Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 ⭐
4.5 stars
This book takes place in the same town as The Appeal and follows some of the same characters during the rehearsals for their Christmas panto and someone turns up dead.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great, quick Christmas read that kept me constantly turning the pages. There were some great plot twists in this book and I really liked the ending. I do think that, similarly to The Appeal, this book had a little too many characters in it and I did get a little confused at points who was who.
Overall though this was another great book from Janice Hallett and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
This book takes place in the same town as The Appeal and follows some of the same characters during the rehearsals for their Christmas panto and someone turns up dead.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great, quick Christmas read that kept me constantly turning the pages. There were some great plot twists in this book and I really liked the ending. I do think that, similarly to The Appeal, this book had a little too many characters in it and I did get a little confused at points who was who.
Overall though this was another great book from Janice Hallett and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Leave it to Janice Hallett to make murder merry and mystery festive! The Christmas Appeal is a delicious little holiday treat—twisty, clever, and oh-so British. Told entirely through emails, texts, and community group threads (yes, really), this novella had me laughing, guessing, and cringing in the most delightful ways.
We’re back in the world of the Fairway Players, and if you read The Appeal, you already know this group is messy, dramatic, and absolutely addictive. This time, it's Christmas. There's a holiday production to prepare for, and naturally—secrets, scandals, and suspicious activity abound.
Hallett’s gift for storytelling through unconventional formats shines again. It’s sharp, smart, and just the right amount of sinister to counterbalance the tinsel.
We’re back in the world of the Fairway Players, and if you read The Appeal, you already know this group is messy, dramatic, and absolutely addictive. This time, it's Christmas. There's a holiday production to prepare for, and naturally—secrets, scandals, and suspicious activity abound.
Hallett’s gift for storytelling through unconventional formats shines again. It’s sharp, smart, and just the right amount of sinister to counterbalance the tinsel.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't think that it is within my abilities to explain just how much I hated the word balloon exchanges between Femi and Charlotte that pop up occasionally in this short little book. Loathed isn't a strong enough word. I don't know if there exists a single word strong enough. These pages filled me with an admittedly unwarranted roiling, burning inferno of anger. Why? Why did the author think that she needed to stop every so often and slowly explain to us in the most basic of terms everything that had happened in the previous pages? Did she think that all of her readers are slavering halfwits who couldn't hold more than a thought and a half in their heads at one time and who would have to be gently guided through an entire 187 slim pages of a short story that can only generously be labeled a 'novella?' Or did she think that she had crafted such subtle paragraphs and complex characterizations that even the wisest among us wouldn't be able to read between the lines to understand the true complexities of the narrative and motivations of the players within? Because honestly, the characters were about as nuanced as the wacky next door neighbors on an especially poorly written '80's sitcom. "I have a suspicion that Celia doesn't like Sarah-Jane." Oh, really? I never would have guessed that from the pages and pages I just read of Celia going on about how awful Sarah-Jane is. Even an Encyclopedia Brown story has more respect for its readers. I'm so mad over this that I hate to even give the book three whole stars, but honestly, the rest of the story is breezy and fun and doesn't take itself too seriously and I probably would have given it four stars if not for the anger. This burning, burning anger.
What an amazing book. It's an amazing follow up to the Appeal and it was incredibly interesting to see where all the characters are and how all the dynamics have changed.