When The Killer Question was announced, I knew I had to snap it up as a mystery aficionado, fan of Janice Hallett’s previous work and keen pub quizzer (as setter, host and participant). So I had to drop everything to read this and I think this might be her best yet. As usual it twists an unusual narrative format to pull you into this twisty and layered mystery packed to the brim with surprises.
Hallett has a wonderfully twisted brain that captures the rich complexity that can hide within the mundanity of everyday life. Her books are rooted in the hilarious and hateful little moments of life that you may miss, perfectly matching the breadcrumb trail of clues she sprinkles in. You are utterly captivated by the characters you may love or hate, but they feel like they could step off the page at any time. She has an indomitable style that stands out from the crowd and never fails to capture me. The modern epistolary mystery novel is undoubtedly her space and she impresses me with her sheer ingenuity. Every time, she pulls out a new format that feels inspired and surprising that you haven’t seen it before, pulled straight from real life. I mean who else would combine a murder and a pub quiz? It is fantastically imagined and the type of concept that pulls you in as a reader. The story builds on this concept to deliver a taut and twisty story that will surprise and delight you.
The central mystery as always is incredibly well-constructed with a veritable buffet of clues, characters, misdirects and reveals that shake the table. You always know you’re in safe hands with Hallett. This is another thoroughly enjoyable story that has incredible twists and a beating heart beneath it all. It is a wild ride with larger than life characters but there is also an important throughline about the true crime industry. The framing device of this book is around a pub quiz but also around a potential documentary pitch for a mysterious death that forever changes the lives of those around it. It is deeply interested in the way true crime narratives can sensationalise and exploit tragic stories for the benefits of those profiting from it, often neglecting the real people involved and reducing them to stereotypes for entertainment value. Hallett impressively showcases this through the various emails and text messages that create this story—there is that relentless pursuit of fame and money at any cost. It is scathing and leaves a strong impression on the reader.
On a lighter note, Hallett’s love of quizzing shines through in this novel. I loved the excerpts of the different quizzes and the snippets of conversations from teams and quizmasters alike.
It fit a lot of ‘types’ you may see at a quiz and gently pokes fun. Like the community gossip of The Appeal, Hallett captures such a sense of character from just a few lines of text messages. It is incredibly arresting and speaks to the way we all communicate now, with the various relationships dynamics simmering just below. There is plenty of humour in this, a ribbing sense of satire that encourages you to laugh with rather than at. Within this is particularly where you can feel love for this competitive element that brings people together as it pits them against one another. As a pub quiz veteran myself, it brought back plenty of memories—both fond and nastier. That darker side definitely comes into play as tensions heighten (wonderfully reflected in the weekly pub quizzes and surrounding discussions) and other elements start to be revealed. This is such a brilliant book where you just have to allow Hallett to lead you through this maze.
The Killer Question is a fiendish book that will give you whiplash with its incredibly smart plotting and twists that catch you off guard. This is definitely not a pub quiz you’ll forget anytime soon.
The Killer Question is available from Amazon, Waterstones, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 4th 2025.
Will you be picking up The Killer Question? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis
Get ready for the sudden-death round…
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Mal and Sue Eastwood were once the kindly landlords of a local village pub, The Case is Altered. They ran a weekly pub quiz and were well liked by their customers and colleagues alike, always happy to lend a helping hand. But now The Case stands empty, its windows boarded up. What could have happened to Mal and Sue?
Did The Case close because it was failing? Was it because of the body pulled from the nearby river? Or perhaps it had something to do with the quiz? It had always been a quiet affair, five teams of locals battling it out for a small prize pot. Until one day a mysterious new team of outsiders arrived, and started winning every round…
Only by sifting through the quiz sheets, the WhatsApps, and Mal and Sue’s hidden past may the truth be revealed. Someone’s not playing fair, so get the drinks in and see if you can get a perfect score.
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