I’ll start by saying this is a difficult task for me. I launched @BethReadsCrime on Instagram in August 2023, but I’d been sharing my bookish thoughts on personal social media accounts long before that. I’m old enough to remember only being allowed online after 7pm when charges were cheaper, having to log off when someone needed to use the phone and the whir of dial-up internet. In the days of LiveJournal, FaceParty, Habbo Hotel and Neopets. I even remember the thrill of getting a .ac.uk email address when I started university so I could finally sign up to Facebook which required one at the time!
So, I suppose it’s safe to say my memory isn’t what it used to be. Unless you would like to know some song lyrics from music I listened to at 15. But since creating a dedicated space for books, it has really helped me to recall a lot more. Although I had read most of Hallett’s books prior to setting up here, so to jog my memory, I checked Goodreads. Turns out, I’ve rated them all 5 stars. So, we’re off to a good start when it comes to figuring out where to rank them…
If you’re new to the works of Janice Hallett: all her books are standalone, all are told entirely through mixed media (emails, texts, transcripts, notes) and all feature a cunning mystery to solve. You really can’t go wrong with any of them – but here’s how they stack up for me:
6. The Christmas Appeal
Published: 26th October 2023
Format: Novella, epistolary
This festive novella revisits the cast of The Appeal as they stage a Christmas pantomime. It packs a punch in a compact format and is ideal as a bonus treat rather than a starting point.
5. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
Published: 19th January 2023
Format: Documents, messages, research transcripts, WhatsApp messages, scribbled notes, draft chapters, Twitter messages
This book is a rabbit hole and definitely due a re-read from me. The plot is really complex and I definitely feel I would enjoy it more a second time around.
We’re told we’ve uncovered a bundle of research materials linked to a newly published book, and it’s up to us to decide whether to report what we’ve read to the police… or keep it buried.
The book in question is about the notorious Alperton Angels cult who attempted to sacrifice a baby. The baby in question has now turned eighteen so the race is on between true crime reporters to track them down for the ultimate interview.
4. The Twyford Code
Published: 13th January 2022
Format: Transcripts of audio recordings
I find the story of Masquerade absolutely fascinating, so this one really resonated with me. (If you’ve never heard of it, Masquerade was a 1979 picture book that launched a real-life treasure hunt for a golden hare. It wasn’t solved for three years – and even then, insider knowledge played a controversial role!)
The Twyford Code begins with a recovered iPhone 4 found among a missing person’s belongings. Deleted audio files were present and the files recovered and deciphered. However the software used isn’t perfect and it frequently mishears words (“must have” becomes “mustard”; “going to” becomes “gun a”). It would have a nightmare with my Hull accent and dialect!
I loved how this one unfolded. The storytelling is incredibly clever and I have no idea how Hallett managed to piece it all together – especially whilst delivering a book a year! If you’re intrigued by puzzles and unreliable narrators, this is one for you.
3. The Appeal
Published: 14th January 2021
Format: Emails, messages, texts, newspaper clippings, social media activities and posters
The one that started it all. The Appeal is a masterclass in layered storytelling. When a tragedy occurs within a local amateur dramatics group, two law students are tasked with reviewing the emails and messages exchanged in the months leading up to it. What follows is a clever, funny, and utterly gripping mystery with a huge cast of characters and red herrings galore.
2. The Examiner
Published: 29th August 2024
Format: Articles, tests, written exchanges
This one felt a little darker to me – and I loved it for that. The tone, the pace, the twists – everything just landed perfectly. The story centres around an enigmatic educational programme and the people caught up in its secrets. The layers unfold through exam papers, memos, and assessments, drawing the reader into something far more sinister than it first appears. Read my review here
1. The Killer Question
Published: 4th September 2025
Format: WhatsApp group chats, text messages, emails, TripAdvisor reviews and statements
I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this – and it’s my favourite yet. The Killer Question is a brilliantly twisty, cosy crime told through clever mixed media. Featuring quizzes, charming pubs and classic Hallett twists. You can read my full review here.
So there we have it! My ranking of every Janice Hallett book so far. But honestly, you can dive in anywhere for a great read.
Which is your favourite Janice Hallett novel? Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram @BethReadsCrime.
Oh – and did you know Hallett’s first children’s murder mystery is out on the 5th June? We heard about the inspiration behind it during a talk hosted by Criminally Good Books [blog post about that here] and it sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun!
Beth Reads Crime 
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