When Martin Hayward, director of The Fairway Players, sets about to put on Arthur Miller’s All My Sons after a winning run of Blithe Spirits, he has no idea of the drama that will ensue. In between auditions and the final rehearsals, there is fraud, deception, secrets, lies, an affair, and maybe even a murder. Now someone is in jail, and it’s up to two young lawyers to figure out exactly what happened by reading between the lines of hundreds of emails, messages, and newspaper articles.

Shortly after the cast is announced, Martin tells that them that he is not going to be able to direct it after all. Their granddaughter, 2-year-old Poppy, has been diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, and he is handing over the reins to All My Son to his son James to direct while he and his wife Helen (who will still star in the show) and their daughter Paige and son-in-law Glen are focusing on Poppy’s well-being. Even though James’s wife Olivia is quite pregnant with twins, he is willing to take over directing the play.

Meanwhile, Poppy’s oncologist has told the family that there is an experimental treatment in America that has worked against Poppy’s type of cancer, but a single treatment will cost the family $350,000. Not daunted by that, Martin begins a fundraising appeal to raise the money. Family friend and fundraising professional Sarah-Jane MacDonald takes over the appeal for money and immediately starts setting up a charity ball, a website where people can contribute, and looking at other avenues where friends and family could help. People start contributing almost as soon as she sends out the email with the website information, and the ball is a huge success.

Isabel is a nurse at St. Ann’s and an avid member of the Fairway Players. Blithe Spirit was her first time on stage, and though she had a small part, she was very enthusiastic about it and looking forward to All My Sons. In fact, she’s also brought into the cast Sam and Kel, also nurses at St. Ann’s, but new to the area. After spending many years working in Africa. Samantha is working in geriatrics with Isabel, and Isabel befriended her right away. Kel, Sam’s husband, works in the psychiatric unit.

As soon as these nurses learn about Poppy’s cancer, they want to help. In fact, Sam runs a half-marathon, taking donations for Poppy’s medical fund. But when Sam finds out the name of their oncologist, she becomes suspicious and begins to have doubts about this experimental treatment and its exorbitant cost. As the weeks go by with more intense fundraising efforts aimed at the community, she begins to investigate the doctor and the funding.

Meanwhile, the Hayward family finds themselves facing more challenges. The workers for the new pool at their golf and country club haven’t been paid and take over the parking lot with all their equipment, blocking everyone else, until they get a payment from Martin. Glen gets fired from his jab and struggles to find another one. In an attempt to raise more money quickly, Martin hands over $100,000 to a woman who promises big returns on his investment, and then disappears with the money. James’s wife Olivia has to stay in the hospital for the end of her pregnancy. And Paige and Glen’s dog Woof needs abdominal surgery after eating, well, everything.

As the Haywards do everything they can think of to raise more funds, Sam does everything she can think of to bring down the oncologist that had something to do with her having to leave Africa. And when another friend from Africa comes to stay with Sam and Kel, even more secrets are brought to light, and fists start flying. But when someone ends up dead, and someone else ends up in jail, it’s up to two young lawyers to figure out exactly what happened to who, by who, when, why, and who knew about it when.

The Appeal is a story told in bits and pieces, emails and messages, and the reader is asked to work hard to figure out what is being said and what isn’t. Author Janice Hallett’s debut thriller weaves a murder mystery with a tale of community drama, and the result is explosive.

At first, The Appeal is a challenge to read, as you’re thrown into these people lives knowing nothing and having to build a picture with only the broad strokes of emails and personal messages. But as you get drawn into the story, figuring out the layers of secrets and lies, the crises and crimes, it becomes impossible to stop thinking about these characters and what they are up to. Unraveling the lies and digging up the secrets make this book so much fun to read. If you’re a fan of logic problems, then you will love this book. It’s one long logic problem, and it’s up to you to make sense of all the clues.

Egalleys for The Appeal were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.