Thanks JJ for the review – sounds like I need to get my hands on this book sooner rather than later! Is it a book I can get via my local Kindle store – or does the ‘murder dossier’ format require a hard copy? Allowing each character to speak for themselves is a great benefit of this style. I much prefer writing in the first person, where I can jump into that character and see the world from their perspective. As a screenwriter I had to write dialogue from every character’s perspective and I think my novels demonstrate an extension of that. There must be downsides but I haven’t discovered them yet. It feels quite natural to me to write this kind of novel. To say too much wouls be to risk spoiling some aspect, I’m sure, but there’s certainly more emotional involvement in this than the transcripts of the MacDonald — I mention that one becuase thi is similarly epistolary. And I don’t really think anyone would write a modern crime novel as divested of emotion as The Maze, would they? That would be an interesting proposition… You were inspired by true crime and Michelle McNamara’s book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. What is it that interests you about the genre and that book? I’m with you about the inevitability of the ending, in part because of the sheer number of people involved and possible combinations that allows. But this is easily one of the best puzzlish debuts of recent years, and I’m intrigued to see where Hallett ends up. A bit like Stuart Turton, there could be good things in her future — let’s hope so, for all our benefits!

Munchausen by Proxy is typically an individual mental illness resulting in abuse perpetuated by a single person, usually a mother, who has control over the victim, typically a child. Why do Martin and Poppy’s parents agree to be in on the deception? Paige, Poppy’s mother, doesn’t seem to be in on it. But how is that possible? Synopsis: The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals for an Arthur Miller play, when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Haywood 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 fellow castmates rally to raise money.Oh, The Maze is certainly much drier — there’s a clear focus on the relationships and interactions between the characters, and a very clear importance on that element of things being key. Wholly original, constructed as delicately as a spiderweb, and as heartfelt as it is intelligent, I could not stop reading The Appeal -- Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless Street When Martin and his wife Helen, head of local theater group The Fairway Players and owners of a posh golf club, announce that their granddaughter Poppy has a brain tumor. Their friends, colleagues, and neighbors rally around them. I raced through it and liked it a lot, but I did find the law student framing really annoying and contrived:

So cleverly written. I felt like I was a trainee lawyer sifting through evidence and trying to discover the culprit. It was exciting, fresh, and forces the reader to be an active investigator. I loved it -- Louise Mullins, author of I Know You What are the advantages and disadvantages to you as an author, or to the reader, of telling a story in this way? And, no, if I can cope with the Americanisms of Cornell Woolrich and Dashiell Hammett, you can cope with the Britishness of Hallett — there’s none of Osman’s winking references to Jaffa Cakes or Boots the chemist. This certainly has that advantage over the Osman, and that’s a good thing as far as international markets go 🙂Fiendishly clever, highly original and totally gripping -- Cass Green, bestselling author of In a Cottage in a Wood This is author Janice Hallett's first novel, inspired by her lifelong interest in amateur dramatics. And for a first novel it is a tour de force.

Very gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach -- Sophie Hannah, bestselling author of Haven't They Grown A] daring debut... Hallett will soon have you laughing out loud... The Appeal is clever and funny * The Times * I wasn’t aware of any other writing while working on my first two novels. If it’s a movement, then hopefully it’s like most movements in art – it arises naturally in response to what we as a society choose to consume as entertainment. A lot of readers say they like that my style is different, so it could simply be that a change is as good as a rest…

A very clever novel that puts you in the place of an investigator. A hugely enjoyable challenge and a most original book -- Jane Lythell, author of The Lie of You Brilliantly crafted, The Appeal is a refreshingly different take on the modern crime novel. Full of suspicion and secrets, I raced my way to the end - and what an ending! -- Lisa Hall, author of The Party

But not everybody is convince of the good intentions of those involved. New actress Sam raises doubts. A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy.Publication of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels in January, of course! I’m also in the middle of writing book four and even I think this one is devious. These are the people you have to see in private practice: the epitome of white entitlement. They think the earth should stop turning for their child to be cured. It doesn’t occur to them no one else is as committed to their family as they are. If they’d seen what we have, they’d be grateful for the many privileges they not only take for granted, but demand, with no sense of their own insignificance in the world. They could afford these drugs if they sold their assets, but they are affronted by the very idea of paying for healthcare and prefer others to foot the bill. Martin and Helen reveal that Helen lost a child to meningitis years ago, before their children Paige and James were born. The Appeal was told mainly through letters, and The Twyford Code through transcripts. What documents do you use to tell the story in The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels? I was intrigued by this book and have been wondering for a while whether or not I should give it a go. Having been burnt by too many modern mysteries which have been labelled as Christie-esque, I was somewhat on the fence. Whilst this is not a glowing review, the weaknesses mentioned do not seem to make it impossible to enjoy the story nevertheless. By the sounds of it, is it more in style of Philip Macdonald’s book than Dorothy L. Sayers’? Sayers, from recollection, is more relationship driven I would say.