The Appeal Read online

  ‘Very gripping. I loved the ambitious and unusual approach’

  Sophie Hannah, author of Haven’t They Grown

  ‘Intriguing, clever and above all, wholly original in execution – a rare feat indeed, and to be savoured. Hallett invites you into the investigation in a way other thrillers scarcely manage. I could not tear myself away in case I missed the crucial clue’

  Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner

  ‘The Appeal grips from the start, expertly stage-managing emails and messages to create an intriguing mystery with a cast of vivid, memorable characters. Original, clever, devious – and never less than utterly compelling – this is a case you’re about to become obsessed with. A real triumph’

  Alex North, author of The Whisper Man

  ‘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

  ‘One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read all year. This book is extremely addictive. It will reel you in, one piece of evidence at a time. Structured as a body of evidence awaiting interpretation, it’s ingenious and highly original with some very satisfying surprises at the end’

  Alex Pavesi, author of Eight Detectives

  ‘Brilliantly original, inventive and clever, I loved this book and you will too’

  Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House

  ‘Highly original with characters that leap off the page. An addictive read’

  Michelle Frances, author of The Girlfriend

  ‘I loved this – it’s utterly compulsive and unlike anything I’ve read in a while. It is such a cliché to say it, but I genuinely could NOT put it down. Bravo’

  Katie Lowe, author of The Furies

  ‘A totally original take on a thriller – intriguing and dark but with a dash of humour – I raced through it’

  Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet

  ‘A wonderfully revealing portrait of how we communicate – what we hide and show of ourselves. It’s sharp, funny, a brilliant game, and once you start playing you won’t be able to stop’

  Rachel Elliott, author of Whispers Through a Megaphone

  ‘A brilliant hybrid of Agatha Christie and Silk’

  Guy Morpuss QC, author of Five Minds

  THE

  APPEAL

  JANICE HALLETT

  First published in Great Britain in 2021 by

  VIPER, part of Serpent’s Tail,

  an imprint of Profile Books Ltd

  29 Cloth Fair

  London

  EC1A 7JQ

  www.serpentstail.com

  Copyright © Janice Hallett, 2021

  Text design by Crow Books

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  ISBN 9781788165280

  Export ISBN 9781788165297

  eISBN 9781782837053

  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:

  1. Only a limited number of emails, texts and messages could be recovered, so the 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.

  See what you think.

  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, analyse and frame into something solid.

  Charlotte

  Need to log off. Concentrate. Speak end of play 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

  27 February 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 post-partum care, fistula repair and sexual-health education projects in rural communities. She is an honest and hard-working 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 organisation. 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: 26 March 2018 at 06:39

  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 shift-worker, 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: 26 March 2018 at 18:16

  TO: Isabel Beck

  Will do. Regards.

  FROM: Isabel Beck

 
; SUBJECT: The morning after!

  DATE: 1 April 2018 at 10:45

  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 theatregoers 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: 1 April 2018 at 19:32

  TO: Isabel Beck

  Thanks. Regards.

  FROM: The Fairway Players Admin

  SUBJECT: All My Sons

  DATE: 2 April 2018 at 11:08

  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 8 and Monday 9 April in the church hall. If you have any potential new members you’d like to bring, do. Helen will organise 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: 8 April 2018 at 07:44

  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: 9 April 2018 at 23:02

  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: 16 April 2018 at 13:09

  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: 16 April 2018 at 13:22

  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: 16 April 2018 at 13:34

  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: 17 April 2018 at 17:38

  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

  Kate Keller

  Helen Grace-Hayward

  Joe Keller

  John O’Dea

  Dr Jim Bayliss

  Kevin MacDonald

  Frank Lubey

  Kel Greenwood

  Sue Bayliss

  Sam Greenwood

  Lydia Lubey

  Paige Reswick

  Chris Keller

  Barry Walford

  Bert

  Harley MacDonald

  Ann Deever

  Sarah-Jane MacDonald

  George Deever

  Nick Walford

  FROM: Lauren Malden

  SUBJECT: Sorry, my lovely!

  DATE: 17 April 2018 at 18:23

  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: 17 April 2018 at 18:33

  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: 17 April 2018 at 18:39

  TO: Samantha Greenwoo
d

  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: 20 April 2018 at 09:19

  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 organise 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: 20 April 2018 at 11:50

  TO: Martin Hayward

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

  PS Five–nil disaster.

  FROM: Isabel Beck

  SUBJECT: Sorry!

  DATE: 21 April 2018 at 08:29

  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