From the inimitable imagination of the bestselling author of The Appeal comes a dazzlingly clever Yuletide mystery, as the discovery of a dead body disrupts the festive pantomime preparations of a group of small town amateur drama enthusiasts.
The cast of Sunday Times bestselling The Appeal return for a festive murder mystery.
One dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth?
Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. But there's not much good will among the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and someone is trying to ruin the panto before the curtain even goes up.
Plus, there's the small matter of the dead Santa. Who had the victim on their naughty list? Read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts to discover the truth. Will the show go on?
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781800817364
Number of pages: 208
Weight: 170 g
Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 16 mm
Edition: Main
Cosy, but clever cosy, and a perfect stocking filler - Sunday Times
A highly entertaining mix of mayhem, panic, snobbery, drunkenness, family feeling and mirth - Times
Breathlessly brilliant, it's cosy crime with that familiar bite that makes Hallett one of the best - Sun
Hallett is as good as ever at showing her characters in all their petty, ridiculous, warm-hearted glory. A Christmas treat - Observer
Fans of Janice Hallett's fiendish whodunits will enjoy her latest festive offering - Good Housekeeping
Hallett is particularly good on small-town snobberies, rivalries and social dynamics... There is a great deal of festive fun to be had - Guardian
A festive read with a difference... It's great fun trying to work out who knows the truth, amid the characters' vicious backstabbing and passive aggression. A sharp, witty and suspenseful read - Sunday Express
Following the phenomenal success of her 2021 debut thriller The Appeal, Lower Lockwood's local theatre group returns to the stage - Daily Mail
Few authors have managed to write mysteries as fun and inventive as Hallett... Quite the treat - iPaper
A laugh-out-loud festive murder-mystery with an entertaining storyline that will have readers crying out for an encore - Woman
Laugh-out-loud funny with an entertaining storyline - Woman & Home
Expertly captures the essence of small-town rivalries and social dynamics, skilfully interweaving humour and puzzlement... Another excellent work of crime fiction from Janice Hallett, offering an enthralling blend of mystery, humour and holiday cheer. Its pacy plotting and well-developed characters make it the perfect choice for those seeking a light and highly entertaining read during the festive season - Crime Fiction Lover
The undisputed queen of crime puzzles... A delightfully cosy festive mystery - Crime Monthly
A dazzlingly clever yuletide mystery - Sainbury's Magazine
The perfect gift this Christmas and another winning entry from the wonderful mind of Janice Hallett that encompasses everything you could possibly want this season from a clever, compelling and highly addictive murder... More
If you loved The Appeal and want a daft, funny and festive dopamine hit this is for you. The Fairway Players are putting on a pantomime and there are all kinds of nefarious activities getting in the way. Old rivalries... More
This Christmas novella revisiting the cast of Janice Hallett's wonderful novel The Appeal is no doubt going to end up in a number of Christmas stockings this year. I gorged it all in one go, easy to do at a... More
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