Customer Reviews

Murder in the Title

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Charles Paris in Simon Brett's "Murder in the Title" (1983) is playing the part of a corpse in a creaky out-of-date mystery in a provincial theater in Rugland Spa.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.

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