chance and my god I'm glad I did went straight out and bought her other book the hunting p... READ MORE
Absolutely brilliant
I bought this book as it was recommended and I must say I am so glad I took the chance. I this is my first time reading a thriller mystery and murder but a... READ MORE
Innovative concept and a book you just can’t put down!
The Appeal is absolutely captivating from start to finish. I applaud Janice Hallett for taking a bold approach in terms of how this is written. You are con... READ MORE
So clever and entertaining
I loved this book! So original, I just hope she writes more!
Oh dear….
If I’ve got the right title then it turned out to be a collection of E mails !!
Not something I was comfortable with .
I returned the item using the appr... READ MORE
What a read
This book has the nature of a gripping tale but it's delivery is what sets it apart. What an excellent way to tell us what happened... All through the corr... READ MORE
A uniquely written thriller!
As an avid thriller fan, I knew that I needed to pick this book up as soon as I heard about it. I am so so glad that I did!
The Appeal follows the lives o... READ MORE
Couldn't cook supper...
I simply loved this book, I love the slow unpicking of the plot. Apart from a sick child I also laughed out loud at the characters.
One great read that I ... READ MORE
Absolutely loved it!
For a debut novel this was amazing! I was addicted from start to finish, re-read so many parts of it to try and work it out and couldn't! It was fab! Loved... READ MORE
Totally absorbing
Crime and mysteries are not normally my genre, but I was intrigued by The Appeal because of Hallett's use of personal correspondence to tell the story. Tol... READ MORE
Love it
A local theatre group is in the midst of rehearsals when the young granddaughter of the director is diagnosed with a rare cancer, for which an experimental... READ MORE
I wasn't sure by the description, but couldn't put it down!
The description doesn't do this book justice, it was gripping and I couldn't put it down until it was finished! It's a really great read and I highly recom... READ MORE
Brilliant - enjoyed it much more than expected
When I first was recommended this book by my friend, I was quite hesitant to read it because of the style of writing, how it was a collection of emails, le... READ MORE
E-Mails and Mystery: Unraveling 'The Appeal
In "The Appeal" by Janice Hallett, readers are invited into the seemingly tranquil town of Lower Lockwood, where a mystery that is anything but simple unfo... READ MORE
Brilliant!
Read it within a day, literally could not put it down - can’t wait to see what Hallett’s future novels have in store!
OMG!!
Best book i’ve ever read! So unique in every way
Amazing book!
It's a different, unique book that's really really fun to read. I've been staying up way too late for the last couple of days reading it!
Addictive read!!
Wow this is one of those books which will draw you in and not let you go till the end!! I found this a very cleverly written book, and only worked out som... READ MORE
Brilliantly refreshing!
Favourite summer crime read so far. Great if you’re not a fan of long chapters.
Absolutely gripping...
...what a fantastic read! I truly couldn't put this down. Perfect for that all-important summer read when you are immediately engaged and have the luxury... READ MORE
A different way to read
This was a fun read. I couldn’t put the book down and loved how the character depth grew with each page turned.
Really different!
Very refreshing, very different kind of book. It’s really interesting getting clues on what happened through emails and texts etc and then trying to solve ... READ MORE
A fresh take on the murder mystery format
An interesting format which made for a pleasant change of pace.
I really liked the concept of The Appeal. Two trainee lawyers are provided with a pile of ... READ MORE
Give it a try
I was a bit sceptical about this when I realised it was written in texts and emails but I was quickly engaged and really enjoyed it. It really made for a p... READ MORE
Couldn’t put it down but disappointing ending
This is a great read but I was disappointed with the ending. I love how the story was told through emails and notes and letters etc. loved this, however on... READ MORE
Why?
Why was this book written. Why was this book published. Awful. Totally underwhelming and unfulfilling. I won't forget this author's name. One to miss.
Like nothing I've read before
Fantastic book from start to finish. Built upon a wonderful idea, beautiful construction throughout. Written in a wholly unique way that has you solving th... READ MORE
Refreshing and thrilling read!
I rate it 4.95. This is her first book I read as it is our book club’s book of the month, I have heard that it is so highly rated that I was afraid it woul... READ MORE
Highly recommended
I really enjoyed this unusual mystery novel set in a small community. The whole story is told through the use of email and text message exchanges, with a f... READ MORE
Disappointing
Bought this as it looked highly recommended. Found it tedious and stressful to read. Did not enjoy the email/messaging app format used throughout entire bo... READ MORE
