⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars
The Appeal is an epistolary mystery novel that uses mostly emails to create a case study, handed to a pair of young law students Femi and Charlotte. The QC in charge is convinced that the wrong person has been convicted of murder, but he needs them to come to their own conclusions using only the evidence available.
It is now the reader's job to work through the communications of this small community in Lockwood, centred around an amateur dramatics group.
‘Your role as fresh young eyes on this is crucial.’
This book awakened the detective in me, there were post-it notes galore! I really enjoyed the challenge and in three evenings It was both laborious and satisfying to make my way through and solve the mysteries that Hallett serves up.
This is not your average mystery novel, the premise is clever but not for everyone. If you like a puzzle and will happily pour through hundreds of emails and interview transcripts to work out the answers you want. This one is for you!
I was left with a few unanswered questions but mostly a sense of satisfaction that I had worked out a few of the bigger questions pretty quickly. Can’t tell you why this isn’t a 5 star read without spoiling it, so you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out.
I am very eager to get the post-it pad out again and read Hallett’s second novel The Twyford Code.
Have you read either of these books? Did you enjoy piecing together the puzzle or does this format put you off?
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