What do you think?
Rate this book
The Appeal #2
The Silent Appeal
11 hours, 32 minutes
From “modern Agatha Christie” (The Sunday Times, London) Janice Hallett, a follow-up to her blockbuster debut novel The Appeal, featuring the Fairway Players as they put on Agatha Christie’s play The Hollow and find themselves embroiled in murder, blackmail, and betrayal once again.
Welcome back to Lower Lockwood. The Fairway Players return with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee cochairs. This year, they have chosen to stage Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But auditions aren’t their only problem: Sarah-Jane’s sister, Nicky-Rose, is suddenly back in town under mysterious circumstances, having sold her home in Barbados, left her business providing entertainment on cruise ships, and moved back into their mother Carol’s house.
As always, they’re short on men, and new Player Fran Elroy-Jones enlists a young married couple and the husband’s cousin to join. But no one wants to play the part of the hated Gerda, leaving Kevin and Sarah-Jane with no option but to reach out to an old member they know would be happy to perform in any role.
As with any production, tensions run high, and our intrepid lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with uncovering exactly what happened on the opening night of The Hollow—and whether the correct person has taken the blame.
From “modern Agatha Christie” (The Sunday Times, London) Janice Hallett, a follow-up to her blockbuster debut novel The Appeal, featuring the Fairway Players as they put on Agatha Christie’s play The Hollow and find themselves embroiled in murder, blackmail, and betrayal once again.
Welcome back to Lower Lockwood. The Fairway Players return with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee cochairs. This year, they have chosen to stage Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But auditions aren’t their only problem: Sarah-Jane’s sister, Nicky-Rose, is suddenly back in town under mysterious circumstances, having sold her home in Barbados, left her business providing entertainment on cruise ships, and moved back into their mother Carol’s house.
As always, they’re short on men, and new Player Fran Elroy-Jones enlists a young married couple and the husband’s cousin to join. But no one wants to play the part of the hated Gerda, leaving Kevin and Sarah-Jane with no option but to reach out to an old member they know would be happy to perform in any role.
As with any production, tensions run high, and our intrepid lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with uncovering exactly what happened on the opening night of The Hollow—and whether the correct person has taken the blame.
Audiobook
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Janice Hallett
16 books2,888 followersJanice Hallett is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the Cabinet Office, Home Office, and Department for International Development. Her enthusiasm for travel has taken her around the world several times, from Madagascar to the Galapagos, Guatemala to Zimbabwe, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. A playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and cowrote the feature film Retreat. The Appeal is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews
September 8, 2026
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Silent Appeal (The Appeal #2)
Janice Hallett
Publication Date: September 1st, 2026
Atria Books
480 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
This story takes place in Lower Lockwood, where an amateur theatre group called the Fairway Players is getting ready to produce Agatha Christie's play, The Hollow. Facing a shortage of cast members, the players and their committee leaders, Sarah-Jane and Kevin, try to recruit new people. But then, out of the blue, Sarah-Jane's sister, Nicola, returns. When a murder occurs on opening night, the blackmail, betrayals, and investigations begin. Two lawyers, Femi and Charlotte, are put in charge of sifting through all the evidence.
The story is told in an epistolary style, which I love. There are texts, WhatsApp messages, emails, and transcripts to read through. The reader is taken along for the ride and gets to play detective as well. In a word, this town is chaotic, but the story and mystery are brilliant.
I liked the format of the book so much—it was very realistic and true to life. It made the whole narrative truly character-driven, and with a cast like this, it was fabulous. There is lots of passive-aggressiveness going on, and personalities shine through the everyday messages being sent. The small-town feel is evident, where everyone knows everyone and all the drama, rivalries, gossip, and suspicions come to light.
The lawyers, Femi and Charlotte, have to go through an evidence file to see if a certain person is actually guilty, giving the reader the chance to examine all the pieces too. They also help balance out the chaos of the townspeople. These check-ins with them help you digest all the information without giving anything away.
The sheer number of characters may feel daunting at first, and the quick pace of the messages means you have to pay close attention. Still, I found it to be very clever and charming—just the way a cozy mystery should be. It's perfect for fans of a great whodunit.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Silent Appeal (The Appeal #2)
Janice Hallett
Publication Date: September 1st, 2026
Atria Books
480 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
This story takes place in Lower Lockwood, where an amateur theatre group called the Fairway Players is getting ready to produce Agatha Christie's play, The Hollow. Facing a shortage of cast members, the players and their committee leaders, Sarah-Jane and Kevin, try to recruit new people. But then, out of the blue, Sarah-Jane's sister, Nicola, returns. When a murder occurs on opening night, the blackmail, betrayals, and investigations begin. Two lawyers, Femi and Charlotte, are put in charge of sifting through all the evidence.
The story is told in an epistolary style, which I love. There are texts, WhatsApp messages, emails, and transcripts to read through. The reader is taken along for the ride and gets to play detective as well. In a word, this town is chaotic, but the story and mystery are brilliant.
I liked the format of the book so much—it was very realistic and true to life. It made the whole narrative truly character-driven, and with a cast like this, it was fabulous. There is lots of passive-aggressiveness going on, and personalities shine through the everyday messages being sent. The small-town feel is evident, where everyone knows everyone and all the drama, rivalries, gossip, and suspicions come to light.
The lawyers, Femi and Charlotte, have to go through an evidence file to see if a certain person is actually guilty, giving the reader the chance to examine all the pieces too. They also help balance out the chaos of the townspeople. These check-ins with them help you digest all the information without giving anything away.
The sheer number of characters may feel daunting at first, and the quick pace of the messages means you have to pay close attention. Still, I found it to be very clever and charming—just the way a cozy mystery should be. It's perfect for fans of a great whodunit.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Told in Hallett’s signature epistolary style, The Silent Appeal was yet another slam dunk of brain-teasing fun. Wrapping a murder mystery up in interpersonal drama, small-town secrets, and community-theater dysfunction, it was a clever puzzle-box of a mystery that kept me guessing from page one. Thanks to the case-file-like format of various documents, I was instantly an armchair detective as the snarky, dark humor made the ride into one where I just couldn’t stop laughing out loud. I mean, how could anyone keep a straight face as they’re plunged into the middle of some truly petty rivalries, grudges, jealousies, and love triangles? Don’t get me wrong, I had an absolute blast as the witty banter intersected with ridiculous antics for a rollicking good time. Addictive, twisty, and with a touch of satire, I couldn’t put it down and read all 450 pages in under 24 hours.
So what else did I love about this second book in a series? Well, I’m always a fan of quirky small towns. Add to that a story-within-a-story narrative packed with distinctive voices, and I’m a guaranteed fan. But the deliciously chaotic crew and their gossip-worthy behavior was what made it into an instant hole in one for this whodunnit lover. With a very Agatha Christie-esque feel this cozy mystery delivered in spades. You see, not only was this drama troupe performing The Hollow, but the story itself felt like a tribute to classic mysteries in the very best way. I do have to say, though, that it was somewhat of a slow burn and had a massive cast list. In spite of that, though, I couldn’t get enough of the Fairway Players and their messy-but-lovable personalities. A Midsomer Murder-meets-Agatha Christie kind of tale, I wholeheartedly suggest grabbing this one now. Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- A small-town setting
- Cozy mysteries
- Mixed-media format
- Dark humor
- Agatha Christie vibes
- Amateur sleuths
- Unreliable characters
- Distinctive voices
- Interpersonal drama
- Intricate plotting
- Gossipy behavior
- Puzzle-like mysteries
SYNOPSIS:
Welcome back to Lower Lockwood. The Fairway Players return with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee cochairs. This year, they have chosen to stage Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But auditions aren’t their only problem: Sarah-Jane’s sister, Nicky-Rose, is suddenly back in town under mysterious circumstances, having sold her home in Barbados, left her business providing entertainment on cruise ships, and moved back into their mother Carol’s house.
As always, they’re short on men, and new Player Fran Elroy-Jones enlists a young married couple and the husband’s cousin to join. But no one wants to play the part of the hated Gerda, leaving Kevin and Sarah-Jane with no option but to reach out to an old member they know would be happy to perform in any role.
As with any production, tensions run high, and our intrepid lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with uncovering exactly what happened on the opening night of The Hollow—and whether the correct person has taken the blame.
Thank you Janice Hallett and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 1, 2026
Content warning: gaslighting, drug use, infidelity, murder, death, pregnancy, mental illness, violence, trafficking, eating disorder, toxic friendship
So what else did I love about this second book in a series? Well, I’m always a fan of quirky small towns. Add to that a story-within-a-story narrative packed with distinctive voices, and I’m a guaranteed fan. But the deliciously chaotic crew and their gossip-worthy behavior was what made it into an instant hole in one for this whodunnit lover. With a very Agatha Christie-esque feel this cozy mystery delivered in spades. You see, not only was this drama troupe performing The Hollow, but the story itself felt like a tribute to classic mysteries in the very best way. I do have to say, though, that it was somewhat of a slow burn and had a massive cast list. In spite of that, though, I couldn’t get enough of the Fairway Players and their messy-but-lovable personalities. A Midsomer Murder-meets-Agatha Christie kind of tale, I wholeheartedly suggest grabbing this one now. Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- A small-town setting
- Cozy mysteries
- Mixed-media format
- Dark humor
- Agatha Christie vibes
- Amateur sleuths
- Unreliable characters
- Distinctive voices
- Interpersonal drama
- Intricate plotting
- Gossipy behavior
- Puzzle-like mysteries
SYNOPSIS:
Welcome back to Lower Lockwood. The Fairway Players return with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee cochairs. This year, they have chosen to stage Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But auditions aren’t their only problem: Sarah-Jane’s sister, Nicky-Rose, is suddenly back in town under mysterious circumstances, having sold her home in Barbados, left her business providing entertainment on cruise ships, and moved back into their mother Carol’s house.
As always, they’re short on men, and new Player Fran Elroy-Jones enlists a young married couple and the husband’s cousin to join. But no one wants to play the part of the hated Gerda, leaving Kevin and Sarah-Jane with no option but to reach out to an old member they know would be happy to perform in any role.
As with any production, tensions run high, and our intrepid lawyers Femi and Charlotte are tasked with uncovering exactly what happened on the opening night of The Hollow—and whether the correct person has taken the blame.
Thank you Janice Hallett and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 1, 2026
Content warning: gaslighting, drug use, infidelity, murder, death, pregnancy, mental illness, violence, trafficking, eating disorder, toxic friendship
September 3, 2026
the setup…
The Fairway Players in Lower Lockwood are back again, this time with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee co-chairs. This year’s production is Agatha Christie’s The Hollow and there’s the typical jockeying for coveted roles but with a shortage of male performers, they’ve taken on three new Players, a married couple and the husband’s cousin. But on opening night after the performance, a shocking crime was discovered beyond the theater. Things aren’t always what they first seem.
the heart of the story…
The epistolary structure is a key element of this series and continues. It’s a favorite of mine and excellently executed here. The Players have distinctive personalities that are well reflected in their email and group app messages, often hilarious, sometimes snarky and always entertaining. There’s a lot of subterfuge and misdirection that kept me alert.
the narration…
It’s another multicast performance with a group of very talented narrators. I always knew which character was being voiced, essential in this story format. They sounded like a well rehearsed ensemble cast and I loved it!
the bottom line…
The lawyers Femi Hassan and Charlotte Holroyd are also back, setting the stage early that a murder was committed but the who, why and how undefined. It’s another clever performance on the pages that’s lively, gnarly and completely confounding. I hope there will be future performances by The Fairway Players as I can’t seem to get enough of their productions.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
The Fairway Players in Lower Lockwood are back again, this time with Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald as committee co-chairs. This year’s production is Agatha Christie’s The Hollow and there’s the typical jockeying for coveted roles but with a shortage of male performers, they’ve taken on three new Players, a married couple and the husband’s cousin. But on opening night after the performance, a shocking crime was discovered beyond the theater. Things aren’t always what they first seem.
the heart of the story…
The epistolary structure is a key element of this series and continues. It’s a favorite of mine and excellently executed here. The Players have distinctive personalities that are well reflected in their email and group app messages, often hilarious, sometimes snarky and always entertaining. There’s a lot of subterfuge and misdirection that kept me alert.
the narration…
It’s another multicast performance with a group of very talented narrators. I always knew which character was being voiced, essential in this story format. They sounded like a well rehearsed ensemble cast and I loved it!
the bottom line…
The lawyers Femi Hassan and Charlotte Holroyd are also back, setting the stage early that a murder was committed but the who, why and how undefined. It’s another clever performance on the pages that’s lively, gnarly and completely confounding. I hope there will be future performances by The Fairway Players as I can’t seem to get enough of their productions.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 9, 2026
’Love is so strange, it changes how we see everything else’
The Silent Appeal is the hilarious, twisty and utterly brilliant mixed-media sequel to my favourite mystery novel of all time, The Appeal. We once again return to the town of Lockwood and the amateur drama group The Fairway Players who are putting on their yearly play - this time of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But when Sarah-Jane’s elusive sister Nicky-Rose makes her way home and becomes embroiled in the play, things start to take a sinister turn for the worst.
I absolutely adored this book much in the same way I adored its predecessor - for its genius humour, exciting reveals, engaging mystery and creative characters. Sarah-Jane and Kevin remain my firm favourites, but is also loved new editions Fran and Amelia as well. I just had such a wonderful time with this story, and although it didn’t have quite the same impact and final twist as The Appeal, it is certainly a worthy sequel.
I hope this isn’t the last we see of Lockwood or Fairways, but if it was it was a brilliant way to end our time there. Overall, The Silent Appeal gets 4.5/5 stars rounded down to 4/5 stars for Goodreads. There isn’t much I can go into with this book without spoiling the story, so I can only say what I write in every Janice Hallett book review - PLEASE CHECK THESE OUT !! You won’t be disappointed!
The Silent Appeal is the hilarious, twisty and utterly brilliant mixed-media sequel to my favourite mystery novel of all time, The Appeal. We once again return to the town of Lockwood and the amateur drama group The Fairway Players who are putting on their yearly play - this time of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. But when Sarah-Jane’s elusive sister Nicky-Rose makes her way home and becomes embroiled in the play, things start to take a sinister turn for the worst.
I absolutely adored this book much in the same way I adored its predecessor - for its genius humour, exciting reveals, engaging mystery and creative characters. Sarah-Jane and Kevin remain my firm favourites, but is also loved new editions Fran and Amelia as well. I just had such a wonderful time with this story, and although it didn’t have quite the same impact and final twist as The Appeal, it is certainly a worthy sequel.
I hope this isn’t the last we see of Lockwood or Fairways, but if it was it was a brilliant way to end our time there. Overall, The Silent Appeal gets 4.5/5 stars rounded down to 4/5 stars for Goodreads. There isn’t much I can go into with this book without spoiling the story, so I can only say what I write in every Janice Hallett book review - PLEASE CHECK THESE OUT !! You won’t be disappointed!
August 12, 2026
The Fairway Players are back with a new play, a few new faces, and another murder. This is the second book by Janice Hallett featuring the bucolic village of Lower Lockwood, England. Sarah-Jane and Kevin have chosen to present The Hollow, a play based on the eponymous book by Agatha Christie (sans Hercule Poirot). There are a few new faces amongst the regular cast and crew who bring a new set of problems to the always beleaguered troop of amateur actors. Will the play be ready for opening night? And will the opening night murder ruin their chances for a National Amateur Drama Award (NADA)?
The epistolary format allows for insight into the relationships and thoughts of the characters; it’s also an ingenious way to make the story lines easy to follow. We begin with a communication dated September 2025 between lawyers who are looking into a murder. Roderick Tanner is incrementally feeding Femi and Charlotte the texts and emails sent between the people involved in the production of the play. He doesn’t tell them who was murdered and who was convicted (he believes they have the wrong person in jail). These interactions are a way for us to go through the events that occur between January and September of 2025. By the time we get to the end, we have been part of each plot line.
The characters are quirky, the writing is witty, and the setting is right out of a British mystery program. I had a hard time putting this one down. The only problem I had was it was hard to read as an ebook (this is an ARC). There were so many characters, and in order to make it easy to access, I copied, pasted, and printed them to keep them handy (I am willing to share).
I’ve read several of Hallett’s books that are epistolary. We are not experiencing the events, but reading what the characters have written, which have then been chosen as relevant by Roderick Tanner. Everyone and everything is unreliable and open to misinterpretation. If it matters, I almost solved the mystery.
I highly recommend this 480 page (behemoth) novel.
I would like to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 3, 2026
I continue to really enjoy Janice Hallett’s books although I’m not sure, at this point, there’s much I can say that I haven’t said before. It was great fun to return to the world of
The Appeal
again, and I’d read 10 more of these, no matter how daft they get.
I received an advance review copy of The Silent Appeal from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received an advance review copy of The Silent Appeal from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 9, 2026
The Silent Appeal is a compelling sequel that picks up again with The Fairway Players a few years after the events of The Appeal. The group has come together to put on Agatha Christie's story, The Hollow and of course there is murder involved. Told once again in Hallett's signature style of mixed media we have a compelling story of gossip, betrayals, and obsession.
Every time I pick up a Hallett book I'm in awe of what a masterful storyteller she is with her ability to make characters come alive with her mixed media style. Each character has such a distinctive voice and there is just enough detail given about the setting that I could easily picture everything happening in my head. I also appreciated that there was so much interpersonal drama happening that it wasn't clear til the end what was the actual event that led to the lawyers getting involved in an appeal. And I was amazed at how many seeds had been planted by Hallett to make the murder possible.
As usual, there is a lot going on with the story. Between the play and each character's personal dramas it can be a lot to juggle. The Silent Appeal is a story that demands to be read as quickly as possible or else tendrils of the story will be lost and the ending will lose its impact. However, I found myself not really caring who died by the end of it because I was more personally invested in seeing the mystery of who killed who reveal itself. Also, after the high of figuring out who killed who I did think the remainder of the book felt a bit flat. There were moments I really liked but there were also some moments that pushed me out of the story a bit.
Overall this was a fantastic story that kept me fully engaged and turning pages as fast as I could. I will forever read anything Janice Hallett writes and I do hope that we get more from The Fairway Players in the future.
Every time I pick up a Hallett book I'm in awe of what a masterful storyteller she is with her ability to make characters come alive with her mixed media style. Each character has such a distinctive voice and there is just enough detail given about the setting that I could easily picture everything happening in my head. I also appreciated that there was so much interpersonal drama happening that it wasn't clear til the end what was the actual event that led to the lawyers getting involved in an appeal. And I was amazed at how many seeds had been planted by Hallett to make the murder possible.
As usual, there is a lot going on with the story. Between the play and each character's personal dramas it can be a lot to juggle. The Silent Appeal is a story that demands to be read as quickly as possible or else tendrils of the story will be lost and the ending will lose its impact. However, I found myself not really caring who died by the end of it because I was more personally invested in seeing the mystery of who killed who reveal itself. Also, after the high of figuring out who killed who I did think the remainder of the book felt a bit flat. There were moments I really liked but there were also some moments that pushed me out of the story a bit.
Overall this was a fantastic story that kept me fully engaged and turning pages as fast as I could. I will forever read anything Janice Hallett writes and I do hope that we get more from The Fairway Players in the future.
September 6, 2026
Another amazing mystery from one of my favorite authors! This one starts years ago with book 1 - The Appeal. In the first story, we're faced with a legal case on appeal and we're reading with 2 interns who are going through the file. It was a unique idea, told through emails, texts, scarps of papers and play posters and diary entries. I was instantly sucked in and loved it.
And here we are, back with book 2. We're again (amazingly!) back with the interns, only now they are lawyers. There is a new case involving some of the same crew from the previous story - the actors in a play house. I was instantly sucked back into the drama and the mystery, knowing that there was a murder and wondering who and how it all came back to that. It really is such a unique way to tell a story and I love it! I'll be anxiously awaiting our next from Janice Hallett!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
And here we are, back with book 2. We're again (amazingly!) back with the interns, only now they are lawyers. There is a new case involving some of the same crew from the previous story - the actors in a play house. I was instantly sucked back into the drama and the mystery, knowing that there was a murder and wondering who and how it all came back to that. It really is such a unique way to tell a story and I love it! I'll be anxiously awaiting our next from Janice Hallett!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Read
August 8, 2026A compelling reading experience that pulled me effortlessly through the pages.
The framing device is so effective: you’re tasked with poring through reams of text messages, emails, and other documentation from a community theatre group, in the knowledge that SOMETHING is going to happen and that SOMEONE is likely not what they seem (or many people)… but what and who? It’s a great way to approach a murder mystery, and skillfully done.
I read Janice Hallett’s first book when it came out, which is set among the same theatre group, but this one can be read as a standalone if desired.
Content note: There is QUITE a lot of profanity in some spots. No graphic scenes.
I was offered this digital ARC by Simon & Schuster through Edelweiss; all opinions are my own.
The framing device is so effective: you’re tasked with poring through reams of text messages, emails, and other documentation from a community theatre group, in the knowledge that SOMETHING is going to happen and that SOMEONE is likely not what they seem (or many people)… but what and who? It’s a great way to approach a murder mystery, and skillfully done.
I read Janice Hallett’s first book when it came out, which is set among the same theatre group, but this one can be read as a standalone if desired.
Content note: There is QUITE a lot of profanity in some spots. No graphic scenes.
I was offered this digital ARC by Simon & Schuster through Edelweiss; all opinions are my own.
Want to Read
May 5, 2026Oooo, what's this? More Janice Hallett!
I finally got around to The Killer Question earlier this month, and of course it was so much fun. Thank you so much, Atria! I'm excited for this.
I finally got around to The Killer Question earlier this month, and of course it was so much fun. Thank you so much, Atria! I'm excited for this.
July 8, 2026
Welcome back to the world of the Fairway Players! I must say, I enjoyed this one even more than book 1 in the series, The Appeal! Having just read it recently, I really appreciated the connections made to the first book, although this could be read as a standalone. This plot was a bit easier to follow than The Appeal, in my opinion, but was still a plethora of intricate stories amongst a variety of possible suspects. Like The Appeal, we get a look at a play within a play, this time, Agatha Christie in “The Hollow”. That was initially the draw of this particular book to me, as I love a good Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery! Told in an epistolary fashion, this is kind book is almost a puzzle within itself. Overall, I enjoyed this book but towards the 2/3rds mark, it started to drag a little for me. This would be a 3.5 for me!
Read
August 28, 2026So much fun!! Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
I thoroughly enjoyed being back with the Fairway Players again, meeting old friends and new, and trying to solve a murder. The Players are putting on The Hollow by Agatha Christie, bickering over parts, bickering over the set, bickering over everything.
I'll post the link to my Readers Guide soon, but if you need a Recap of The Appeal you can find that here!
I thoroughly enjoyed being back with the Fairway Players again, meeting old friends and new, and trying to solve a murder. The Players are putting on The Hollow by Agatha Christie, bickering over parts, bickering over the set, bickering over everything.
I'll post the link to my Readers Guide soon, but if you need a Recap of The Appeal you can find that here!
August 21, 2026
3.5
I have so many mixed emotions on this one. I LOVE the way Janice Hallett writes a mystery, she’s always able to keep me in the dark until the end. I was also excited to see The Fairway Players again, especially since I really loved The Appeal.
I think this did fall a little short, unfortunately. I love the mixed media format and feeling like a nosy snoop reading through the messages and emails. However, it felt like a majority of the book was focused on such minor gossip and the real mystery didn’t take center stage until the last 30%.
I just don’t think I was as engaged as I was with The Appeal.
I also think some of the reveals just didn’t have the punch that I typically look for like in her previous works.
I have so many mixed emotions on this one. I LOVE the way Janice Hallett writes a mystery, she’s always able to keep me in the dark until the end. I was also excited to see The Fairway Players again, especially since I really loved The Appeal.
I think this did fall a little short, unfortunately. I love the mixed media format and feeling like a nosy snoop reading through the messages and emails. However, it felt like a majority of the book was focused on such minor gossip and the real mystery didn’t take center stage until the last 30%.
I just don’t think I was as engaged as I was with The Appeal.
I also think some of the reveals just didn’t have the punch that I typically look for like in her previous works.
August 30, 2026
If you’re anything like me, there’s something irresistible about an epistolary novel. Give me a stack of fictional emails, texts, messages, and correspondence and I am immediately in full on nosy mode. The Silent Appeal absolutely delivers on that front, using its unconventional format to create a clever, twisty mystery that kept me questioning what I was reading, and, more importantly, what I was missing.
Set around an amateur theater group preparing to perform Agatha Christie’s The Hollow, this story has plenty of built in drama before anyone even gets around to murder. Between strained relationships, suspicious newcomers, secrets, blackmail, and a cast of characters who all seem to have something to hide, there is no shortage of potential motives. I especially enjoyed knowing that someone was lying without necessarily knowing why they were lying. The motivations behind everyone’s actions became just as interesting as figuring out who was responsible.
The plotting is smart and full of misdirection, with enough characters and storylines to keep you on your toes without losing sight of the central mystery. I also loved solving the case alongside Femi and Charlotte as they tried to piece together the evidence and determine whether the right person had actually been arrested. There’s something especially satisfying about a mystery that lets you play detective right along with the characters.
I read The Appeal but somehow haven’t gotten around to The Christmas Appeal yet, so that one is officially going on my holiday TBR. If it has even half the same deliciously nosy, dramatic energy as The Silent Appeal, I know I’m going to have a great time. A murder mystery told through correspondence, an amateur theater production, plenty of secrets and misdirection, and the chance to try to solve the case yourself? Absolutely my kind of reading experience.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Epistolary novels told through emails, texts, and correspondence
* Cleverly plotted mystery thrillers
* Amateur theater groups and behind the scenes drama
* Agatha Christie vibes
* Multiple suspects with secrets and hidden motives
* Twists, misdirection, and plenty of questions
* Legal investigations and playing detective
* Murder mysteries where you can try to solve the case alongside the characters
August 26, 2026
4.5 stars
Loved seeing this cast of characters again! The appeal holds a special place in my heart so I loved seeing them put on another play and all the drama, gossip, and death that it brought on.
This story is once again told through emails, texts, and letters which is makes it that much more intriguing! Not to mention, it’s so frustrating, but also fun, to have no idea what’s going on for most of the book lol!
I am absolutely obsessed with the Fairway Players and is it kinda bad to want another murder to happen at one of their plays so we could get another book? At this point I’ll even take a petty theft haha!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my arc in exchange for my honest review
Loved seeing this cast of characters again! The appeal holds a special place in my heart so I loved seeing them put on another play and all the drama, gossip, and death that it brought on.
This story is once again told through emails, texts, and letters which is makes it that much more intriguing! Not to mention, it’s so frustrating, but also fun, to have no idea what’s going on for most of the book lol!
I am absolutely obsessed with the Fairway Players and is it kinda bad to want another murder to happen at one of their plays so we could get another book? At this point I’ll even take a petty theft haha!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my arc in exchange for my honest review
August 26, 2026
I really loved being back in Lockwood with the Fairway Players. I also really love the way Janice Hallett writes her books, mixed media style. I usually give her books 5 stars, but I was very disappointed that I figured a lot of things out during the first 25% of the book. Nevertheless, I highly recommend reading this one if you love anything Janice writes.
September 5, 2026
4.5⭐️ I will read anything Janice Hallett writes!
September 7, 2026
Doesn’t seem five minutes since I was reviewing the (audiobook of) The Killer Question, but here we are with an ARC from Netgalley and publisher Viper of the forthcoming sequel to The Appeal, her first novel. Janice Hallett is on fire.
A couple of technical matters to begin with. I’ve consumed all of the Janice Hallett books I have “read” (which is almost all of them) as audiobooks, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy actually reading one, with my eyes, as an ebook. This is because she uses the modern-day epistolary form, doing away with a narrator, and having the plot unfold through emails and whatsapps and texts. There are also some facsimiles of paper documents. With the audiobook, you get the entertainment offered by different voices, but reading off the page or screen, you’ve only got your own brain.
As it turned out, it proved impossible to read the Kindle version of this provided by Netgalley, for a couple of reasons. The first was that, as they so often do, the ARC played havoc with my Kindle, causing it to crash literally every time I turned it on while reading the book. The second was that the Kindle formatting was hopeless, completely messing up the various text exchanges, failing to display tabular data, and generally making it difficult to follow. So I resorted to the Netgalley app, and read the facsimile of the printed version provided there. This was a different kind of pain because the pages obviously rendered tiny on my phone and I bloody hate reading on my phone screen, especially in the sun, which is where the Kindle wins every time.
That said, it was great to see how the book was meant to look, with a variety of different fonts and layouts, depending on the communications technology being used.
How was the book, and how was it to read one of these rather than listen?
Well, the reading experience was absolutely fine, though I still intend to get the audiobook version when it’s out, because I love those full cast recordings. And since this one features a particular character who was all over the original Appeal, I do hope they get the same voice actor.
As to the book, it was an odd experience, because I realised that it is a hell of a long time since I enjoyed reading anything quite this much. I’ve read 241 books over the past three years, and, setting aside audiobooks, of those 200+ books, there was not a single one I enjoyed as much as this. I absolutely blasted through it, even having to read it on my phone.
We’re back in Lower Lockwood, where the Fairway Players (excluding those in jail or overseas or otherwise making themselves scarce) are planning a production of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow.
The Hollow was originally a Poirot novel that Christie disliked because she regretted having the Belgian detective in it. So she recast it as a stage play, wrote Poirot out of it, and replaced him with a couple of regular policemen. The play takes place in a country house, with a cast consisting of the owner and his family, several houseguests, and a glamorous movie star. There are love triangles, a murder committed in plain sight, cousin marriages, and a dowdy wife who everybody thinks is slow-witted.
I explain all this because Hallett brilliantly riffs on The Hollow while weaving her own mystery around the amateur dramatics. Successful businessman Kevin McDonald is to direct, with his Microsoft Excel-fixated wife Sarah-Jane as producer. A spanner is thrown in the works when Sarah-Jane’s sister Nicky-Rose reappears after 20 years working in entertainment on cruise ships. When casting the play, they find themselves both short of men and short of anyone willing to play the drudge.
So they send out an appeal to former members of the troupe, and… in they come. If you know, you know, as they say.
There are dodgy dealings, there are drugs, there are risky props, on-stage accidents, charity appeals, affairs, love triangles, pregnancies, cousins, limerent obsessions, and lots and lots and lots of texts, emails, and whatsapps. There’s at least one hilarious “Reply All” and a dangerous copy-paste.
All of this is overseen by lawyers Femi and Charlotte, who have to try to work out what has happened and whether it can be the basis of an appeal for someone who is in jail for murder. The whole thing is a hoot from start to finish, even better, I think, than the original Appeal, because, well, you already know what a certain character is like and what they’re likely to do.
It’s a banger.
A couple of technical matters to begin with. I’ve consumed all of the Janice Hallett books I have “read” (which is almost all of them) as audiobooks, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy actually reading one, with my eyes, as an ebook. This is because she uses the modern-day epistolary form, doing away with a narrator, and having the plot unfold through emails and whatsapps and texts. There are also some facsimiles of paper documents. With the audiobook, you get the entertainment offered by different voices, but reading off the page or screen, you’ve only got your own brain.
As it turned out, it proved impossible to read the Kindle version of this provided by Netgalley, for a couple of reasons. The first was that, as they so often do, the ARC played havoc with my Kindle, causing it to crash literally every time I turned it on while reading the book. The second was that the Kindle formatting was hopeless, completely messing up the various text exchanges, failing to display tabular data, and generally making it difficult to follow. So I resorted to the Netgalley app, and read the facsimile of the printed version provided there. This was a different kind of pain because the pages obviously rendered tiny on my phone and I bloody hate reading on my phone screen, especially in the sun, which is where the Kindle wins every time.
That said, it was great to see how the book was meant to look, with a variety of different fonts and layouts, depending on the communications technology being used.
How was the book, and how was it to read one of these rather than listen?
Well, the reading experience was absolutely fine, though I still intend to get the audiobook version when it’s out, because I love those full cast recordings. And since this one features a particular character who was all over the original Appeal, I do hope they get the same voice actor.
As to the book, it was an odd experience, because I realised that it is a hell of a long time since I enjoyed reading anything quite this much. I’ve read 241 books over the past three years, and, setting aside audiobooks, of those 200+ books, there was not a single one I enjoyed as much as this. I absolutely blasted through it, even having to read it on my phone.
We’re back in Lower Lockwood, where the Fairway Players (excluding those in jail or overseas or otherwise making themselves scarce) are planning a production of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow.
The Hollow was originally a Poirot novel that Christie disliked because she regretted having the Belgian detective in it. So she recast it as a stage play, wrote Poirot out of it, and replaced him with a couple of regular policemen. The play takes place in a country house, with a cast consisting of the owner and his family, several houseguests, and a glamorous movie star. There are love triangles, a murder committed in plain sight, cousin marriages, and a dowdy wife who everybody thinks is slow-witted.
I explain all this because Hallett brilliantly riffs on The Hollow while weaving her own mystery around the amateur dramatics. Successful businessman Kevin McDonald is to direct, with his Microsoft Excel-fixated wife Sarah-Jane as producer. A spanner is thrown in the works when Sarah-Jane’s sister Nicky-Rose reappears after 20 years working in entertainment on cruise ships. When casting the play, they find themselves both short of men and short of anyone willing to play the drudge.
So they send out an appeal to former members of the troupe, and… in they come. If you know, you know, as they say.
There are dodgy dealings, there are drugs, there are risky props, on-stage accidents, charity appeals, affairs, love triangles, pregnancies, cousins, limerent obsessions, and lots and lots and lots of texts, emails, and whatsapps. There’s at least one hilarious “Reply All” and a dangerous copy-paste.
All of this is overseen by lawyers Femi and Charlotte, who have to try to work out what has happened and whether it can be the basis of an appeal for someone who is in jail for murder. The whole thing is a hoot from start to finish, even better, I think, than the original Appeal, because, well, you already know what a certain character is like and what they’re likely to do.
It’s a banger.
September 11, 2026
In the Silent Appeal, Janice Hallett has masterfully succeeded in telling a murder story without giving us a murder, victim or suspects until the end! Brilliant! To add to the delight and humor, some of the same characters return from her first book, The Appeal. Once again, the story is told via email and text and group chats.
This year's Fairway Players theatre production is Agatha Christie's The Hollow. It is being directed by Kevin and Sarah Jane McDonald. As the auditions begin and there are a couple of juicy women's parts up for grabs everyone vies for the starring roles. But unfortunately, both Kevin and Sarah Jane were hoping Sarah Jane's mother would help them out by babysitting, but she opts to audition at another playhouse leaving Sarh Jane as the babysitter in chief and Keven the director in confusion.
Sarah Jane's sister Nicky Rose who has not been seen in these parts in years as she has been living in Barbados and who with a business partner owns an entertainment company which cruise ships hire talent from appears out of the blue. For what reason? No one knows.
She will not tell anybody why she has come back and acts very mysterious. But she has a knack for theater and Kevin immediately hires her to be his assistant. As the players receive their parts, some not very happy with the casting, one in particular drops out which unfortunately for Kevin leaves him and Sarah Jane searching for a substitute. And who they find is someone, well, the readers will know very well for stirring up trouble as well as being overly friendly. What a treat I may add!
The story takes the reader through the rehearsals, a stage accident and the very different personalities of the characters and the secrets most of them are keeping. Some, affairs, some blackmail and some obsessive. But not as shocking there are secrets, misunderstanding and a very unlikely heroine!
Until opening night when a theatre award critic is in the audience and lo and behold someone is murdered!
I truly don't want to give anything of substance away as The Silent Appeal is so funny, enjoyable, mysterious and actually very surprising! The uniqueness of the plot and the twists and turns in the lives of the characters will keep you riveted until the last word! My one wish is this series continues.
Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaPress #TheSilentAppeal #JaniceHallett for the advanced copy.
This year's Fairway Players theatre production is Agatha Christie's The Hollow. It is being directed by Kevin and Sarah Jane McDonald. As the auditions begin and there are a couple of juicy women's parts up for grabs everyone vies for the starring roles. But unfortunately, both Kevin and Sarah Jane were hoping Sarah Jane's mother would help them out by babysitting, but she opts to audition at another playhouse leaving Sarh Jane as the babysitter in chief and Keven the director in confusion.
Sarah Jane's sister Nicky Rose who has not been seen in these parts in years as she has been living in Barbados and who with a business partner owns an entertainment company which cruise ships hire talent from appears out of the blue. For what reason? No one knows.
She will not tell anybody why she has come back and acts very mysterious. But she has a knack for theater and Kevin immediately hires her to be his assistant. As the players receive their parts, some not very happy with the casting, one in particular drops out which unfortunately for Kevin leaves him and Sarah Jane searching for a substitute. And who they find is someone, well, the readers will know very well for stirring up trouble as well as being overly friendly. What a treat I may add!
The story takes the reader through the rehearsals, a stage accident and the very different personalities of the characters and the secrets most of them are keeping. Some, affairs, some blackmail and some obsessive. But not as shocking there are secrets, misunderstanding and a very unlikely heroine!
Until opening night when a theatre award critic is in the audience and lo and behold someone is murdered!
I truly don't want to give anything of substance away as The Silent Appeal is so funny, enjoyable, mysterious and actually very surprising! The uniqueness of the plot and the twists and turns in the lives of the characters will keep you riveted until the last word! My one wish is this series continues.
Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaPress #TheSilentAppeal #JaniceHallett for the advanced copy.
August 31, 2026
I had SUCH a good time with this book. Janice Hallett really knows how to write a mystery that makes me feel like I need a corkboard, red string, and about 47 tabs open at all times 😂
I have read a lot of Janice Hallet’s books and I am always so impressed with how much depth and personality she is able to capture through just the use of texts and emails. I feel like I know all the Fairway Players so well by now.
I love epistolary format so much because you’re not just reading about an investigation, you actually feel like you’re part of it. I was constantly picking apart messages, questioning tiny details, going back to things I had already read, and changing my mind about basically everyone.
The way everything slowly starts clicking into place was SO satisfying, and I loved how little details that seemed completely unimportant ended up mattering later. Every time I thought I finally had it figured out, something else would happen and send me right back into detective mode.
At this point I’m pretty such Id love anything Janice Hallet writes. Her style is just so unique and addicting to read. This was an easy 5 stars for me!!
Thank you to Atria books for a copy of the e-book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I have read a lot of Janice Hallet’s books and I am always so impressed with how much depth and personality she is able to capture through just the use of texts and emails. I feel like I know all the Fairway Players so well by now.
I love epistolary format so much because you’re not just reading about an investigation, you actually feel like you’re part of it. I was constantly picking apart messages, questioning tiny details, going back to things I had already read, and changing my mind about basically everyone.
The way everything slowly starts clicking into place was SO satisfying, and I loved how little details that seemed completely unimportant ended up mattering later. Every time I thought I finally had it figured out, something else would happen and send me right back into detective mode.
At this point I’m pretty such Id love anything Janice Hallet writes. Her style is just so unique and addicting to read. This was an easy 5 stars for me!!
Thank you to Atria books for a copy of the e-book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 7, 2026
Five stars again for this epistolary mystery by Janice Hallett. I completely adore all her books. I have loved a puzzle mystery since I was a teenager and read The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I feel like these books are a worthy successor to that legendary author. Everything is so creative and it feels just like found material in vibe and tone and characterization. The way each person writes is unique just like in real life but it takes a talented writer to pull that off in a mystery of this type. And if you are really observant you will find the Easter eggs (clues) in The Silent Appeal. I spotted a few but missed several others. The mystery is very tight and well constructed. I know this form of book isn’t everyone’s cuppa but I would urge all mystery lovers to pick up this book or one of her others. They are so unique. I already can’t wait for her next book!
I received this advanced readers copy via NetGalley and thank the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review.
I received this advanced readers copy via NetGalley and thank the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review.
September 1, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! Janice Hallett once again gives us mystery told through an epistolary format: emails, messages, documents, and other bits of correspondence. I loved feeling like I was right there trying to piece everything together myself. There are so many secrets, (oh my gosh!), complex relationships, suspicious sneaking around and conversations, and possible red herrings that I changed my mind more than once about what was actually important.
I also enjoyed the amateur theater setting and the large cast of characters. It took me a little more than a minute to keep everyone and their relationships straight, but once I did, I became completely caught up in all the drama happening both onstage and off. There were some really funny moments along the way too, which I appreciated.
This kept me guessing and entertained all the way through. I didn't love it quite enough for five stars, but it was another clever and very enjoyable mystery from Janice Hallett.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I also enjoyed the amateur theater setting and the large cast of characters. It took me a little more than a minute to keep everyone and their relationships straight, but once I did, I became completely caught up in all the drama happening both onstage and off. There were some really funny moments along the way too, which I appreciated.
This kept me guessing and entertained all the way through. I didn't love it quite enough for five stars, but it was another clever and very enjoyable mystery from Janice Hallett.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 25, 2026
Oh how I loved this one! Not surprising, as I am a huge Janice Hallett fan!! These characters are so entertaining between the behaviors and their banter! I was kept guessing up until the end too! Highly recommend!! 👏
Thank you partner Atria Books for the gifted eARC and physical ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Thank you partner Atria Books for the gifted eARC and physical ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
May 13, 2026
THE SILENT APPEAL by @janice.hallett
📖 book review • out 08.25.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers for my gifted copy #atriapartner
yesss, I know this review is way early, but I was very unmotivated by any books that I was looking at.. and sometimes a Janice Hallett book just hits the right way 👌🏻 told in texts & emails, our favorite investigators are back solving ANOTHER murder with the fairway players. and with the way it’s written out, it’s sooo easy to say, just a few more pages!
definitely read book one, The Appeal, first. that’s where you really learn these characters and their personalities. Something about the way her books are written feel like solving a puzzle in my brain is so gratifying, I can’t recommend them enough! Thank you Atria Books for helping me find one of my new favorite mystery writers 🫶
📖 book review • out 08.25.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers for my gifted copy #atriapartner
yesss, I know this review is way early, but I was very unmotivated by any books that I was looking at.. and sometimes a Janice Hallett book just hits the right way 👌🏻 told in texts & emails, our favorite investigators are back solving ANOTHER murder with the fairway players. and with the way it’s written out, it’s sooo easy to say, just a few more pages!
definitely read book one, The Appeal, first. that’s where you really learn these characters and their personalities. Something about the way her books are written feel like solving a puzzle in my brain is so gratifying, I can’t recommend them enough! Thank you Atria Books for helping me find one of my new favorite mystery writers 🫶
September 11, 2026
devoured it. instant buy & instant read. so much fun to read and as usual keeps you hooked until the very end. I’ll be waiting for the next 🫡
August 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Goodreads for the gifted ARCs!
4.5 stars rounded up. I read The Appeal a few years ago, and that was my first experience with a book told entirely through emails, texts, and other documents. I’ve read quite a few multimedia mysteries since then, but Janice Hallett just has such a way of doing it.
Going into this one, I only knew that a murder happened at some point. I had no idea who the victim was, who could have done it, or even when it happened. I loved that I was trying to piece all of that together while reading through the evidence. As someone who majored in Criminal Justice and wanted to work in that field for most of my life, this kind of book is so much fun for me. I love feeling like I’m the detective, picking up on clues and trying to solve the case before everything is revealed.
While this is technically a sequel to The Appeal, I really think it works as a standalone. There are a few returning characters, but I never felt like you needed to remember everything from the first book to enjoy this one. That said, if you’re someone who likes knowing the full backstory, I’d still recommend reading them in order.
The ending didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had built up along the way, but I think that’s because I was having so much fun trying to solve the mystery myself. The journey was easily my favorite part, and I loved piecing everything together as I went. If you’re looking for a mystery that makes you feel like you’re solving the case right alongside the investigators, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
4.5 stars rounded up. I read The Appeal a few years ago, and that was my first experience with a book told entirely through emails, texts, and other documents. I’ve read quite a few multimedia mysteries since then, but Janice Hallett just has such a way of doing it.
Going into this one, I only knew that a murder happened at some point. I had no idea who the victim was, who could have done it, or even when it happened. I loved that I was trying to piece all of that together while reading through the evidence. As someone who majored in Criminal Justice and wanted to work in that field for most of my life, this kind of book is so much fun for me. I love feeling like I’m the detective, picking up on clues and trying to solve the case before everything is revealed.
While this is technically a sequel to The Appeal, I really think it works as a standalone. There are a few returning characters, but I never felt like you needed to remember everything from the first book to enjoy this one. That said, if you’re someone who likes knowing the full backstory, I’d still recommend reading them in order.
The ending didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had built up along the way, but I think that’s because I was having so much fun trying to solve the mystery myself. The journey was easily my favorite part, and I loved piecing everything together as I went. If you’re looking for a mystery that makes you feel like you’re solving the case right alongside the investigators, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
July 27, 2026
Another read from Janice Hallett that totally delivered. The Appeal is my favorite of her books, so this follow up returning to some of the same characters was really fun. The book is told as a case file made up of emails, texts, letters, etc. and while that may not be for every reader, I throughly enjoy the unique reading experience. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
July 14, 2026
The Fairway Players return for another production with a crime right at the center. Femi and Charlotte, now lawyers are tasked with seeing the crime from another angle.
This was such a good one!
If you are a fan of Hallett's books, this one is for you. It has her usual humor and sleight of hand twists and turns. If you haven't read her books, now is the time. If you are a fan of murder mystery games where you get objects and have to solve the case, this is perfect for you. The entire book is told in texts, emails, and other source documents. You have to read all of them so carefully to see the actual mystery come through. Can you see what happened before Femi and Charlotte? That's the goal!
This book, like all of Hallett's are so unique!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
This was such a good one!
If you are a fan of Hallett's books, this one is for you. It has her usual humor and sleight of hand twists and turns. If you haven't read her books, now is the time. If you are a fan of murder mystery games where you get objects and have to solve the case, this is perfect for you. The entire book is told in texts, emails, and other source documents. You have to read all of them so carefully to see the actual mystery come through. Can you see what happened before Femi and Charlotte? That's the goal!
This book, like all of Hallett's are so unique!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
August 25, 2026
The modern queen of epistolary mysteries, Janice Hallett, has returned with “The Silent Appeal,” which can definitely be a standalone although it returns with some familiar characters who are again putting on a play in Lower Lockwood. The Fairway Players company present Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow” and, again, a murder interrupts the performances.
As readers, we are reading the attached documentation that was presented at trial and now in the hands of two young lawyers (Femi and Charlotte). The convicted person’s barrister (Roderick Tanner) is asking his colleagues to review the adjudicated case and read in between the lines, “the silent parts,” to determine if a wrongful conviction has occurred and an appeal filed.
As the trial evidence, transcripts of texts, and emails unfold (while not in chronological order), we’re trying to keep up with Femi, Charlotte and Tanner’s observations (especially multiple love triangles, not only in the play, but among the theatrical players).
I absolutely loved Hallett’s characters, many of whom were first introduced in “The Appeal.”. The chaos personality is Isabel who provides loads of gossip in her journals; Sarah-Jane and her mother Carol have the weirdest “I’m not talking to you” text messages; prodigal daughter Nicky-Rose has returned and no one knows why. The alternating rivalry and barely disguised animosity between the two teams of producer/directors, the MacDonalds and the Hallidays, is droll and amusing. Again, 5 stars for another of Hallett’s literary puzzles!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): No eye colors mentioned.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): Usually yellow roses are priced similarly to red ones, but, yes, Valentine’s Day is when price gouging for red ones occurs.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
As readers, we are reading the attached documentation that was presented at trial and now in the hands of two young lawyers (Femi and Charlotte). The convicted person’s barrister (Roderick Tanner) is asking his colleagues to review the adjudicated case and read in between the lines, “the silent parts,” to determine if a wrongful conviction has occurred and an appeal filed.
As the trial evidence, transcripts of texts, and emails unfold (while not in chronological order), we’re trying to keep up with Femi, Charlotte and Tanner’s observations (especially multiple love triangles, not only in the play, but among the theatrical players).
I absolutely loved Hallett’s characters, many of whom were first introduced in “The Appeal.”. The chaos personality is Isabel who provides loads of gossip in her journals; Sarah-Jane and her mother Carol have the weirdest “I’m not talking to you” text messages; prodigal daughter Nicky-Rose has returned and no one knows why. The alternating rivalry and barely disguised animosity between the two teams of producer/directors, the MacDonalds and the Hallidays, is droll and amusing. Again, 5 stars for another of Hallett’s literary puzzles!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): No eye colors mentioned.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): Usually yellow roses are priced similarly to red ones, but, yes, Valentine’s Day is when price gouging for red ones occurs.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
September 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the Appeal back in 2022? It was my first mixed media novel and I fell in love with Hallett's unique approach to storytelling. So finding out we were stepping back into the world of the Appeal again (okay yes there is the novella but i did skip that ... ) i was very excited.
The best part of this novel is that you really dont NEED to read the previous installment to enjoy this one, which imo is a fantastic aspect of a sequel in the mystery thriller genre. I can confidently say this because unfortunately the intricacies of the previous book have slipped my mind and i have no issues following our new story.
We are once again following along with Femi and Charlotte as they are given a new stack of documents from their boss in a race against time to figure out what happened in this case and help their client (whose identity is revealed at the end) prove what happened on That Night.
This brought back some familiar faces, and put us in an entirely new mystery where i once again fell for the red herrings and was racing along until the end to see whodunit.
While I do think the Appeal is stronger, (and if you're really curious, Alperton Angels is my favorite Hallett novel) I can confidently say if you're a fan of the Appeal or Hallett in general you will also enjoy this installment
When I read the Appeal back in 2022? It was my first mixed media novel and I fell in love with Hallett's unique approach to storytelling. So finding out we were stepping back into the world of the Appeal again (okay yes there is the novella but i did skip that ... ) i was very excited.
The best part of this novel is that you really dont NEED to read the previous installment to enjoy this one, which imo is a fantastic aspect of a sequel in the mystery thriller genre. I can confidently say this because unfortunately the intricacies of the previous book have slipped my mind and i have no issues following our new story.
We are once again following along with Femi and Charlotte as they are given a new stack of documents from their boss in a race against time to figure out what happened in this case and help their client (whose identity is revealed at the end) prove what happened on That Night.
This brought back some familiar faces, and put us in an entirely new mystery where i once again fell for the red herrings and was racing along until the end to see whodunit.
While I do think the Appeal is stronger, (and if you're really curious, Alperton Angels is my favorite Hallett novel) I can confidently say if you're a fan of the Appeal or Hallett in general you will also enjoy this installment
Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews