Murder in the Title [Unabridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Prebble (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

Text for Author Bio: Simon Brett is a former radio and television comedy producer, who has been writing full-time for more than twenty years. Creator of the Charles Parks, Mrs. Pargeter and Feathering series of mysteries, his psychological thriller, A Shock to the System was filmed, starring Michael Caine. Married, with three children, he lives in an Agatha Christie-style village in West Sussex, England. Text for book description: Simon Brett again takes us behind the scenes in a back-stage drama of crime and detection. This time its the world of provincial rep, with an historic theatre threatened with closure by unscrupulous property developers. And the theatre management seems to be digging its own grave: a deplorable choice of current productions; a painfully incompetent director; bizarre accidents happening on stage. Charles, as Mr. Bretts readers know, is an amateur detective and a professional actor. As an actor his career is still on the way down, with not much further to go. But as a detective he goes from strength to strength. He soon establishes that someone is deliberately sabotaging the company. All this culminates in a spectacular suicide. Or is it murder, as Charles Paris suspects? Text for Review Box: "A mystery that astounds and delights. A hit." Booklist "Every page is gentle fun." Daily Telegraph

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his latest stage performance, Charles Paris hits a new low in his less-than-stellar career, for in The Message Is Murder, he plays a corpse. As this part allows him too much backstage time, he quite often is dead drunk by the time he makes his appearance. But when accidents begin to happen, Charles, amateur sleuth, is pulled out of his despair and is once again searching for the culprit. The accidents escalate until a death occurs behind the scenes. Was it suicide or murder? Brett will keep the reader and Charles guessing until the end. More than a mystery, Murder in the Title is a glimpse backstage at a genteel but failing small provincial theater. Simon Prebble's narration of this showstopper is excellent; highly recommended for all public libraries.DTheresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Simon Brett is a former radio and television comedy producer, who has been writing full-time for more than twenty years. Creator of the Charles Paris, Mrs. Pargeter and Fethering series of mysteries, his psychological thriller, A Shock to the System was filmed, starring Michael Caine. Married with three children, he lives in an Agatha Christie-style village in West Sussex, England. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Recorded Books; Unabridged edition (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788744968
• ISBN-13: 978-0788744969
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,025,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Charles Paris Never Disappoints Me, May 19, 2010

By 

John F. Rooney - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder In The Title (Charles Paris Mysteries) (Paperback)

Charles Paris in Simon Brett's "Murder in the Title" (1983) is playing the part of a corpse in a creaky out-of-date mystery in a provincial theater in Rugland Spa. As usual, he's drunk, and he's in a cupboard on stage where he's giggling at the play's terrible dialogue. At one point he's supposed to fall out of the cupboard and land on the floor with a sword stuck through him. Unfortunately and very unprofessionally when he's on the floor supposedly being a dead man, he starts to titter.
Charles screws up a second time on stage, but the theater's general manager not only gives him another chance but offers him a part in the theater's next production the daring play "Shove It" which is replete with obscenity and nudity and is a play totally unsuitable for a straitlaced retirement town like Rugland Spa. Charles says, "People move to Rutland Spa specifically to have their minds narrowed." Even Charles would have to appear in the altogether in the production,
An accident happens in the play's hanging scene, an actor almost dies, and Charles suspects murder is afoot. The company's artistic director acts in a weird and disoriented manner. The theater is on a valuable piece of property ripe for development, and a conglomerate is vying for the property. Charles suspects that someone is attempting to sabotage the theater.
Charles has developed a reputation as an amateur sleuth, and he goes into action to investigate the mysterious goings-on. Now age 55, he's been estranged from his wife Frances for twenty years, and it's upsetting to him to hear that she's dating another man. After Charles has a brief liaison with her, she is more confused than ever.
As usual in a Paris mysterty there's plenty of insider theater stuff, a lot of laughs, and a great deal of pub action as well as sharp characterization and clever plotting. Charles always seems to have an excuse to overdo his drinking which adds to the fun.
At the beginning it's very interesting to learn how dialogue carries the exposition in a play, but learn it through Brett's humorous asides.

0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointed, May 31, 2006

By 

Frank Connelly "farge" (Anaheim, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Murder In The Title (Charles Paris Mysteries) (Paperback)

I have read all the Fethering series and enjoyed them immensely. Thought I would try this series and really sorry I did. Very boring!!!!