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2022 British Book Award Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (shortlist)
2022 CrimeFest: Last Laugh Award (nominee)
2022 CrimeFest: Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award (nominee)
2022 John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
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.
Genre: Mystery
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.
Genre: Mystery
Praise for this book
"A totally original take on a thriller - intriguing and dark but with a dash of humour - I raced through it." - Catherine Cooper
"A wonderfully revealing portrait of how we communicate - what we hide and show of ourselves. It's sharp, funny, a brilliant game, and once you start playing you won't be able to stop." - Rachel Elliott
"Highly original with characters that leap off the page. An addictive read." - Michelle Frances
"Fiendishly clever, highly original and totally gripping." - Cass Green
"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
"Very gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach." - Sophie Hannah
"Takes the whodunnit to a whole new level. Intriguing, clever and above all, wholly original. A rare feat indeed, and to be savoured." - Elizabeth Haynes
"I loved this - it's utterly compulsive and unlike anything I've read in a while. It is such a cliche to say it, but I genuinely could NOT put it down. Bravo." - Katie Lowe
"A very clever novel that puts you in the place of an investigator. A hugely enjoyable challenge and a most original book." - Jane Lythell
"Brilliantly original, inventive and clever. I loved this book and you will too." - Phoebe Morgan
"The Appeal grips from the start, expertly stage-managing emails and messages to create an intriguing mystery with a cast of vivid, memorable characters. Original, clever, devious - and never less than utterly compelling - this is a case you're about to become obsessed with. A real triumph." - Alex North
"One of the most enjoyable books I've read all year. Extremely addictive, it will reel you in, one piece of evidence at a time. Ingenious and highly original." - Alex Pavesi
"What a cracking book. Fresh, original and very clever." - Mel Sherratt
"A wonderfully revealing portrait of how we communicate - what we hide and show of ourselves. It's sharp, funny, a brilliant game, and once you start playing you won't be able to stop." - Rachel Elliott
"Highly original with characters that leap off the page. An addictive read." - Michelle Frances
"Fiendishly clever, highly original and totally gripping." - Cass Green
"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
"Very gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach." - Sophie Hannah
"Takes the whodunnit to a whole new level. Intriguing, clever and above all, wholly original. A rare feat indeed, and to be savoured." - Elizabeth Haynes
"I loved this - it's utterly compulsive and unlike anything I've read in a while. It is such a cliche to say it, but I genuinely could NOT put it down. Bravo." - Katie Lowe
"A very clever novel that puts you in the place of an investigator. A hugely enjoyable challenge and a most original book." - Jane Lythell
"Brilliantly original, inventive and clever. I loved this book and you will too." - Phoebe Morgan
"The Appeal grips from the start, expertly stage-managing emails and messages to create an intriguing mystery with a cast of vivid, memorable characters. Original, clever, devious - and never less than utterly compelling - this is a case you're about to become obsessed with. A real triumph." - Alex North
"One of the most enjoyable books I've read all year. Extremely addictive, it will reel you in, one piece of evidence at a time. Ingenious and highly original." - Alex Pavesi
"What a cracking book. Fresh, original and very clever." - Mel Sherratt
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Used availability for Janice Hallett's The Appeal