# The Appeal

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/the-appeal/
- Published: 2021-07-01T16:32:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**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? The standout debut thriller of 2021 that delivers
multiple brilliant twists, and will change the way you think about the modern crime
novel.

**Winner of the 2022 CWA New Blood Dagger**

## Reviews

“Completely trumps Richard Osman”.
– **_The Times_**

> Catching up with [@JaniceHallett](https://twitter.com/JaniceHallett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> THE APPEAL for [#volsector](https://twitter.com/hashtag/volsector?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#crimefiction](https://twitter.com/hashtag/crimefiction?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> Local [@fundraising](https://twitter.com/fundraising?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) committee.
> Hysterical committee minutes. Enjoy on hols: [@Philliteracy](https://twitter.com/Philliteracy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [@Philanthropyin3](https://twitter.com/Philanthropyin3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/pJLHQ1XraJ](https://t.co/pJLHQ1XraJ)
> — Mike Locke (@MikeSLocke) [July 22, 2022](https://twitter.com/MikeSLocke/status/1550446254882263041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 'It never flags, is very witty in places, and two enormous twists at the end which
> you don’t see coming. Highly original and amazingly clever.'
> Can we just take 
> a moment for what [@The_CWA](https://twitter.com/The_CWA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 
> judges said about [@janicehallett](https://twitter.com/JaniceHallett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'
> s [#TheAppeal](https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheAppeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> 🙏 [pic.twitter.com/LbSOmw10lq](https://t.co/LbSOmw10lq)
> — Viper Books (@ViperBooks) [July 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/ViperBooks/status/1543973553019752453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 💬💬💬💬💬
> This is so good! I can't say much but it's fiendishly clever, intricate,&
> well plotted. The reader gets to hunt for clues in "real time" & it's great to
> work something out at the same time as the characters.[@JaniceHallett](https://twitter.com/JaniceHallett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#TheAppeal](https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheAppeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#beatthebacklog](https://twitter.com/hashtag/beatthebacklog?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [pic.twitter.com/yQFNRzhEOa](https://t.co/yQFNRzhEOa)
> — Brooke – languidly sprawled (@eko_orb) [July 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/eko_orb/status/1546539846591725568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)