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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
2.5 stars
I was semi-lukewarm on [b:The Appeal|54621096|The Appeal (The Appeal, #1)|Janice Hallett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600352529l/54621096._SY75_.jpg|85222105]. Everything I disliked about the first book was still here, and the only thing this novella did better was that it was shorter.
Let's talk about the premise. Like the Appeal, an attorney (King's Counsel) gives two junior attorneys a heap of correspondence connected with a case. He does not even tell them who the victim is or what the crime is in this novella. He also withholds key evidence until the end. This is not an effective way to go about a case, and essentially comes across as if he's messing with them. Or very bad at his job.
It then takes half the novella to get to the crime. The first half is just petty amateur theater drama. This novella appears to be written for those who are nostalgic for the characters of the first book, which was certainly not me. Then the actual mystery turns out to be devastatingly underwhelming and also would not have allowed the police to collect all these private emails and text messages. The crime was wrapped up in a day or two and there is no way they would have been granted warrants for all of these folks' electronic communications (who already had all their private communications taken and poured over by strangers in the first book! You think that at least some of them would, you know, MAKE PHONE CALLS instead of putting important things in writing).
I support more Christmas crime novellas, and I like the premise (if not the execution) of an epistolary crime investigation. But I think that I'm done with the world of the Appeal.
I was semi-lukewarm on [b:The Appeal|54621096|The Appeal (The Appeal, #1)|Janice Hallett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600352529l/54621096._SY75_.jpg|85222105]. Everything I disliked about the first book was still here, and the only thing this novella did better was that it was shorter.
Let's talk about the premise. Like the Appeal, an attorney (King's Counsel) gives two junior attorneys a heap of correspondence connected with a case. He does not even tell them who the victim is or what the crime is in this novella. He also withholds key evidence until the end. This is not an effective way to go about a case, and essentially comes across as if he's messing with them. Or very bad at his job.
It then takes half the novella to get to the crime. The first half is just petty amateur theater drama. This novella appears to be written for those who are nostalgic for the characters of the first book, which was certainly not me. Then the actual mystery turns out to be devastatingly underwhelming and also would not have allowed the police to collect all these private emails and text messages. The crime was wrapped up in a day or two and there is no way they would have been granted warrants for all of these folks' electronic communications (who already had all their private communications taken and poured over by strangers in the first book! You think that at least some of them would, you know, MAKE PHONE CALLS instead of putting important things in writing).
I support more Christmas crime novellas, and I like the premise (if not the execution) of an epistolary crime investigation. But I think that I'm done with the world of the Appeal.
This is so good.
A great follow-up to see where some of the characters from The Appeal are a few years later.
While some of the characters have returned it's not a full revisit, so there are plenty of new folks too.
The structure is just like The Appeal with a series of emails, text messages, and chat conversations presenting you with a timeline of events leading up to an Event.
For a long time you're not informed of what is leading to, other than the idea that this is leading to a crime of some sort.
One thing I loved is all the petty infighting going on in the group about what shows they perform, and the promises made/broken and casting.
It's all done extremely well.
A great follow-up to see where some of the characters from The Appeal are a few years later.
While some of the characters have returned it's not a full revisit, so there are plenty of new folks too.
The structure is just like The Appeal with a series of emails, text messages, and chat conversations presenting you with a timeline of events leading up to an Event.
For a long time you're not informed of what is leading to, other than the idea that this is leading to a crime of some sort.
One thing I loved is all the petty infighting going on in the group about what shows they perform, and the promises made/broken and casting.
It's all done extremely well.
Rounded up from 3.5. I loved The Appeal and have been really disappointed by the next two books that Janice Hallett has written. So I was delighted to see the return of the characters from The Appeal in this short, festive, easy go read, laugh out loud book. A fun way to spend a few hours.
This was a fun Christmas themed novella, it's more lighthearted than the appeal, with the amateur dramatics group squabbling over the Christmas pantomime. The snarky emails and the pettiness was very funny.
The book did sort of just tell you what happened instead of anyone working it out. The more serious issue of law vs justice is raised and explored briefly.
Overall, a fun Christmas novella.
The book did sort of just tell you what happened instead of anyone working it out. The more serious issue of law vs justice is raised and explored briefly.
Overall, a fun Christmas novella.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved, loved, loved this quirky little mystery composed entirely of emails, police reports and similar documents that are sent to two lawyers by the retired Kings Counsel who trained them. He's identified another mystery involving the Fairway Players in Lockwood, who are preparing to put on their annual pantomime on December 23rd to raise money for the church roof. They have a vested interest in this as the church is where this community theater group holds its performances. There is a book using the same approach that Hallett wrote involving the same group. It's called The Appeal.
I laughed out loud at the competition and snarkiness between the couple that thought they would run the theater after its founders left and the couple that was elected to head the theater. I easily followed the plot even though it took me awhile to figure out who was reviewing the documents WE are reviewing them, along with two young lawyers, to figure out what mischief some folks are up to, the nastiness people can get up to when the most important thing in their lives is the community theater, the craziness that goes with staging even a one night show including putting together goodie bags for children and figuring out who will play Santa cause the Santa of many years passed away. This format does not work for people who are easily confused when trying to follow a series of emails and who is sending them and why. It was a treasure for me. It's only tangentially Christmassy and would be enjoyed all year round.
I laughed out loud at the competition and snarkiness between the couple that thought they would run the theater after its founders left and the couple that was elected to head the theater. I easily followed the plot even though it took me awhile to figure out who was reviewing the documents WE are reviewing them, along with two young lawyers, to figure out what mischief some folks are up to, the nastiness people can get up to when the most important thing in their lives is the community theater, the craziness that goes with staging even a one night show including putting together goodie bags for children and figuring out who will play Santa cause the Santa of many years passed away. This format does not work for people who are easily confused when trying to follow a series of emails and who is sending them and why. It was a treasure for me. It's only tangentially Christmassy and would be enjoyed all year round.
mysterious