Table of Contents
About The Book
Named a Best Book of 2022 by The New York Times, Air Mail, and more!
“[W]itty, original…a delight.” —The New York Times
Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell, this international bestseller and “dazzlingly clever” (The Sunday Times, London) murder mystery follows a community rallying around a sick child—but when escalating lies lead to a dead body, everyone is a suspect.
The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward 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 castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival.
But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy—nor of the good intentions of those involved. As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon, an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material—emails, messages, letters—with a growing suspicion that the killer may be hiding in plain sight. The evidence is all there, between the lines, waiting to be uncovered.
A wholly modern and gripping take on the epistolary novel, The Appeal is a “daring…clever, and funny” (The Times, London) debut for fans of Richard Osman and Lucy Foley.
Why We Love It
“When I started The Appeal, I simply couldn’t stop, inhaling nearly one hundred pages with my morning coffee. A new take on the epistolary novel—told entirely in emails, messages, and WhatsApp texts—this crime novel unfolds in ways you’ll never expect, leading you to suspect every character until its final breathless moments.”
—Kaitlin O., Editor, on The Appeal
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (January 25, 2022)
- Length: 432 pages
- ISBN13: 9781982187477
Raves and Reviews
“Hallett’s lively follow-up to 2022’s The Appeal… cozy mystery devotees are likely to enjoy the rollicking ride and look forward to the Players’ next production.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The new queen of crime gunning for the Christie crown”
—Electric Literature
Awards and Honors
- ALA "The Reading List" Selection
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Appeal eBook 9781982187477
- Author Photo (jpg): Janice Hallett Gaia Banks(0.1 MB)
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