3.6 AVERAGE

funny fast-paced
funny mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

danae_leu's review

4.0

The theater group from The Appeal are back to put on the traditional Christmas pantomime. They will not be deterred by a mammoth, musty, beanstalk, a weeing dog, or backhanded compliments. Or indeed, the dead body mentioned on the cover. The show will go on.

This is so funny. It was great to be back with the Fairway Players again, even if the some of the more notorious figures have scampered or were otherwise incarcerated. I can’t wait to read through all of Hallett’s other books.
fast-paced
lighthearted mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

So slow, so boring. Whenever the incident happens they jump around & try not to answer it. Chapters later they just give the answer & state that the instigators admitted it so there’s barely any payoff. What a waste of time.
adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A
funny mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
funny mysterious medium-paced
funny lighthearted mysterious

An epistolary novel composed of emails and other communications between members of a community theater troupe, ostensibly compiled to investigate a murder. Janice Hallett confounds me because somehow her books are always they're weirdly page turning yet very badly constructed. This is one of the most effective because it leans more into being funny and satirical, rather than trying to be too serious.