Becca Reviews: The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

This is certainly the most unique book I've read in 2025. It's my first Hallett, and from browsing her other works, it seems she always adopts this VERY (like 100% I think) epistolary novel format - meaning she shares emails, WhatsApp conversations, police recordings, and images of flyers etc. Often novels use these snippets as accompaniment to the prose but not Hallett.

Now, as someone who often skim reads/skips (sorry) the texts and emails in novels, this took a moment to get used to. But it was worth it!

This novel starts with Dominic Eastwood emailing producers in an attempt to have his family history turned into a Netflix true crime show. This format works a treat as the documents that 'narrate' the story are being put forward as evidence to the crime.

We then follow relatively new pub landlords, Sue and Mal, and the locals in the area who frequent the Monday night pub quiz. Hallett is a genius, and I don't say that lightly. But to give us all the information we need as readers via emails and WhatsApp conversations is crazy.

This book also hit different for me as my family religiously attends a local Monday night pub quiz. Whilst there's no murders (that I know of), there is definitely the same drama about who's sitting at whose table, whether anyone is cheating, and which team has too many members (spoiler: it's my family, tehe).

Everything seems fairly regular (apart from the fact they have to pay to enter the quiz?! Not in Cornwall :P) until a body appears and investigations begin.

The story features all the wacky and wonderful characters you would expect from a small rural town and the unique format doesn't leave anything lacking. Hallett is incredibly creative with the characters' use of naming conventions, messaging style, tone of voice etc. that really gives you a fully fledged idea of who the individuals are rather than how they seem from behind a screen (which is all we really see).

She cleverly drip feeds us clues and facts, meaning we can play at being Sherlock too!

This was a really fun read, totally gripping, very fast paced, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Hallett's work. If anyone comes for this book negatively for the format (and they likely will), 1. use the term 'epistolary novel' to surprise and disarm them, and 2. remind them Frankenstein is an epistolary novel, but Mary Shelley never had the chance to send an email or text. :)

Give it a go!

Read: 10/08/2025

Published: 04/09/2025

ISBN: 9781668083536

Price: £14.49 (GBP) (Hardback)