Appeal

by Janice Hallett

Genres: Thrillers; Psychological Thrillers

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell, this “dazzlingly clever” (The Sunday Times, London) murder mystery follows a community rallying around a sick child—but when escalating lies lead to a dead body, everyone is a suspect.

The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals for an Arthur Miller play, when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Haywood and his wife Helen, the play’s star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their fellow castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival.

But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy—nor of the good intentions of those involved. New actress Sam, a former NGO worker, raises doubts. But are her suspicions justified? Or does she have a history with the doctor involved? As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head the night of the dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon, an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material—emails, messages, letters—with a growing suspicion that a killer may still be on the loose.

A wholly modern take on the epistolary novel, The Appeal is a “daring…clever and funny” (The Times) debut for fans of Richard Osman and Lucy Foley.

Release date: January 25, 2022

Publisher: Atria Books

Print pages: 448

Sample

1. Sandra, please deliver to Femi and Charlotte

Sandra, please deliver to Femi and Charlotte
Olufemi Hassan

Charlotte Holroyd

Dear both,

As discussed, it is best you know nothing before you read the enclosed. Please bear in mind:

1. Only a limited number of emails, texts, and messages could be recovered, so the correspondence is not complete.
2. It is, however, broadly chronological.
3. I’ve included various extras—i.e. newspaper clippings, social-media activity, and other sundries—in the pursuit of context.
4. If I come across anything else of interest I will forward it to you.

See what you think.

RT

Roderick Tanner, QC

Senior Partner

Tanner & Dewey LLP