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jazhandz's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A decent mystery and easily Hallett’s weakest book. Two standout thoughts about why this didn’t work for me:
1) the ending, and [thematic spoilers]the question of what to do if the justice system would actually harm victims, is a little heavy handed and unsuccessful, particularly compared to Alperton Angels, which handles that better, and;
2) the framing device of “Charlotte and Femi sum up what’s going on every so often” feels significantly more grating in a 200-page book than a 400-page book. I am not a mystery aficionado, I have trouble tracking clued and I don’t mind Hallett’s penchant for periodically repeating and emphasizing key details, but it is not done well here.
1) the ending, and [thematic spoilers]
2) the framing device of “Charlotte and Femi sum up what’s going on every so often” feels significantly more grating in a 200-page book than a 400-page book. I am not a mystery aficionado, I have trouble tracking clued and I don’t mind Hallett’s penchant for periodically repeating and emphasizing key details, but it is not done well here.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
A weird amount of asbestos discussionminimicropup's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A cute little story I enjoyed on the road during a wintery day.
Energy: Gallant. Familiar. Exhausting.
Scene: 🇬🇧 Late 2022, leading to the Christmas holidays in a British village.
Perspective: We follow multiple members of a club that puts on local plays (in this case, a rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk to fundraise for a new church roof).
🐕 Howls: The epistolary format became less effective for me once it was clear what had happened.
🐩 Tail Wags: The epistolary format overall. The caricatures of characters that felt so real. The problems, mix-ups, and sabotage.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
I could only get this on audio, but it was surprisingly easy to follow despite it being an extensive cast of characters all communicating online. Excellent voices and expressive narration helped to differentiate everyone too.
The story is sad and silly, but how it’s told felt true to life. The nit-picking, passive-aggressive comments, self-centred ramblings from certain members…it was a little satirical but also word-for-word how petty people communicate. Depending on what your inbox looks like rn, this could be cathartic or triggering 😅
Not that big a deal, and maybe the downside of epistolary in general, but once all the tea was spilled the continued communication suddenly lost interest for me. Not repetitive, but it felt like a formality to avoid an abrupt ending.
----
🎬 Tale-Telling: Told entirely through emails, WhatsApp, flyers, and police interview transcripts.
🤓 Reader Role: Reading all the emails and texts, piecing everything together, and getting a sense of who is who and their intentions.
🗺️ World-Building: Surprisingly vibrant and easy to imagine
🔥 Fuel: Will all the little hiccups and issues be resolved? Will the passive-aggressive jealous members succeed in sabotage? Will the play go off without a hitch? Who died? Why and how?
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic with a sprinkling of satirical over-the-top
🚙 Journey: Like accessing someone’s computer and e-eavesdropping on the mini-drama that is their life.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
- Hammering. Christmas chorus. Candy. Crinkle bags. Musty church scent. Practicing lines. Echoing room. Dog panting. Keyboard clacking. iPhone keyboard feedback. WhatsApp notifications.
- Christmas theatrics and drama
- Clusterf*** of problems, conflicts, and secrets
Content Heads-Up: Domestic abuse. Dead body. Alcoholism. Sabotage. Drugs.
Rep: White and ambiguous British. Cisgender. Heterosexual.
📚 Format: Everand Audio
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
hmetwade's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
jennyoli96's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol
jean_atlas's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
4.0
Easy fun Christmas read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
emma6544's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
aileron's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Murder and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed revisiting the world of The Appeal, which was one of my favorite books of 2022. Seeing the same quirky characters in a new mystery was very fun and a great way to distract myself while I've been sick. However, I did find the mystery itself to be kind of weak and I think that this author is much better than this novella makes her seem. I would've preferred a full length sequel where she could have taken her time and unraveled a murder mystery like in the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
helena_chris's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Just a fun little read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement and Domestic abuse
kirstym25's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism and Classism