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 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.
***
ONE MURDER. FIFTEEN SUSPECTS. CAN YOU UNCOVER THE TRUTH?
There is a mystery to solve in the sleepy town of Lower Lockwood. It starts with the arrival of two secretive newcomers, and ends with a tragic death. Roderick Tanner QC has assigned law students Charlotte and Femi to the case. Someone has already been sent to prison for murder, but he suspects that they are innocent. And that far darker secrets have yet to be revealed...
Throughout the amateur dramatics society's disastrous staging of All My Sons and the shady charity appeal for a little girl's medical treatment, the murderer hid in plain sight. The evidence is all there, waiting to be found. But will Charlotte and Femi solve the case? Will you?
***
This was one of those books which I could hardly tear myself away from. It is an incredibly clever book and written in a unique style as it is written in the form of emails and text messages throughout, with the occasional newspaper clipping thrown in.
Initially, I was daunted by the number of characters, all of whom are suspects of the crimes which are committed. However, there are occasions whereby the two characters who are working their way through the correspondence, Femi and Charlotte, write out a list of who is who and the reader is able to peruse these also and keep track.
Along with Femi and Charlotte, as readers, we are also enlightened little by little of what has gone on here. It is a journey of discovery as opposed to a traditional crime/mystery novel. This made me feel almost as though I was one of the characters involved in the uncovering of the crime. A uniquely intelligent format in which to present the book.
This was a refreshing and thrilling book to read as it is completely different to the usual crime format. There may be other books out there written in a similar style but I unaware of any.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a puzzle, or who enjoys a murder mystery.
ISBN: 978 1788165303
Publisher: Viper
Formats: e-book, audio and paperback
No. of Pages: 464 (paperback)
Janice Hallett studied English at UCL, and spent several years as a magazine editor, winning two awards for journalism. After gaining an MA in Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, she co-wrote the feature film Retreat. The Appeal is inspired by her lifelong interest in amateur dramatics. Her second novel, The Twyford Code, will be published by Viper in 2022. When not indulging her passion for global adventure travel, she is based in West London.
(author photo and bio. info. courtesy of Viper Publishing)
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