Book Review | The Appeal by Janice Hallett

In the small town of Lower Lockwood, a shocking murder has shaken the community. Set before the staging of an amateur play and in the middle of a charity appeal for a little girl’s medical treatment, the community members are embroiled in questions about each other. A person has been sent to prison, but their lawyer believes that they’re innocent. Two lawyers, Charlotte and Femi, are assigned to the case to comb through the evidence and see whether they have caught the right person. They have to find out – who is dead and who is the killer?

Charlotte: So many questions.

Femi: We just need to ask the right ones. 

The Appeal is a delightfully smart mystery that made me think! The book is set in an epistolary format where two lawyers are trying to solve a case through emails, messages, and letters. While the format sometimes stretches credulity (so many emails!), I didn’t find it difficult to read.

There’s a huge cast of characters that takes some time to establish, but I spotted the important ones pretty quickly. The interconnected storylines involve a cancer appeal, a suspicious death, a community play, and a friendship gone wrong. Standout characters include the unnaturally friendly Izzy, the extremely organised Sarah Jane, and the influential Haywards family.

The trick of not knowing who’s the victim and who’s the bad guy really had me invested! I liked that the clues are dropped throughout the story so it’s just a matter of piecing together all the information. It’s kind of impressive how the characters made me feel so much only through their written communication. There’s a scene at the end that gave me the shivers. It hints toward retribution and vengeance, and how everything you do will come back to you whether in this life or next.

The Appeal is a skillful, clever mystery and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author!

CW: child illness, sexual assault, infidelity

About the author: Janice Hallett

Photo by Romain Dancre