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    The Appeal: A Novel
    The Appeal: A Novel
    The Appeal: A Novel
    Ebook630 pages6 hours

    The Appeal: A Novel

    By Janice Hallett

    4/5

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    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
    Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Air Mail, and more!

    “[W]itty, original…a delight.” —The New York Times

    Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell, this international bestseller and “dazzlingly clever” (The Sunday Times, London) murder mystery follows a community rallying around a sick child—but when escalating lies lead to a dead body, everyone is a suspect.

    The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward and his wife Helen, the play’s star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival.

    But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy—nor of the good intentions of those involved. As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon, an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material—emails, messages, letters—with a growing suspicion that the killer may be hiding in plain sight. The evidence is all there, between the lines, waiting to be uncovered.

    A wholly modern and gripping take on the epistolary novel, The Appeal is a “daring…clever, and funny” (The Times, London) debut for fans of Richard Osman and Lucy Foley.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtria Books
    Release dateJan 25, 2022
    ISBN9781982187477
    Author

    Janice Hallett

    Janice 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. She lives in London and is the author of The Silent Appeal, The Killer Question, The Examiner, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels, The Christmas Appeal, The Twyford Code, and The Appeal.

    Read more from Janice Hallett

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    Reviews for The Appeal

    4/5

    459 ratings36 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title very well done and hard to put down. It is fun to read, satisfying, surprising, and highly recommended. The characters are intriguing and the narrator technique is impressive. Overall, it is a creative and enjoyable book.

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    • 3/5

      May 27, 2023

      I was both annoyed by characters, intrigued by the convoluted ‘who done it’ and impressed by the narrator technique.
    • 5/5

      Jan 18, 2023

      So fun to read and impossible to put down! I finished it in two (very late) nights. Not the absolutely most thrillingly, shockingly crafted ending of all time, but it was very satisfying, surprising, AND well earned. Really creative. Highly recommend.
    • 5/5

      Oct 18, 2022

      I loved this book! Very well done! It keeps your interest and is in an easy to read format, so it quickly becomes hard to put down.
    • 5/5

      Jun 24, 2022

      Truly couldn’t put this down. Read it in 2 days during any break I got,
    • 3/5

      May 11, 2025

      The book's appeal (pun fully intended) was the promise of a story told in a very different way than a 'regular' book. The story is exclusively told through emails, messages, police reports and police interview reports. There is no structure in the book, there are no chapters, although the story is mostly told in its normal sequence, with some flashbacks. It's an interesting way to tell a story, with some drawbacks.

      The story is about a group of people that are all part of The Fairway Players, a local theater group in England, that is preparing for their next play. A 2-year old child, granddaughter of the theater group's director, is very sick and needs an expensive treatment they cannot afford, for which the group is setting up a fund raising campaign, the "Appeal". There are many members in the group but just a bunch of main characters on which the book focuses. From the onset we learn that all the documents we are about to read are about a case that 2 young lawyers need to investigate. As reader you're trying to understand the story from this vantage point, like the investigators. It takes a while before we know what the case is about. I'm not going to say more.

      I'm glad I read the book, its particular style is refreshing, and to some extent it succeeded in giving me the feel to be in the middle of an investigation, for instance because the 'file' does not contain all communication and there are essential pieces missing you're trying to guess or uncover. But there are also a lot of non-credible elements to this book: emails are not the most natural mode of communication for many of the exchanges, no one writes so many long emails in the middle of day and night, replies to emails usually include the original email which is never included in the book, etc... Some parts about the plot were also not very believable but I'm not going to include spoilers.

      In summary I scored this a 3 which is 'I liked it', so I do recommend reading the book, but its does not exceed to a great book.
    • 3/5

      Oct 12, 2025

      A fundraising campaign to raise money for cancer treatments raises questions about the efficacy of the cancer drug. A nurse who has done some digging into the cancer protocol ends up dead. The story is told through email exchanges and ends in a police investigation into the death of the nurse, which uses the communication trail to help solve the case. The Fairway Players, an amateur theatrical group, is involved in the appeal to raise funds, as the director of the troupe, Martin Hayward, is behind the fundraising effort to support his supposedly ailing granddaughter.
    • 5/5

      Mar 11, 2025

      Genuinely delicious and fascinating mystery novel that utterly perturbs and bewilders the reader. A story about an amateur dramatic society might be enough for some, a story about an appeal for aid for a sick child might be enough for some, a story about people returning from time spent working as medical volunteers in violent parts of the world might be enough for some, but here we have all three, and one or two more, woven together fiendishly through an epistolary narrative of emails and text messages into a complex tale that keeps the reader guessing until the final solution is presented.
    • 4/5

      Feb 25, 2025

      This book is a clever take on the 'cozy' mystery.

      The presentation of the book is a series of emails, texts and some transcripts given to two lawyers / barristers in training by their senior partner. He has represented a client imprisoned for murder. He feels that there has been a miscarriage of justice and he wants his trainees (and the reader) to try and assess the evidence he now holds to corroborate his opinion.

      The style of the book initially is quite confusing with a lot of characters being introduced quite quickly. Janice Hallett tries to help with this by adding several lists of characters, grouped in different ways. I feel that some of the side characters don't seem to have any significant contribution to the story and could well have been dispensed with at no loss to the narrative.

      I enjoyed the story as it pieced itself together, but the ending seemed a little rushed and there wasn't much in the way of overriding reasoning or explanation for the final outcome.

      Overall I thinks a great read. It is one of those books that - due to the brevity of the messages / emails etc. - you read just one more...

      I'd already read The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett - a similar style of mystery, done by transcription of texts. Waiting to see what the next offering (The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels) is like.
    • 4/5

      Dec 23, 2024

      Interesting Premise. Novel Concept. Quite Verbose. This was a book that had an interesting premise for a story and a novel concept for storytelling - particularly with its emphasis on more modern communication methods - but ultimately was just. too. long. There are so very many characters here that few of them truly get fleshed out and many of them become very hard to keep distinct even in a mind normally attuned to doing just that. And so very many extraneous details that while enhancing the epistolary feel, really drag the overall narrative to the speed of a human baby just beginning to learn to crawl. But other than these two points, the story was quite good and the overall concept is something I'd like to see done better, either in future works from this author or by other authors generally. Recommended.
    • 4/5

      Nov 17, 2024

      Original idea, written entirely in e-mails.

      The local amateur dramatics group organise fund-raising events to help with the medical bills of a member’s child with cancer. But is all as it seems?

      I enjoyed the unusual format; the various characters coming to vivid life through their e-mailings. A fun Cluedo-like puzzle.
    • 3/5

      Jun 19, 2023

      An epistolary whodunit . You are given all the clues through emails, letters and text and you have to figure out who is the murderer. You aren't even told who was murdered until the last 1/4 of the book.

      I did get confused at times. I wish I had written notes on all the characters and how they were related.

      They say all the clues are given to solve the crime. I didn't even try and figure it out.
    • 5/5

      May 15, 2023

      A brilliant epistolary novel for the modern age. By telling the story using the main characters' emails, the reader is challenged to read between the lines and figure out what they're not saying. Strangely enough, I read this novel while listening to the podcast, Believe in Magic, which I strongly recommend. Without giving anything away, I have to think the author was inspired by this real-life drama.
    • 5/5

      May 15, 2024

      This is not your usual who-dun-it with buildup, murder, and fierce interviews. Instead, the reader reads the documents in the case, along with the investigators, who are commissioned to discover the real murderer after a person has been convicted. So we are in the same position as the investigators, complete with text messages between them and the appeals attorney (barrister? I forget), nudges to go back and read parts of the evidence, extra information as it arises, and some amazing characters. No 'live' dialog, no suspects in the same room, none of that, and yet completely captivating. The end is satisfying and then chilling. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5

      Dec 29, 2021

      This book is like no other thriller out there. The book consists of e-mails, texts, press releases and memos. Through this medium, Ms. Hallett crafts a believable and engaging thriller with believable and realistic characters. It's engaging because the reader is forced to uncover the details and the solutions to all the crimes that are involved in the story. All is explained at the end, and most is resolved, except for one very annoying and delusional female who was actually at the centre of the whole thing. It was a lot of fun to read and to try to decipher what happened. The book is set around a small town drama company, the patriarchal family that is at the "top of the food chain" so to speak, and the players and stage crew from the drama company. We have lots of other town residents, and the cast of this book is quite extensive which certainly adds to the complexity of trying to decipher the clues and to determine what crimes are being committed and by whom. I found the email format was actually a good way to present the clues, and provided insight into the various people and their characters. The mystery is a tricky one, and readers will have to read very carefully, as clues are dropped all over the place within the book. I would like to thank the publisher, Simon and Schuster, for the chance to read this very entertaining book, and I am providing an honest and unsolicited review on the galley copy that I received from them.
    • 4/5

      Apr 29, 2024

      I had a lot of fun with this whodunnit, told exclusively through emails, text messages, transcripts, and other documents. Hallett does a great job developing her characters and giving the reader a real sense of them without relying on standard descriptions and interactions.

      The story is slightly convoluted and I had a bit of an issue in the beginning keeping track of who was who, but it didn't take long to get it all sorted in my head. The novel focuses on a community theater group in a small English village; the leader of the group has a granddaughter recently diagnosed with cancer, and the community rallies around to raise money for a life-saving treatment. But something isn't right... And then one of the actors is killed... dun dun DUN! I won't say more because you deserve to experience the fun for yourself.

      4 stars
    • 2/5

      Aug 22, 2021

      This is being compared to Agatha Christie and I can see it. I found that Ms. Christie writes without any description of place, scene or characters and this book, told entirely through various written correspondence (mostly email) provides absolutely no descriptive aspects what so ever. Is that something you like? I'm not sure whether I do or not. I really enjoyed it in the beginning - it was fresh and original and kept the reading moving quickly, but about halfway through I really, really wanted to know what these characters looked like, what their theater looked like, what the country club looked like, how their homes looked. Honestly I was desperate for some descriptives! I almost gave it up entirely - twice - but the plot was so interesting that I pushed myself through. Was it worth it? Again, I'm not sure. I did very, very much enjoy the unraveling of the story but when I found who the murderer was and why I was a bit underwhelmed. Maybe I was just tired. Question - is this format of emails the modern epistolary? Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and advanced copy and provide my honest opinion.
    • 4/5

      Aug 28, 2023

      This was a really fun mystery book, with everything being told through gossipy emails and texts that lawyers are trying to piece together. I have first hand experience with pediatric cancer, so right away the diagnosis and treatment seemed fishy. You don't shave your daughter's head because her hair isn't falling out like people expect. You wait till the clumps start falling out too noticeably to ignore anymore.
      I was following along pretty well until the body dropped? Somehow that just snuck in and was casually being talked about like we were aware of it already.
      This is set up so that you can solve the mystery with all the clues before the reveal, so I think it's worth a reread to see what I can pick up on the second time around.
    • 3/5

      Aug 25, 2023

      Janice Hallett writes a novel in the epistolary style of Samuel Richardson, who wrote Pamela. Richardson’s British novel contains letters, whereas, Janice Hallett’s story involves emails. Too many pages of emails! The redeeming feature becomes Femi and Charlotte who function as a Greek chorus explaining what has happened. Femi and Charlotte also provide a stirring commentary on what has transpired. The big questions---who is murdered and who does the murder. So many red herrings in the emails. Fraud, jealousy, and revenge enter this lengthy play within a play. The email motif presents itself well in the beginning, but falls into tiresome towards the end of the book. An unique style that works well with the story.
    • 4/5

      Aug 20, 2023

      This was a book I picked up on a whim, it basically had an interesting plot with an interesting premise - two young lawyers have been asked by their boss to go through correspondence of a murder case. These lawyers go through pages of emails, texts, call logs, reports, anything that is digital and was used in the court proceedings.

      As for the book itself, I found it to be too convoluted. Too many random pieces that don't make much sense in this context. Red herrings are fine, and are expected in a mystery, but they need to make sense in context of the story.

      As for the characters, I found them all mostly annoying - however, being part of a theater group (as a musician, not an actor) the personalities involved are true to form, but became parodies of themselves.

      The writing is well done, I quite liked the two young lawyers - their back and forth comments, as well as sarcastic remarks grounded the story, keeping it from getting to clownish.
    • 5/5

      Apr 13, 2023

      The Appeal is an extremely clever and unique way to tell the story of a crime. A small theater group, The Fairway Players, is run by Martin Hayward and his wife, Helen. However, the community is shocked when Martin explains why they have been out of touch. Their granddaughter, Poppy, has been diagnosed with cancer and needs expensive life-saving treatment. The money required is exorbitant and the drama group pulls together to appeal to the community to raise funds.
      However, there is some suspicion around the appeal and the various players. When someone is killed, young lawyers are asked to review all the correspondence, mainly emails, to discover the truth. This is a unique way of laying out the background, and having the reader try to piece together the mystery. The epistolary style is a fresh way to write the story.
      I truly enjoyed this debut novel and I look forward to more from this author. It will keep you guessing!
    • 4/5

      Mar 26, 2023

      Wow. That was different. In a good way! A murder mystery, presented as a series of email, texts and phone calls. Someone is dead, and you are presented with this evidence as lawyers are appealing the case for the person found guilty, whom they believe is really innocent.

      Lots of secrets, lies, and people who don't always tell the truth. What a surprise.

      Well Done!
    • 5/5

      Mar 16, 2023

      A lawyer gives two of his staff members a challenge: solve a crime by examining a collection of related emails, messages, documents, and ephemera. Here's the scenario: a tight-knit community theatre group is shaken when a child of their most prominent family is diagnosed with brain cancer. They pull together a fundraising appeal to buy the experimental drugs that are her best hope for treatment, but things start falling apart. Scammers are drawn to the fundraising effort, and there's suspicion that somebody might be mishandling funds. People are not who they seem, and some of them may not exist at all. There are petty disagreements, social snubs, friendships made and destroyed, and, eventually, murder. The wrong person may be in jail -- but can the case be solved with only the evidence provided?

      I think I actually like this book ever so slightly better than The Twyford Code by the same author, though both are so good it's hard to make a judgement. While that book hearkened to my love of children's literature, this one appeals to my fondness for community theatre. (Clearly I am being targeted by this author, and I'm okay with that.) She certainly hits all the right notes regarding the high emotions of a small community theatre group; I think I have met all of these individuals, and been a few of them! I was pleased to guess certain parts of the mystery before they were revealed, but it was by no means an easy one to puzzle out, as there are a lot of moving pieces. Definitely recommended to mystery fans.
    • 5/5

      Jan 19, 2023

      A barrister instructs two law students to read through a collection of emails, text message exchanges, newspaper clippings and some other materials; while the contents focus on the stage production of an amateur dramatic society and the charity appeal to fund a child's experimental drug treatment, it eventually becomes apparent that a member of the community has been murdered. Can the two students reveal the identity of the killer?

      As previous reviewers have mentioned, and is probably quite a well-known fact by now, is that the author uses the format of epistolary fiction brought into the twenty-first century. The narrative device places the reader and the two law students level, with each party privy to identical information. This works extremely well here, even though it did take me a little time to get used to it because the mental picture of each character has to be built up over time through the messages they send and receive, and is not immediately obvious as is usually the case in conventional fiction writing. There are plenty of nefarious activities going on in the little town, and it falls to Femi and Charlotte, as well as the reader, to connect the dots and build a cohesive picture out of the various fragments. The result is a clever and interesting jigsaw puzzle, and I will certainly pick up Janice Hallett's follow-up novel, The Twyford Code, soon.
    • 4/5

      Dec 26, 2022

      Original, distinct, epistolary version in the 21st century. (Translated from Spanish)
    • 4/5

      Jul 31, 2022

      In The Appeal by Janice Hallett, a lawyer instructs his clerks to look at evidence provided as he prepares to appeal the case of a client. She has pleaded guilty but he is convinced she isn’t. The story is told through written evidence which includes emails direct messages, letters, recorded interviews, etcetera. As they dig through all of this, the clerks exchange messages between themselves and the lawyer trying to find the truth buried in all of this paper. The more they examine all the evidence, the more clear it becomes that people and thing are not at all what they appear.

      The case involves an appeal for funds to aid a sick child of a prominent family who has been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Her only hope is an experimental and very expensive medicine presently in clinical trials in the US. The family run an amateur theatre group and the volunteers work to raise funds through several different events. There are hints of fraud and duplicity throughout and this eventually leads to murder.

      The Appeal was an interesting update of the epistolary novel and, for the most part I enjoyed it at least until close to the end. The idea of using itoday’s ways of communicating through short direct messages and emails was fun. But it was only very late in the story the reader learns who was murdered and why the lawyer believes his client is innocent. And here’s where my problem with the book hangs. Like every true reader, my willing suspension of disbelief is quite flexible but the solution was a flex too far based pretty much completely on conjecture, supposition, and giant leaps of faith in the interpretation of the evidence.

      Still, overall, I really enjoyed most of the book and, even if I found the rest somewhat hard to accept, I was able to finish the book. This is Hallett’s debut novel and, despite my reservations with The Appeal, I would definitely read more by her in the future

      Thanks to Edelweiss+ & Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
    • 4/5

      Jul 27, 2022

      The wraparound story that sets up this contemporary mystery features a Queen's Counsel who has instructed two of his articled clerks(? — I welcome corrections of my imperfect understanding of the UK legal system) to examine a packet of written evidence used in a trial — emails, text messages, letters — to determine if there are grounds to appeal a murder conviction that the QC believes was wrongly decided. As the two clerks review all of the information, they exchange texts and emails with each other and with their boss, providing exposition to the reader in the guise of asking for clarification or talking through scenarios.

      The legal case is not the only appeal that the title refers to. At the heart of the story is a village community theater group, the Fairway Players, which is run more or less benevolently by the local "alpha" family, the Haywards. They receive shocking news when their young granddaughter, Poppy, is diagnosed with cancer. Her only hope is an experimental drug treatment that has not been approved in the UK and is only available at enormous cost directly from the American doctors conducting a clinical trial. The family launches an ambitious crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds, while simultaneously rehearsing and preparing to debut the theater group's current play, Arthur Miller's All My Sons.

      It's pretty clear from the setup and the opening pages that there's something rotten in Lockwood, but we don't find out who the victim is until quite late, which makes reading all of the emails and texts akin to putting together a jigsaw puzzle without being able to refer to the picture on the box. I found it to be a compelling page-turner, and it was enjoyable to continually make and revise guesses about what was really going on, to whom and by whom, throughout. (Let's just say murder isn't the only criminal activity going on among this lot.) The characters were fully formed and distinct enough to both distinguish from each other and allow the reader to form definite opinions about them based on their communications.

      All in all, I found this a rollicking good time. Because the story is told in an epistolary style, there's no blood or gore — the focus really is on trying to put the puzzle together and arrive at the same conclusion as the lawyers. The final chapter seemed like the perfect payoff for the setup that occurred throughout the story, which is always a satisfying way to end a mystery.
    • 4/5

      Apr 3, 2022

      Who is Grifting Whom?
      Review of the Atria Books hardcover edition (North America) (January 2022) of the Viper (UK) original hardcover (January 2021)

      The setup in The Appeal has two articling law students working for a lawyer who has scheduled an appeal of the conviction of their client. The students (and the book reader by proxy) are assigned the task of going through related correspondence for the case.

      The case revolves around a prominent family in a UK community who run a local country club and also an amateur theatrical society called The Fairway Players. One of the grandchildren is diagnosed with cancer and the family organizes a crowdfunding effort (this is another meaning of the title) in order to afford a rare alternative treatment drug from the United States. There are various fundraising events including the staging of a play where most of the suspects have performance or back stage roles. As we read the correspondence, we realize that not all things are as they seem and people are lying to each other for various reasons. This lead in takes up quite a large portion of the book which may get tiresome (there is one person whose emails are particularly cringeworthy).

      After 2/3rds of the book this finally boils down to attempting to answer a set of questions set by the lawyer, which ask:

      Who killed __* ?
      In the hours before __* death, __* told three people three things. Who and what?
      Who knew it was going to happen?
      Who knew about it before the body was discovered?
      Who is erroneously imprisoned and why?       - excerpt from pg. 294.

      and then a set of riddles which ask:

      Three people are not who they say they are.
      Three masquerade as others.
      One does not exist at all.       - excerpt from pgs. 294-295.
      * Name & gender redacted here by me as the victim is not revealed until late in the book.

      This all starts off as very intriguing, but certain key clues and information are withheld from the students and the reader until very late. This adds a great deal of frustration to the reading as things don't really begin to happen until about the halfway point of the book. After that the clues are doled out piecemeal and of course we are compelled to read on to find out what happens. I certainly couldn't solve any of it except for guessing who was falsely imprisoned. There was a clever final page twist.

      Overall it did become a compelling read, but there is an aura of unreality where you have to suspend belief in order accept the situation. I mean what articling students wouldn't know off the bat what cases their mentoring lawyer is working on and who has been murdered and who has been sentenced? They have to figure it out from private correspondence instead of reading the news or from common public knowledge?

      Trivia and Links
      I did wonder whether the fact that the Fairway Players were rehearsing and staging Arthur Miller's All My Sons (1947) during the background events of The Appeal was in any way a clue as to the solution of the mystery. I don't think it was, except for the themes of a guilty party allowing an innocent person to be convicted of a crime and someone's self-delusion being protected by other parties. Similarly, the fact that Fairway Players previous staging was of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit (1941) was a slight clue in the sense that the past comes back to haunt the present.

      The Appeal was the first novel by writer Janice Hallett. In the UK, her second novel The Twyford Code (January 2022) has already been released. Like The Appeal it uses a gimmick for its formatting, this time the transcription of audio recordings.
    • 5/5

      Feb 2, 2022

      Oh my gosh! Janice Hallett's new novel, The Appeal, is absolutely brilliant!

      From Simon and Schuster: "Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell, this “dazzlingly clever” (The Sunday Times, London) murder mystery follows a community rallying around a sick child—but when escalating lies lead to a dead body, everyone is a suspect.

      Okay, so that descriptor alone had me hooked. But! What really had me excited was that book is an epistolary novel, told only through emails, messages, memos, newspaper stories, letters and more. I adore this style of story telling.

      What else? Well there's a large (but manageable) set of characters (suspects), all with a connection to the Fairway Players, an amateur theater group. One of the troupe has been incarcerated after the death of one of their fellow thespians. Two young law students have been tasked with going through the correspondence in an effort to launch an appeal and clear that conviction.

      The clues are slowly revealed from differing viewpoints. I felt like I was in an Agatha Christie novel, trying to ferret out the damning piece of evidence, ready to point my finger with a satisfied ah ha! Well, point I did, but at almost every character along the way. Hallett's plotting is deliciously devious. It's all so very, very clever. The Appeal is easily one of my favorites for the year!

      I chose to listen to The Appeal. I wondered if the epistolary element would translated to the audio version well. For this listener it was even better. The readers were Aysha Kala, Daniel Philpott, Rachel Adedeji and Sid Sagar. They all did a spectacular job. There are two female characters that 'speak' more than others. The voices for these two were perfect - Sarah Jane is no nonsense and forceful. Izzy is not as sure of herself and a little clueless and her voice reflects that. The male characters' voices were also perfect for the mental images I was creating - smooth and cultured - and yes, a little bit smarmy. The British accents are very easy to understand. The speed of speaking was just right and was easy to understand. All of the readers captured the tone of the book and interpreted it well, doing justice to Hallett's book. As much as I know I would have enjoyed reading The Appeal, I found the audio version to be even better. Soooooo good!!
    • 3/5

      Jan 10, 2022

      The Appeal by Janice Hallett is a 2022 Atria Books publication.

      A group of caregivers and Thespians rally around a young child diagnosed with cancer by raising money for treatment that is costly and currently unavailable, except in America.

      The parents and grandparents of the child launch an appeal for cash and people are quick to respond, but when a newcomer to the circle starts to ask questions, it would appear someone wants her silenced…

      Naturally, when a synopsis openly challenges a veteran mystery reader by basically assigning them the task of solving the mystery with only text and email messages, I was intrigued.

      Thank goodness someone, anyone, is willing to go off the beaten path, throw the formula out the window, and try a different approach, right?

      That said, a fresh approach is not enough. It must work for it be effective, and unfortunately, the setup, imaginative though it may be, was too confusing and disorganized in the beginning. It didn't hold my attention at all, and I though I stuck with it, I was mostly bored.

      Too many characters, random introduction of characters, a thread involving time spent in Africa that was entirely too vague and was never fully explained- though one does get the gist of it- mostly- it was just too disjointed, too busy, and not at all suspenseful, in my opinion.

      I applaud the author for trying something different, but I didn’t feel this approach was successful. I really did have high hopes for this one, but it sadly it fell flat for me.

      There has been some high praise for this one- so check this one out for yourself. Hopefully, you will have better luck with it than I did.
    • 4/5

      Jan 9, 2022

      There are so many characters within the pages and watching them feed off one another from email to email is often comic, annoying, oh no here we go, look at for him/her, suspicious, and confusing. Where do you go when you are told at the outset that the narrative is incomplete but you are expected to fill it in and find the murderer?! First you have to discover and identify; who is in charge, who is a player, and who is playing whom. Not easy when there are so many involved and an equal amount on the periphery.

      There is a local dramatic society and everyone wants to be a part or have a part in its productions. There are leaders, movers, shakers, a tenacious “wannabe”, a few newbies, a few questionables, a little girl who is very ill, among various and sundry others. The emails are flying back and forth - some incriminating, many suspicious and others maybe just mundane. They are going to be hand sorted, read and qualified by two young attorneys and we are going to get to be inside their heads and comments for what seems like an ongoing criminal investigation. And they are just as confused and consumed by all the maybes and what ifs as we are. Different, clever a bit overlong and while I enjoyed it I also felt a little let down so perhaps conflicted best describes it.

      Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy

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    The Appeal - Janice Hallett

    Cover: The Appeal, by Janice Hallett

    International Bestseller

    The Appeal

    A Novel

    One Murder. Fifteen Suspects. Can You Uncover The Truth?

    Janice Hallett

    Witty, original…a delight. —New York Times

    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

    The Appeal, by Janice Hallett, Atria

    For the Raglan Players

    Sandra, please deliver to Femi and Charlotte

    Olufemi Hassan

    Charlotte Holroyd

    Dear both,

    As discussed, it is best you know nothing before you read the enclosed. Please bear in mind:

    Only a limited number of emails, texts, and messages could be recovered, so the correspondence is not complete.

    It is, however, broadly chronological.

    I’ve included various extras—i.e. newspaper clippings, social-media activity, and other sundries—in the pursuit of context.

    If I come across anything else of interest I will forward it to you.

    See what you think.

    RT

    Roderick Tanner, QC

    Senior Partner

    Tanner & Dewey LLP

    Femi

    Got it?

    Charlotte

    Literally just got it. Flicking through. There’s a lot here. Gulp.

    Femi

    We just need to focus, immerse ourselves, get a clear perspective

    Charlotte

    But have you seen it? It’s all emails and messages. Wonder why Tanner won’t tell us the background? Intrigued already.

    Femi

    Perhaps he’s showing us something about the job. We won’t always know what’s happened. All we’ll have is a spectrum of interpretation to examine, analyze and frame into something solid.

    Charlotte

    Need to log off. Concentrate. Speak later today?

    Femi

    Good plan. Here goes.

    Charlotte

    Happy reading.

    Dr. Sonja Ajanlekoko, MBBS (Nigeria) 2008, DRCOG

    c/o Médecins Sans Frontières

    Orion Building, 3rd Floor

    49 Jorissen Street

    Braamfontein 2017

    Johannesburg

    South Africa

    February 27, 2018

    To whom it may concern:

    This letter is one of recommendation. Samantha Greenwood worked as a volunteer nurse for Médecins Sans Frontières from September 2010 through January 2018. She was a valuable and popular member of the Women’s Health team, assisted with antenatal and postpartum care, fistula repair, and sexual-health education projects in rural communities. She is an honest and hardworking lady of principle, who is not afraid to speak.

    Samantha Greenwood also undertook emergency medical-aid work in Chad, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, assisting at operations resulting from armed conflict: shot extraction, limb amputation, eye removal, and urgent wound repair, much of it undertaken in situations of challenging circumstance. I have heard nothing but good reports of her medical training and personal conduct.

    I do not hesitate to recommend Samantha Greenwood for nursing and medical-assistance positions.

    Yours sincerely,

    Dr. Sonja Ajanlekoko, MBBS (Nigeria) 2008, DRCOG

    Project Coordinator, Médecins Sans Frontières

    Médecins Sans Frontières is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization. We offer assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

    English charity reg. no. 1026588

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Sorry!

    DATE: March 26, 2018 at 6:39 a.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Dear Martin,

    Sorry to bother you. I couldn’t speak to Helen at last night’s rehearsal. Could you pass a message on, please? A new girl at work, Sam, is coming to see the play on Saturday night. I’d love her to join Fairways. She hasn’t done any drama before, and spent the last few years in Africa of all places, but she’s got a husband and we should grab them both while they’re still new to the area and friendless! She’s very nice—a staff nurse in Geriatrics, so a shiftworker, boo—but her husband is probably the same age (30s) and Helen has said how badly we need men, especially if we do All My Sons next. This is just in case Helen speaks to them after the play, so she knows to be in full promotional mode. Thanks, Martin. Love Issy

    FROM: Martin Hayward

    SUBJECT: Re: Sorry!

    DATE: March 26, 2018 at 6:16 p.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    Will do. Regards.

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: The morning after!

    DATE: April 1, 2018 at 10:45 a.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Dear Martin,

    Phew! Thank goodness that’s over. Not that I didn’t love being Edith the Maid (I did), but fitting rehearsals and line-learning around shifts is like trying to live two lives at the same time. Anyway, Sam LOVED the play! I don’t think they are regular theatergoers because she asked if we’d written it. I explained it was by Noel Coward. Helen spoke to Sam and her husband (Kel? Kelly?), and if anyone can convince them to join, she can. Wasn’t Helen an absolute shining star? All my friends remarked on how brilliant she was. No one knows how she manages to chair The Fairway Players, run The Grange, and still learn all those lines. She must have a lot of support from you, Martin! Do send my best wishes to Paige and James. You were all so busy last night I didn’t get a chance to speak to you. What a lovely family! Thanks again, and let’s hope Sam and Kel become Fairway Players for the next production. Love Issy

    FROM: Martin Hayward

    SUBJECT: Re: The morning after!

    DATE: April 1, 2018 at 7:32 p.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    Thanks. Regards.

    FROM: The Fairway Players Admin

    SUBJECT: All My Sons

    DATE: April 2, 2018 at 11:08 a.m.

    TO: Current Members

    Dear all,

    So, as we put Blithe Spirit quietly to bed, our thoughts turn to our next production. The Committee has decided on Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. Martin will direct, assisted by James. Please bear in mind you will need to perfect your American accents for this one. We love a challenge.

    Auditions will be held on Sunday and Monday April 8 and 9 in the church hall. If you have any potential new members you’d like to bring, do. Helen will organize wine, crisps, etc. for après audition on Sunday. Please make newbies feel welcome. Also, can I ask that parents keep very young children at home for the auditions? Martin and James need to concentrate, and we can’t expect little ones to sit still and quiet for two hours. If you need to alternate your audition nights—mum one night, dad the next—it can be arranged.

    Thanks again, everyone, for a successful Blithe Spirit. We look forward to seeing you all—and more—on the 8th.

    The Fairway Players Committee

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Audition tonight!

    DATE: April 8, 2018 at 7:44 a.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Hiya Sam,

    Thanks for helping out yesterday. The ward’s a nightmare with so many off. I don’t know what I’d have done without you. There may not be as many lions and tigers as in Africa, but it can get pretty wild in Geriatrics! Hope you caught up on sleep over the weekend.

    Can’t wait to introduce you and Kel to the drama group. Don’t be put off by the auditiony atmosphere. You don’t have to act—the long-standing members always get the best parts anyway—there are lots of other things to do. You met Helen on play night—she’s brilliant and always the leading lady—but everyone’s really friendly and putting a play on is so exciting. There’s a lovely community feel; you’ll both enjoy it, I promise. Joining The Fairways saved my life. Really. I can’t recommend it enough. Love Issy

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: All My Sons!

    DATE: April 9, 2018 at 11:02 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    CC: James Hayward

    Hi guys,

    Great auditions! What an interesting play. Quite serious, but you can still understand it. Helen read the part of the mother so well. It was lovely to see little Poppy running around. I can’t believe she’s two already. Paige looks a picture. You’d not know she’d had a baby at all. Then again, who’d have thought Helen was a grandma?

    My friends Sam and Kel would be great assets to the group. I’m no expert, but for someone who has never acted before, he read the part of the son very well. I know they’re both at a loose end as they’ve been volunteering in Africa for years. She’s hinted they didn’t really want to leave, and I think adjusting to life back here is tough. That’s between you and me. I’m sure if they were made to feel extra-welcome, by getting parts in the play, then it would really make a difference to them. Anyway, hope you and Helen are well and I look forward to hearing the cast announcement in due course. Love Issy

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Any news?

    DATE: April 16, 2018 at 1:09 p.m.

    TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    Hey SJ,

    Have you heard about the play? I emailed Martin and James after the auditions but didn’t get a reply and don’t want to bother them again. I assume Helen will play the mother, but I’m dying to know if my friends Sam and Kel have been cast. Love Issy

    FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    SUBJECT: Re: Any news?

    DATE: April 16, 2018 at 1:22 p.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    Helen would be a perfect Kate Keller. She has the best accent and is the right age, not to mention the most charismatic actress we have.

    Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Re: Any news?

    DATE: April 16, 2018 at 1:34 p.m.

    TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    Hi SJ,

    Absolutely! Helen is the natural choice for the mother. I didn’t mean for one moment she wasn’t. I just wonder if the other roles have been cast yet? Only I’ve been encouraging Sam and Kel to join the group, and now they’re enthusiastic, I don’t want them to go cold. It would be lovely if they both have roles. You know what it’s like when you’re new and don’t know anyone. That was me not so long ago, so I’ve taken them under my wing, that’s all. Hope everything’s well with you and Harley. He’s growing up so fast: what a lovely young man. If you hear anything, do let me know! Love Issy

    FROM: The Fairway Players Admin

    SUBJECT: Cast List—All My Sons

    DATE: April 17, 2018 at 5:38 p.m.

    TO: Current Members

    Sorry, a few things going on chez Hayward, but without further ado: cast list is attached. Can’t confirm rehearsal dates just yet. Bear with me. Regards.

    The Fairway Players

    All My Sons by Arthur Miller

    Cast List

    FROM: Lauren Malden

    SUBJECT: Sorry, my lovely!

    DATE: April 17, 2018 at 6:23 p.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    Hello lovely,

    Aw, you must be so gutted. Sorry you didn’t get a part. You were so good as the maid too, what is Martin thinking? Josh and I had our first anniversary yesterday. I’d never have believed a year could go so quickly. We’re so in love it’s embarrassing. Sorry I haven’t been around. I’ve turned into that friend who gets a boyfriend and you don’t see her for dust. Trouble is these retro club nights are such hard work (all-nighters at my age, boo), but fun. You should come along, bring some friends. See if I can do a mates-rates thing. Now you’re not in the next play you can let your hair down. Kiss kiss, L xx

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Re: Sorry, my lovely!

    DATE: April 17, 2018 at 6:33 p.m.

    TO: Lauren Malden

    I’m fine about not having a part. I can help other people learn their lines and maybe do something backstage. Glad you’re having a good time. Issy

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Yipppeeee!

    DATE: April 17, 2018 at 6:39 p.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Yaaay! Congratulations! I’m sooo pleased for you both. Don’t worry about fitting rehearsals around shifts—we’ll sort something out. I had no idea Kel worked at St. Ann’s too—then again, I never go down to Psychiatric. We can all get together and I’ll help you learn lines over lunch or after work. Once the rehearsal schedule arrives, you can swap shifts with Gaynor and Riley (she’s in debt, so always looking for extra hours; his boyfriend hates him working nights, so he’ll swap for your days). You’re going to have a wonderful time! Love Issy

    FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    SUBJECT: Rehearsal schedule

    DATE: April 20, 2018 at 9:19 a.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    I haven’t received a rehearsal schedule yet, Martin. If you’ve sent it out, please send again as I need to organize childcare, etc. Also scripts. I know you want us all to have the Drake Classics version, but it’s the most expensive one and I don’t see why we should have to pay for them ourselves, especially as Harley is a child.

    Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    FROM: Nick Walford

    SUBJECT: Rehearsal schedule

    DATE: April 20, 2018 at 11:50 a.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Hey, when’s the first rehearsal? Can’t wait to nail this one.

    P.S. Five–nil disaster.

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Sorry!

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 8:29 a.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Dear Martin,

    Sorry to bother you, but Sam, Kel, and I are wondering when rehearsals start for All My Sons? It’s been two weeks since the cast was announced. I popped into The Grange to see if Helen was there, but the Polish lady on reception said she’d been off. Hope everything’s ok. Meanwhile, we’ve bought our scripts (I got one myself, so I can help out) and they are busy learning lines. It’s funny how easily the accent comes when you’re speaking words written in that accent. Can’t wait to start. Send my love to Helen, Paige, James, and Poppy. Love Issy

    FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    SUBJECT: Rehearsal schedule

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 9:11 a.m.

    TO: Joyce Walford

    What’s going on, Joyce? Have Martin and Helen said anything at work about rehearsals?

    FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    SUBJECT: Rehearsal schedule

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 9:14 a.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    Have you been sent a rehearsal schedule? I need to get organized and can’t without dates. I emailed Joyce, who sees Helen and Martin every day. No reply.

    Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Re: Rehearsal schedule

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 9:18 a.m.

    TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    Hi SJ,

    Lovely to hear from you. I’ve not had a rehearsal schedule, either. Sam, Kel and I have cracked on anyway and are learning lines. The accent is so much easier than you’d think, so don’t worry about getting it right. Sam is really enjoying reading through her lines with me. She’s never acted before, but she’s a natural. It’s funny about the rehearsal schedule. Helen and Martin are so busy I don’t like to bother them. Is Harley looking forward to his first grown-up role? How lovely that you, Kevin, and Harley are all in the play. Let me know if you want to meet up for line-learning. Love Issy

    FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    SUBJECT: Re: Rehearsal schedule

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 9:20 a.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    I’m not worried about the accent, just dates for rehearsals.

    Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    FROM: Barry Walford

    SUBJECT: Dates

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 10:10 a.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Will there be rehearsals on the 6th, 14th, 27th, or 31st? The first two are my Krav Maga exams and the others are football. Cheers, Barry

    Olufemi Hassan

    Charlotte Holroyd

    Dear both,

    I have asked Sandra to draw up a full list of individuals involved in this case, along with brief notes as to their relationships and connections. You may find this a useful reference to keep your thumb in as you work through the documentation. As it seems to be taking her some time, I am sending you her preliminary document (see below), detailing all the members of The Fairway Players. More anon.

    RT

    Roderick Tanner, QC

    Senior Partner

    Tanner & Dewey LLP

    The Fairway Players

    Martin Hayward, 59, chairperson of The Fairway Players and joint owner of The Grange

    Helen Grace-Hayward, 62, secretary of The Fairway Players and joint owner of The Grange

    James Hayward, 36, their son

    Olivia Hayward, 33, his wife

    Paige Reswick, 33 (née Hayward), their daughter

    Glen Reswick, 31, her husband

    Poppy Reswick, 2, their daughter

    Woof, 3, their dog

    Sarah-Jane MacDonald, 34 (née Dearing)

    Kevin MacDonald, 37, her husband

    Harley MacDonald, 10, their son

    Carol Dearing, 61, Sarah-Jane’s mother

    Margaret Dearing, 88, mother of Carol and Shelley, grandmother of Sarah-Jane

    Shelley Dearing, 63, Carol’s sister, Sarah-Jane’s aunt

    Isabel Beck, 29, staff nurse, Elderly Care at St. Ann’s hospital

    Lauren Malden, 29, former staff nurse, Elderly Care at St. Ann’s Hospital

    Josh, 30, her boyfriend

    Lauren’s mother, c. 57

    Samantha Greenwood, 34, staff nurse, Elderly Care, St. Ann’s Hospital

    Kel Greenwood, 34, her husband, staff nurse, Mental Health, St. Ann’s Hospital

    Joyce Walford, 63, tea lady at The Fairway Players and retired receptionist at The Grange

    Nick Walford, 33, her son

    Barry Walford, 28, her son

    Harry, 62, Joyce’s partner

    John O’Dea, 56, treasurer

    Denise Malcolm, 59, wardrobe and makeup

    Steve Malcolm, 60, her husband

    Marianne Payne, 48, wardrobe and makeup

    Mick Payne, 51, her husband

    Karen Payne, 26, their daughter

    Jackie Marsh, 23, currently traveling

    Joel Halliday, 54, set designer

    Celia Halliday, 55, his wife

    Beth Halliday, 16, their daughter

    Charlotte

    I’m up to Barry Walford’s martial-arts exam and literally nothing has happened except auditions for a play. Where are you in all this?

    Femi

    Further than that. Keep going.

    Charlotte

    Do we need to read All My Sons? The script is online.

    Femi

    No. Whatever this is, it’s not about a play.

    FROM: Martin Hayward

    SUBJECT: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 2:47 p.m.

    TO: Current Members

    Dear all,

    I apologize for the unanswered calls, texts, messages, and emails. As you know, Helen refuses to embrace electronic means of communication, so it falls to me to send this email. There is no easy way to say this, but here it is: our darling granddaughter Poppy has been diagnosed with a rare type of brain cancer. We are reeling, devastated, not least because it came completely out of the blue after a routine checkup.

    For new members who don’t know us: Paige is our daughter, she and her husband Glen have Poppy, who is just two; and James is our son. His wife Olivia is pregnant with twins, which hasn’t been straightforward, either.

    The last few weeks have been a whirl of tests, scans, meetings, decisions, and lots of tears. But tears don’t cure cancer. If only. The doctors are in the process of drawing up a treatment plan, while Paige and Helen are sourcing options and opinions from around the world. The Hayward women are made of stern stuff without a doubt.

    We have seriously considered canceling The Fairway Players’ production of All My Sons, and for a while assumed we would. But now we’ve had some time to get used to this—our new status as a family living with cancer—we’ve taken the decision to continue with the play. The doctors have impressed upon us how important it is for the family to maintain a sense of normality and not let this diagnosis take over all our lives, so… the show must go on.

    I will, however, step down as director. James will direct and I’ll assist when I can. Of course Paige will no longer be involved, but—for the moment at least—Helen will continue as Kate Keller. It’s a large role, but Helen is blessed with unflagging energy and is keener than ever to stay occupied. She’ll need to support Paige and Glen whenever required, so please take the Rehearsal Schedule attached as a work in progress.

    Thanks, everyone, for your understanding. Regards, Martin

    FROM: John O’Dea

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 2:59 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Sorry to hear this sad news. Our thoughts are with you all at this difficult time.

    FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 3:08 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Dearest Helen, Martin, and family, I am in shock. Poor Poppy. My heart goes out to you all. Send my love to Helen and Paige. Assure them that if they need anything, however small, you know where we are. I remember when Harley fell off his bike and had a severe concussion. It was the worst few hours of my life, so I know how you must be feeling.

    Sarah-Jane MacDonald

    FROM: Denise Malcolm

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 3:15 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    My second cousin had a brain tumor many years ago. They gave him an operation where they sawed off his skull and scraped the tumor out while he was awake. He’s been fine ever since and turns sixty next year. Poppy is so young and the doctors are so clever, they can do anything. She will be fine, don’t you worry. God bless, Denise

    FROM: Marianne Payne

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 3:20 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Oh Martin, I’m so sorry to hear this. Please send my love to Helen and Paige. I’ve known you all so long, it’s like a member of my own family is ill. My thoughts and prayers go out to you, and if you need anything, just ask. At times like these you feel so helpless, don’t you? But there’s nothing you can do. Just trust the doctors, know she’s in the best place, and pray she can fight it. Well, if little Poppy is anything like her mum and grandma, she will beat this. I will light a candle in church on Sunday. All my love, Marianne

    FROM: Joyce Walford

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 3:22 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Dear Martin and Helen,

    It’s been nothing but bad news this week. My friend from school died suddenly on Sunday: heart attack at sixty-three. On Tuesday Harry had a call back from his annual scan, so we don’t know how that’s going to end. Yesterday my lovely neighbor called round to say she had cancer of the pancreas. Now little Poppy is poorly. Life can be so cruel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Joyce, Harry, and the boys

    FROM: Jackie Marsh

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 5:41 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    I;’m on hoiday in Marrakesh but want to say how shocked I to hear about poppy that am praying for her to make a quick recovery. Chin up all she will get better I know.x

    Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S9

    POW! Still on contract when you can switch to SIM-only and save up to $42** per month? Visit www.vistadeals.com

    code POW **amount varies terms and conditions apply.

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Re: Poppy

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 5:50 p.m.

    TO: Martin Hayward

    Dear Martin and Helen,

    Thank you for taking the time to let us all know. I am so sorry you are going through this. Cancer is a long road, but treatment has improved in recent years, so there’s no reason to think Poppy can’t beat it. Which tumor does she have? Is she under St. Ann’s? You know I work in Geriatrics there, so does the new girl Sam (Kel is in Psychiatrics), so we’ll do all we can to help out. Love Issy

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: A quick suggestion

    DATE: 21, April 2018 at 5:56 p.m.

    TO: James Hayward

    Dear James,

    I’m so sorry to hear the news about Poppy. A diagnosis like that is tough on the whole family. Hope you and Olivia (and the bumps) are doing ok. This is just a quick suggestion. As Paige has had to pull out of All My Sons, you’ll be recasting the role of Lydia. This is just to let you know I’ve been helping Sam and Kel with their lines and have already bought the script. I’m exactly the right age for Lydia and am happy to do it. Love Issy

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Hiya!

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 6:54 p.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Hi Sam,

    Gutting news about little Poppy. Hope it’s one of the more responsive tumors (I’ve asked). Nice of James to step up and direct, when he’s got a lot going on too. They are a lovely family. James hasn’t got back to me about the role of Lydia. I’m dying to ask if he’s made a decision, but he’s got so many more serious things to think about. One moment I’m excited about possibly doing it—and the next my heart sinks, because it’s so unlikely. I don’t fancy my chances against Beth or Emma (the Haywards are very close to Beth’s parents, and Emma is Paige’s best friend), so my hope is they have other plans. Sorry we won’t see each other today—staggered breaks, boo—Love Issy

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Sorry!

    DATE: April 21, 2018 at 6:59 p.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Sorry, sorry, totally forgot what I started to email you about. I’ve been thinking over what you said—about the attitude of the A-team at work. You’re right, they are inexperienced and she isn’t the best people-manager in the world (understatement alert), but I’ve always found Geriatrics like that. It’s where staff end up rather than where they choose to be. Speak to anyone on that ward and they’ll tell you what they’d rather be doing. You can’t change it. I avoid the difficult ones, ignore all the bitching and focus on the patients. Try to do the same—you’ll be fine. Love Issy

    FROM: Beth Halliday

    SUBJECT: Re: All My Sons

    DATE: April 22, 2018 at 1:09 p.m.

    TO: James Hayward

    CC: Martin Hayward

    Hi James, thanks for the offer to be Lydia in the play. Sorry, but I’ve got my exams. Thank you, though, Beth

    FROM: Emma Crooks

    SUBJECT: Re: All My Sons

    DATE: April 22, 2018 at 1:49 p.m.

    TO: James Hayward

    CC: Martin Hayward

    So sorry, but I can’t take on Paige’s part in the play. I’m already covering her classes at The Grange and dog-sitting Woof—they can’t have him in the house because he’s a risk of infection and, as you know, he’s a little shit, only not so little. Anyway, my heart wouldn’t be in it, not now. So sorry, hope you find someone. What about the mousy girl who played the maid last time? Emma

    FROM: James Hayward

    SUBJECT: All My Sons

    DATE: April 22, 2018 at 2:19 p.m.

    TO: Isabel Beck

    CC: Martin Hayward

    Dearest Issy, I thought to myself Who can possibly play Lydia? and you were the first in mind. The part is yours. Here’s the revised rehearsal schedule. Look forward to working with you, James

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Yaaaaaay!

    DATE: April 22, 2018 at 2:22 p.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Yippee! I’ve got the part! James said I’d read it so well in the initial auditions I was the first he thought of. Hope you’re feeling better about work, now you’ve had a bit longer to get used to it. It’s so lovely to have a friend on the ward again. Lauren and I trained together and both ended up here for a while, but she left a year ago. Hope nights are calm and uneventful for you this week. Can’t wait to catch up again—love to Kel—tell him he’d better watch out, now we are married (in the play, I mean)! Love Issy

    FROM: Claudia D’Souza

    SUBJECT: Thank you

    DATE: April 23, 2018 at 10:03 a.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Dear Sam,

    It was lovely chatting with you yesterday about your first month at St. Ann’s and all things Africa. Sadly, my window for humanitarian volunteering closed about ten years ago, but I can still dream…

    I know you want to keep it informal, but the issues you raise are very serious and I want to address them here. I will summarize as follows:

    Poor standards of engagement among staff.

    Lack of perception among staff that family members of the elderly can be as needful of care and understanding as the patient. You cite best practice in Pediatrics as the ideal.

    A culture of intimidation that precludes staff from addressing the issues above.

    Incidents of bullying involving one member of staff in particular.

    We welcome feedback and guarantee anonymity for anyone who reports unacceptable behavior by colleagues. If you wish to make a formal complaint re points 1–3 above, I can open the official channels for you.

    I have worked at St. Ann’s for years and will say that Elderly Care has always been subject to a high turnover of staff. It is an unpopular discipline and we find it difficult attracting and keeping experienced colleagues. You are quite right to say patients and their families deserve more engaged care, and Pediatrics is holistic in this respect. Perhaps colleagues more readily engage with the worried parents of vulnerable young children than they do with difficult elderly patients and their stressed middle-aged relatives?

    We are working to improve our staff engagement all the time. You’ll have seen the CPD notices in the staff room, plus some minor restructuring in the next six months will place care teams in smaller groups than at present. Hopefully you will see the situation improve.

    Re point 4 above. St. Ann’s has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, and I would say to impress upon this colleague that she can contact her line manager—or my department—at any time. I appreciate that she is nonconfrontational, but victims must come forward in person for the correct procedures to be initiated.

    Again Sam, thank you for our chat and I look forward to seeing you again next month for your eight-week appraisal.

    Yours, Claudia D’Souza

    Human Resources Manager

    St. Ann’s Hospital

    FROM: Isabel Beck

    SUBJECT: Morning!

    DATE: April 24, 2018 at 5:19 a.m.

    TO: Samantha Greenwood

    Hiya Sam,

    Hope everything was ok on the ward last night. I’m just about to leave for another uplifting day in Jelly Antics myself. Sorry you and Kel missed the rehearsal. We had a technical walk-through for Act Two, so it was a bit chaotic. Between you and me, James isn’t as decisive as his dad, so it felt as if everyone was trying to direct. At least I got to be Lydia for the first time! It’s so good to forget everything for a couple of hours. The Haywards never cease to amaze me. Helen is such a trouper. She’s already got the accent and you can see she’ll blow people away with her portrayal of the mother. Who’d have thought her granddaughter was seriously ill and her daughter so worried? You never know what people are going through inside. I wanted to find out more about Poppy’s diagnosis but didn’t get a chance. They haven’t asked me any medical questions, have they you? They must have people on all sides offering opinions and advice. I suppose it makes a change from friends who are forever telling you their symptoms. See you soon. Love Issy

    Message exchange between Sarah-Jane MacDonald and James Hayward on April 24, 2018:

    9:41 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

    I know I was outspoken last night, but are you sure that drippy girl is the best choice to play Lydia? Give me a few days and I’ll talk Emma round.

    9:48 a.m. James Hayward wrote:

    It’s not always about who is best for a role. Sometimes it’s who would benefit most from the experience. This is amateur dramatics, not the RSC. Do not speak to Emma. Isabel is doing well and deserves a chance.

    Message exchange between James Hayward and

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