The Appeal

* THE SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH *

'This dazzlingly clever cosy crime novel completely trumps Richard Osman. A modern Agatha Christie' - SUNDAY TIMES

'This is a case you're about to become obsessed with. A triumph' - ALEX NORTH

'A daring debut... Hallett will soon have you laughing out loud' - THE TIMES

'Gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach' - SOPHIE HANNAH

In a town full of secrets...
Someone was murdered.
Someone went to prison.
And everyone's a suspect.
Can you uncover the truth?

Dear Reader - enclosed are all the documents you need to solve a case. It starts with the arrival of two mysterious newcomers to the small town of Lockwood, and ends with a tragic death.

Someone has already been convicted of this brutal murder and is currently in prison, but we suspect they are innocent. What's more, we believe far darker secrets have yet to be revealed.

Throughout the Fairway Players' staging of All My Sons and the charity appeal for little Poppy Reswick's life-saving medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. Yet we believe they gave themselves away. In writing. The evidence is all here, between the lines, waiting to be discovered.

Will you accept the challenge? Can you uncover the truth?

The standout debut thriller of 2021 that delivers multiple brilliant twists, and will change the way you think about the modern crime novel.

'Extremely addictive, it will reel you in, one piece of evidence at a time' - ALEX PAVESI

'Takes the whodunnit to a whole new level. A rare feat' - ELIZABETH HAYNES

'Fiendishly clever and totally gripping' - CASS GREEN

'A cracking book. Fresh, original and very clever' - MEL SHERRATT

Genre: Mystery

"A totally original take on a thriller - intriguing and dark but with a dash of humour - I raced through it." - Catherine Cooper

"A wonderfully revealing portrait of how we communicate - what we hide and show of ourselves. It's sharp, funny, a brilliant game, and once you start playing you won't be able to stop." - Rachel Elliott

"Highly original with characters that leap off the page. An addictive read." - Michelle Frances

"Fiendishly clever, highly original and totally gripping." - Cass Green

"Brilliantly crafted, The Appeal is a refreshingly different take on the modern crime novel. Full of suspicion and secrets, I raced my way to the end - and what an ending!" - Lisa Hall

"Very gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach." - Sophie Hannah

"Takes the whodunnit to a whole new level. Intriguing, clever and above all, wholly original. A rare feat indeed, and to be savoured." - Elizabeth Haynes

"I loved this - it's utterly compulsive and unlike anything I've read in a while. It is such a cliche to say it, but I genuinely could NOT put it down. Bravo." - Katie Lowe

"A very clever novel that puts you in the place of an investigator. A hugely enjoyable challenge and a most original book." - Jane Lythell

"Brilliantly original, inventive and clever. I loved this book and you will too." - Phoebe Morgan

"The Appeal grips from the start, expertly stage-managing emails and messages to create an intriguing mystery with a cast of vivid, memorable characters. Original, clever, devious - and never less than utterly compelling - this is a case you're about to become obsessed with. A real triumph." - Alex North

"One of the most enjoyable books I've read all year. Extremely addictive, it will reel you in, one piece of evidence at a time. Ingenious and highly original." - Alex Pavesi

"What a cracking book. Fresh, original and very clever." - Mel Sherratt