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Saturday, December 16, 2023

Review: The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

 


The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
Publication Date: October 24th 2023 by Atria
Pages: 208
Source: Publisher 
Rating: ½
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Sarah Jane MacDonald is the chairperson for the Fairway Flyers a group organizing plays and in this instance a pantomime (which I had never heard of before this book) of Jack and the Beanstalk during the Christmas season. Organizing it is a challenge with Celia, a co-chair (?), jealous and undermining her efforts and with the crazy mishaps at every turn. On opening night, a body is discovered and it’s interesting to see how it all comes together and plays out by the end.

 The Christmas Appeal was fun. The story is told through an epistolary format: emails and text messages, and it did take me a little bit to get into the story since I hadn’t read the first book in the series. Also, the way the text messages displayed on my Kindle were so small I’d have to either magnify through my phone or enlarge the font every time I’d get to a page where we went back to texting. I think I would’ve fared better reading it on my iPad because I could enlarge the page without so much hassle. I’m sure this isn’t a problem with a print copy or the finished e-copy, but it did slow my progress and impact the pace of the story for me.

The discovery of the body didn’t happen until well into the story so most of it is the politics, backbiting and hilarity between these crazy characters! It all works out and there’s a little twist in the end I enjoyed!

3.5 Stars


Book Description:

This immersive holiday caper from the “modern Agatha Christie” (The Sunday Times, London) follows the hilarious Fairway Players theater group as they put on a Christmas play—and solve a murder that threatens their production.

The Christmas season has arrived in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive holiday production of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise money for a new church roof. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking among the amateur theater enthusiasts with petty rivalries, a possibly asbestos-filled beanstalk, and some perennially absent players behind the scenes.

Of course, there’s also the matter of the dead body onstage. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they investigate Christmas letters, examine emails, and pore over police transcripts to identify both the victim and killer before the curtain closes on their holiday production—for good.


18 comments:

  1. Were the text messages images? I have encountered that before, but usually you can tap and make it bigger. It's annoying though.

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    1. I think so. I wasn't able to tap on my Kindle to make it bigger, but I probably could've on my iPad. I have another book by this author to read and I think it's a similar format so I'll definitely read by iPad next.

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  2. That is a very interesting form of writing that you don't see very often. ITs creative but I think I would struggle with it a ton. lol

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  3. I've read a book like that before and had the same problem. I'm glad you still enjoyed the book.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  4. I'm glad you were able to enjoy it.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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  5. Replies
    1. It is a fun, original way of storytelling! A nice break from the usual! :)

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  6. Interesting premise, and the epistolary aspect is one I'd enjoy. Nice review!

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  7. I had fun with this one too, though I agree about the style taking some getting used to.

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    1. Yes! I think if there's more stories in the series I'll be quicker to adapt. :)

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  8. I'm glad you enjoyed it, despite the problems with the font. I had to read it on my tablet for the same reason, I couldn't read it on my phone. I enjoyed it as well as The Appeal.

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  9. I love the cover of this book but didn't realize it was told via letters, emails, etc. Love that! I know this writer has several other books so I'm curious if this is part of a series. Will have to look for this one - glad ot hear you enjoyed it!

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