March saw members tackle a crime novel, but one with an unusual format. Janice Hallett has brought the epistolary novel into the 21st Century by using emails and texts to tell a murder mystery.
Members read her first novel, The Appeal, which has proved such a hit that it has produced a number of follow-ups from the author. The reader is plunged into the machinations of an am-dram group, and the complications of a charity appeal for an apparently sick child.
For many members this was an enjoyable read, and, although it clocked in at more than 400 pages, its format helped to maintain the pace and interest.
There was appreciation for the intricacy of a plot that kept readers guessing and was far from straightforward. Supporters were intrigued by just exactly what was playing out.
Hallett was also felt to have used humour well to draw you in to the world she created, and making you feel you had a stake in the outcome.
There was some discussion about how long it took for the murder to actually take place (around 250 pages). Some felt they were left waiting too long, while others appreciated the need to build the world and set the scene, feeling the delay added to the tension.
For some though, even if the book drew them in at first, their interest waned in the middle sections, and patience was tested. There was still some investment in the outcome, but it had lost its grip.
Some felt there were just too many characters. Although some were there as possible suspects, others felt a little unnecessary.
There was also a growing sense for some of how contrived The Appeal was with a framing device that grew unconvincing. A failure to explain why key details and significant chunks of correspondence were missing also ended up robbing the conclusion of power.
There was also discussion about the format. While some thought its reliance on emails and texts was both original and appealing, others felt it made it relentless and unfocused.
There was agreement that this was a book best read in physical form as those who sampled it on ebook or phone struggled more.
It was another book and another month though that generated a lively discussion.

February's meeting discussed Penelope Fitzgerald's 1978 Booker shortlisted The Bookshop. It is a comparatively brief novel, and opinions varied on how much it achieved in fewer than 200 pages.
Those who appreciated it most felt it delivered a powerful punch in its short span, with great economy but also fine writing. Fitzgerald seemed in complete control of her material with focus and purpose.
And for fans, its apparent cosy rural setting belied an undercurrent of darkness and nastiness, as this showed a closed and hierarchical community crushing the life out of the bookshop and its owner Florence.
But as well being a sad and melancholy book, there were flashes of genuine humour and memorable characters.
Members particularly enjoyed Florence's 10-year-old spiky assistant Christine, and her villainous nemesis Violet Gamart. 
Class and power featured strongly and although this was a portrait of an individual Sussex village, the themes were universal enough to be recognisable traits of many societies. Its setting on the verge of the 1960s and social change felt significant.
For some though the book did not have the same impact, failing to cohere into a novel that held their attention. They also believed it could have benefited from expansion and a broader canvas. Some found it a slog despite its length.
A supernatural element to the story also felt superfluous to some members, who felt it added little. Some felt Florence's apparent passivity made it hard to connect to her plight.
A member who had seen the film version felt it was potentially preferable to the book. There was agreement though that this was a small book that promoted quite a lot of discussion.