Thomas Hardy, especially Far from the Madding Crowd. It’s so rural – like going on holiday to the West Country.

A book that will leave its mark on both mystery and epistolary novel writing as in a single book, in her first published work aged 50+, Janice provides a about-to-be-much-copied way of setting these out for 21st century audiences. In the mystery, not only am I the reader studying all the available communications the same time as the law students; I as a reader, am also investigating the students and the trial lawyer's aims. Last shout-out to the Isobel character, what an exceptional, spot on, and heart breaking character... if this is ever adapted, this is a dream role, from a dream book. All the hearts, all the stars, a Five Star, 10 out of 12. (I was going to give this a Four Star 9.5 out of 12, but as I began writing this review, I realised how wrong that would be!) With this being said, the mystery itself wasn't super-engaging for me. Even when I found out who was murdered, I wasn't particularly bothered by it, or really compelled to discover who did it. It seems like the family is tight lipped about the drug therapy and other details which is suspicious a little and when we add murder into equation, things get juicer and more complex!A prominent family finds out that their granddaughter, Poppy, has a rare form of cancer. The family learns of an experimental treatment that they hope will cure Poppy. Since the treatment does not qualify for health coverage, the family calls in the help of their amateur theatre company, and together, they begin to raise funds for Poppy’s treatment. As they begin to fundraise, some begin to raise questions about the treatment and the fundraising itself. While everyone participates in this fundraiser, the theatre company begins rehearsals for its next play. As the play nears, lies begin to unravel. There were a ton of shady players, involved in all sorts of super shady activities; things such as fraud, blatantly lying to friends and stealing. I'm frankly surprised only one of them ended up dead. There has been a murder. Someone is in prison for it. What was the motive? Is the person incarcerated truly guilty of the crime?

They're presented chronologically, so what you get is actually a fairly thorough picture of what has occurred among this chaotic group of characters; and what a group of characters they are! A local theatre group, The Fairway Players, are getting ready for Arthur Miller’s play, All My Sons, when tragedy strikes the family of Martin Hayward, the director, and his wife, Helen, the play’s star. Their granddaughter has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. An experimental treatment costing a large amount of money may be the only thing to save her life. Their friends and colleagues support them by babysitting, dog-sitting, and fundraising. However, accusations, fights, and a dead body bring a mystery to life. Someone has already been convicted of this brutal murder and is currently in prison, but we suspect they are innocent. What's more, we believe far darker secrets have yet to be revealed. We, the reader join them in their endeavor, as the story is told ENTIRELY through these various means of correspondence, as they attempt to determine who is guilty and who is innocent. They must decipher IF the appeal is being used for personal gain, and by whom. And, also if the suspect in custody is the correct one.

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i was drawn to that UK cover before i knew anything about the book, whereas that snoozy US cover looks like so many other books, i would probably have white-noised right over it on the bookstore shelves and never discovered what this little gem has to offer. My involvement has been lifelong. I joined the Raglan Players – based in Northolt in west London where I still live – when I was 14. I met my partner there. I’ve done everything from prompting to props to wardrobe. I’ve directed, written plays for them, been in plays. I’ve served behind the bar, cleaned up after… it’s an all-encompassing hobby. But we’ve found, like a lot of amateur drama groups, that we can’t generate new members. In the 21st century, people don’t want to go out to take part in that kind of hobby. The Raglan Players, sadly, folded in 2013. The novel is my love letter to them – though some people might say it’s a strange love letter.