Guns in the Gallery

Guns in the Gallery

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

Invited to a Private View of the work of controversial artist Denzil Willoughby, the good citizens of Fethering are not quite sure what to expect. And it turns out to be a lively affair, culminating in several embarrassing confrontations. But what no one could have anticipated was that the evening would end in sudden, violent death. The police seem happy to accept that it was suicide, but Fethering residents Carole and Jude remain unconvinced . . .
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A Decent Interval

A Decent Interval

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

After a long period of 'resting', life is looking up for Charles Paris, who has been cast as the Ghost of Hamlet's Father and First Gravedigger in a new production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are fraught. Ophelia is played by Katrina Selsey, who won the role through a television talent show. Hamlet himself is also played by a reality TV contestant, Jared Root – and the two young stars have rather different views of celebrity and the theatre than the more experienced members of the cast.But when the company reach the first staging post of their tour, the Grand Theatre Marlborough, matters get more serious, with one member of the company seriously injured in what appears to be an accident, and another dead. Once again, Charles Paris is forced to don the mantle of amateur detective to get to the bottom of the mystery.
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The Cinderella Killer

The Cinderella Killer

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

A Christmas production of Cinderella is marred by a series of killings in the waspishly funny new Charles Paris mystery Landing a minor part in the Empire Theatre Eastbourne's Christmas production of Cinderella, Charles Paris soon discovers that his main role is to gently introduce the show's baffled American star, famous sitcom actor Kenny Polizzi, to the bizarre customs of English pantomime.During their convivial sessions in the local pub, Charles finds himself increasingly caught up in Polizzi's tangled affairs as the American fends off a vengeful soon-to-be-ex-wife, an obsessed groupie, and a barely-controlled drink problem. But Charles is about to be far more involved than he might wish when he stumbles across a body beneath Eastbourne Pier, a neat bullet hole in the centre of the forehead.As the world's press descends on Eastbourne, the pantomime rehearsals descend into chaos and he himself comes under suspicion, it's up to Charles to put his...
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A Deadly Habit

A Deadly Habit

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

Rehearsals in a new West End play are disrupted by sudden, violent death in the intriguing new Charles Paris mystery Having landed a small part in a new West End play, The Habit of Faith, Charles Paris is dismayed to discover that his good fortune has been orchestrated by his bête noire, the now-famous screen actor Justin Grover. But why has Grover become involved in this relatively obscure production – and why has he roped in Charles to star? From the outset the production is fraught with difficulties — and matters become even more complicated when a body is discovered at the foot of the dressing room stairs. Did they fall – or were they pushed? As one of the last people to have seen the victim alive, Charles Paris is drawn into the ensuing investigation – and discovers that more than one person involved in the play has a scandalous secret to hide ...
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The Liar in the Library

The Liar in the Library

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

When an author event at the local library ends in murder, Jude finds herself a suspect in the waspishly witty new Fethering mystery.Having been booked to give a talk at Fethering Library, successful author Burton St Clair invites his old friend Jude to come along. Although they haven?t met for twenty years, Jude is not surprised to find that St Clair hasn?t changed, with his towering ego and somewhat shaky relationship with the truth. What Jude hadn?t been suspecting however was that the evening would end in sudden, violent death.More worrying, from Jude?s point of view, is the fact that the investigating police officers seem to be convinced that she herself was responsible for the crime. With the evidence stacking up against her, Jude enlists the help of her neighbour Carole not just to solve the murder but to prevent herself from being arrested for committing it.
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Mrs Pargeter 01; A Nice Class of Corpse mp-1

Mrs Pargeter 01; A Nice Class of Corpse mp-1

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

The Devereux is a nice residential hotel which caters for a nice class of guest. But the arrival of Mrs Pargeter, an attractive widow, seems to act as a catalyst of disaster for everyone connected with the hotel. On the morning after her arrival, the corpse of one of the frailer residents is found at the foot of the main staircase, and shortly after that another death shakes the gentility of the hotel. Deciding to investigate herself, Mrs Pargeter discovers that more than one person in the Devereux has a motive for murder.
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An Amateur Corpse

An Amateur Corpse

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

‘Dear Old Shakespeare!’ Charles Paris can hardly wait. He’s already endured the amateur theatre company’s production of ‘Dear Old Chekhov’. God only knows what this self-centred group will do to the Bard. But before Charles can escape to the nearest bar, the company’s young and beautiful leading lady turns up dead, Charles’s friend Hugo is charged with the crime, and Charles’s interest is very much revived.
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A Reconstructed Corpse

A Reconstructed Corpse

Simon Brett

Simon Brett

Charles Paris's acting career plumbs new depths when he takes on the part of a possible murder victim in Public Enemies, a true-crime TV series. Finding himself in a bizarre world somewhere between police procedure and showbiz, Charles can't help getting involved in the investigation—especially when dismembered limbs start turning up.
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