The Appeal: The smash-hit bestseller

Product Information

Publication of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels in January, of course! I’m also in the middle of writing book four and even I think this one is devious.

To say too much wouls be to risk spoiling some aspect, I’m sure, but there’s certainly more emotional involvement in this than the transcripts of the MacDonald — I mention that one becuase thi is similarly epistolary. And I don’t really think anyone would write a modern crime novel as divested of emotion as The Maze, would they? That would be an interesting proposition… Is Sam just being paranoid given her unhappy history with Tish? Or is something truly sinister afoot, something that could cost one or more of the Fairway Players their lives as Sam seeks to expose the truth?

Review

This witty thriller is giving Richard Osmond's Thursday Murder Club a run for its money in the cosy crime stakes, as it continues to charm readers. Hallett's debut, set in a sleepy town where an am-dram production of All My Sons is in the works, is funny and full of twists. Amateur sleuths and thespians alike will love it * Evening Standard * Yeah, it’s too early to tell how Hallett might compare to Christie, and at this stage in Agatha’s career even she wouldn’t have been seen as the force she went on to be. Watching Steven, an ex-con, describe what is basically the plot of the Famous Five is a genuine joy What are the advantages and disadvantages to you as an author, or to the reader, of telling a story in this way? New takes on old stories ... Greek Myths: A New Retelling by Charlotte Higgins, is on the Waterstones book of the year shortlist. Photograph: Waterstones/PA

This is author Janice Hallett's first novel, inspired by her lifelong interest in amateur dramatics. And for a first novel it is a tour de force. Michelle’s book is brilliantly written. She was an accomplished wordsmith and absolutely wrote from her heart in a way not all true crime authors do. But when you watch the documentary about her, you can see she becomes so engaged with trying to solve the case that she simply can’t write the book, yet she’s desperately trying to finish it in time for a deadline. I identified with that completely and I’m sure most writers do. I’d never heard of this one either, until someone told me about it…that’s how hearing about stuff works, isn’t it? Dr. Bhatoa has financial worries of her own. Her father is in poor health and her brother who went missing while doing charity work overseas.

Hallett, a screenwriter before she turned to fiction, defined “cosy crime” as a genre that “reduces the horror, and amplifies the mystery,” creating a “safe space to consider and to explore the very worst experiences of humanity”.

A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy. Synopsis: The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals for an Arthur Miller play, when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Haywood and his wife Helen, the play’s star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their fellow castmates rally to raise money. I raced through it and liked it a lot, but I did find the law student framing really annoying and contrived: As Sam begins to take a closer look into what’s going on with the fundraiser, she runs into a figure from her past, oncologist Tish Bhatoa. Tish is in charge of Poppy’s treatment, which only heightens Sam’s suspicions as to where the money she’s helping to raise is really going. As two outside observers discuss via WhatsApp: A murder has been committed and someone has gone to prison. But were they the right person? A QC uses the evidence to test his star pupils.

Summary

And, no, if I can cope with the Americanisms of Cornell Woolrich and Dashiell Hammett, you can cope with the Britishness of Hallett — there’s none of Osman’s winking references to Jaffa Cakes or Boots the chemist. This certainly has that advantage over the Osman, and that’s a good thing as far as international markets go 🙂 When their little grand-daughter Poppy falls ill with a rare form of brain cancer they launch an appeal to raise a massive amount for a revolutionary, and as yet untried treatment, available only in the States. At the same time The Fairway Players continue to mount a production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller. Through their cast lists and committee minutes we are provided with a handy aide-memoir to who's who. Fiendishly clever, highly original and totally gripping -- Cass Green, bestselling author of In a Cottage in a Wood

And, yes, the prospect of future novels from this course is a very exciting one. I shall await developments, Brilliantly crafted, The Appeal is a refreshingly different take on the modern crime novel. Full of suspicion and secrets, I raced my way to the end - and what an ending! -- Lisa Hall, author of The Party While researching Poppy’s treatment at the hospital, Sam discoveres that Paige, Helen’s daughter, was frequently ill. I felt exactly as you do! My brother-in-law who doesn’t read much at all, mentioned it to me (‘you know all these crime books, you must know this one’), and I had never heard of it. I absolutely ripped through it, and enjoyed it very much. Yes, too much periphery, and actually I did not find the solution satisfying – but it made me laugh & kept me guessing,and I will certainly be looking out for her next one.

Need Help?

I haven’t read All My Sons for a while, and my memory is fuzzy, but I’m pretty sure it’s about a family who is hiding a dark and shameful secret. If anyone has insights into the connection between the play and this story, please let me know in comments! But not everybody is convince of the good intentions of those involved. New actress Sam raises doubts. There’s something really timeless and universal about those familiar stories that is quite comforting in uncertain times. And the trends for authors revisiting those stories for a contemporary audience has been incredibly popular recently,” said Carvalho.