Author: Simon Brett
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 1448300118
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 129
Book Description
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.
A Nice Class of Corpse
Three Bedrooms, Two Baths, One Very Dead Corpse
Author: David James
Publisher: Kensington Books
ISBN: 0758278802
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 304
Book Description
Location, location, location. After a divorce from her husband and business partner, Alex, Amanda Thorne is determined to make it on her own in real estate--despite scorpions, 100-degree heat, and an encounter with a cactus en route to her first big listing. But when she finally arrives at the Mid-century modern manse, a lifeless body in the living room really spoils the ambiance. With the reluctant cooperation of dishy Detective Ken Becker, Amanda sets out to unravel the truth. But after a fellow real estate agent is murdered, some pissed-off Black Widow spiders infest her car, and a body is found floating in her pool, it's clear someone wants Amanda's inquiring mind off the market--permanently. "James's sparkling debut introduces an appealing new sleuth. . .Witty, accident-prone Amanda should attract fans of Laura Levine."--Publishers Weekly David James has not written any screenplays, has never received a Pulitzer, and is not a regular contributor to National Public Radio. He is currently working on his next Amanda Thorne mystery.
Publisher: Kensington Books
ISBN: 0758278802
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 304
Book Description
Location, location, location. After a divorce from her husband and business partner, Alex, Amanda Thorne is determined to make it on her own in real estate--despite scorpions, 100-degree heat, and an encounter with a cactus en route to her first big listing. But when she finally arrives at the Mid-century modern manse, a lifeless body in the living room really spoils the ambiance. With the reluctant cooperation of dishy Detective Ken Becker, Amanda sets out to unravel the truth. But after a fellow real estate agent is murdered, some pissed-off Black Widow spiders infest her car, and a body is found floating in her pool, it's clear someone wants Amanda's inquiring mind off the market--permanently. "James's sparkling debut introduces an appealing new sleuth. . .Witty, accident-prone Amanda should attract fans of Laura Levine."--Publishers Weekly David James has not written any screenplays, has never received a Pulitzer, and is not a regular contributor to National Public Radio. He is currently working on his next Amanda Thorne mystery.
The Corpse Queen
Author: Heather M. Herrman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1984816705
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 417
Book Description
“Deliciously macabre and utterly decadent.” —Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper In this dark and twisty feminist historical mystery, a teenage girl starts a new life as a grave robber but quickly becomes entangled in a murderer's plans. Soon after her best friend Kitty mysteriously dies, orphaned seventeen-year-old Molly Green is sent away to live with her "aunt." With no relations that she knows of, Molly assumes she has been sold as a maid for the price of an extra donation in the church orphanage's coffers. Such a thing is not unheard of. There are only so many options for an unmarried girl in 1850s Philadelphia. Only, when Molly arrives, she discovers her aunt is very much real, exceedingly wealthy, and with secrets of her own. Secrets and wealth she intends to share—for a price. Molly's estranged aunt Ava, has built her empire by robbing graves and selling the corpses to medical students who need bodies to practice surgical procedures. And she wants Molly to help her procure the corpses. As Molly learns her aunt's trade in the dead of night and explores the mansion by day, she is both horrified and deeply intrigued by the anatomy lessons held at the old church on her aunt's property. Enigmatic Doctor LaValle's lessons are a heady mixture of knowledge and power and Molly has never wanted anything more than to join his male-only group of students. But the cost of inclusion is steep and with a murderer loose in the city, the pursuit of power and opportunity becomes a deadly dance.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1984816705
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 417
Book Description
“Deliciously macabre and utterly decadent.” —Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper In this dark and twisty feminist historical mystery, a teenage girl starts a new life as a grave robber but quickly becomes entangled in a murderer's plans. Soon after her best friend Kitty mysteriously dies, orphaned seventeen-year-old Molly Green is sent away to live with her "aunt." With no relations that she knows of, Molly assumes she has been sold as a maid for the price of an extra donation in the church orphanage's coffers. Such a thing is not unheard of. There are only so many options for an unmarried girl in 1850s Philadelphia. Only, when Molly arrives, she discovers her aunt is very much real, exceedingly wealthy, and with secrets of her own. Secrets and wealth she intends to share—for a price. Molly's estranged aunt Ava, has built her empire by robbing graves and selling the corpses to medical students who need bodies to practice surgical procedures. And she wants Molly to help her procure the corpses. As Molly learns her aunt's trade in the dead of night and explores the mansion by day, she is both horrified and deeply intrigued by the anatomy lessons held at the old church on her aunt's property. Enigmatic Doctor LaValle's lessons are a heady mixture of knowledge and power and Molly has never wanted anything more than to join his male-only group of students. But the cost of inclusion is steep and with a murderer loose in the city, the pursuit of power and opportunity becomes a deadly dance.
Corpse in a Gilded Cage
Author: Robert Barnard
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 147671620X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 201
Book Description
A man’s home is his castle, but for Percy Spender that motto has been taken just a bit too literally. After the sudden death of first one distant relative and then another, the amiable Perce has become the 12th Earl of Ellesmere. And his home, no longer a cozy council flat, is now the drafty, imposing Chetton Hall, complete with more bedrooms than Perce can count and an army of servants. Frankly, all these fancy trappings make Perce itch. He’d just as soon sell up, buy a comfy cottage, and put a bundle on the ponies. However, some of his mates and family members have other ideas. And the sad fact is that an Unfortunate Accident can happen to anyone, even a lord of the realm.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 147671620X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 201
Book Description
A man’s home is his castle, but for Percy Spender that motto has been taken just a bit too literally. After the sudden death of first one distant relative and then another, the amiable Perce has become the 12th Earl of Ellesmere. And his home, no longer a cozy council flat, is now the drafty, imposing Chetton Hall, complete with more bedrooms than Perce can count and an army of servants. Frankly, all these fancy trappings make Perce itch. He’d just as soon sell up, buy a comfy cottage, and put a bundle on the ponies. However, some of his mates and family members have other ideas. And the sad fact is that an Unfortunate Accident can happen to anyone, even a lord of the realm.
Corpse
Author: Jessica Snyder Sachs
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465044859
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 283
Book Description
When detectives come upon a murder victim, there's one thing they want to know above all else: When did the victim die? The answer can narrow a group of suspects, make or break an alibi, even assign a name to an unidentified body. But outside the fictional world of murder mysteries, time-of-death determinations have remained infamously elusive, bedeviling criminal investigators throughout history. Armed with an array of high-tech devices and tests, the world's best forensic pathologists are doing their best to shift the balance, but as Jessica Snyder Sachs demonstrates so eloquently in Corpse, this is a case in which nature might just trump technology: Plants, chemicals, and insects found near the body are turning out to be the fiercest weapons in our crime-fighting arsenal. In this highly original book, Sachs accompanies an eccentric group of entomologists, anthropologists, biochemists, and botanists -- a new kind of biological "Mod Squad" -- on some of their grisliest, most intractable cases. She also takes us into the courtroom, where "post-O.J." forensic science as a whole is coming under fire and the new multidisciplinary art of forensic ecology is struggling to establish its credibility. Corpse is the fascinating story of the 2000year search to pinpoint time of death. It is also the terrible and beautiful story of what happens to our bodies when we die.
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465044859
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 283
Book Description
When detectives come upon a murder victim, there's one thing they want to know above all else: When did the victim die? The answer can narrow a group of suspects, make or break an alibi, even assign a name to an unidentified body. But outside the fictional world of murder mysteries, time-of-death determinations have remained infamously elusive, bedeviling criminal investigators throughout history. Armed with an array of high-tech devices and tests, the world's best forensic pathologists are doing their best to shift the balance, but as Jessica Snyder Sachs demonstrates so eloquently in Corpse, this is a case in which nature might just trump technology: Plants, chemicals, and insects found near the body are turning out to be the fiercest weapons in our crime-fighting arsenal. In this highly original book, Sachs accompanies an eccentric group of entomologists, anthropologists, biochemists, and botanists -- a new kind of biological "Mod Squad" -- on some of their grisliest, most intractable cases. She also takes us into the courtroom, where "post-O.J." forensic science as a whole is coming under fire and the new multidisciplinary art of forensic ecology is struggling to establish its credibility. Corpse is the fascinating story of the 2000year search to pinpoint time of death. It is also the terrible and beautiful story of what happens to our bodies when we die.
Corpse Pose
Author: Diana Killian
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101207159
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
Readers will bend over backward for the debut of the first yoga mystery series. Ever since her husband ditched her-for another man-A.J. hasn't exactly been on the road to inner peace. Then her yoga-guru aunt is found dead, and A.J.'s named the sole heir to her lucrative yoga studio-making her a multimillionaire, a prime suspect, and the killer's next target.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101207159
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
Readers will bend over backward for the debut of the first yoga mystery series. Ever since her husband ditched her-for another man-A.J. hasn't exactly been on the road to inner peace. Then her yoga-guru aunt is found dead, and A.J.'s named the sole heir to her lucrative yoga studio-making her a multimillionaire, a prime suspect, and the killer's next target.
C is for Corpse
Author: Sue Grafton
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 0330524151
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel, C is for Corpse is the third in the Kinsey Millhone mystery series by Sue Grafton. My name is Kinsey Millhone. I’m a licensed private investigator . . . thirty-two, twice divorced. I like being alone and I suspect that my independence suits me better than it should . . . Kinsey met Bobby Callahan in the gym on Monday morning. His story was hard to credit: a murderous assault by a tailgating car on a lonely rural road, a roadside smash into a canyon 400 feet below, his Porsche a ruin, his best friend dead, and his memory severely impaired. He was convinced someone was trying to kill him. By Thursday, he was dead. But Kinsey wasn’t going back on a deal. She had been hired to prevent a murder. Now she was looking for the murderer . . .
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 0330524151
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel, C is for Corpse is the third in the Kinsey Millhone mystery series by Sue Grafton. My name is Kinsey Millhone. I’m a licensed private investigator . . . thirty-two, twice divorced. I like being alone and I suspect that my independence suits me better than it should . . . Kinsey met Bobby Callahan in the gym on Monday morning. His story was hard to credit: a murderous assault by a tailgating car on a lonely rural road, a roadside smash into a canyon 400 feet below, his Porsche a ruin, his best friend dead, and his memory severely impaired. He was convinced someone was trying to kill him. By Thursday, he was dead. But Kinsey wasn’t going back on a deal. She had been hired to prevent a murder. Now she was looking for the murderer . . .
An Artful Corpse
Author: Helen A. Harrison
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1728214041
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
"A first-rate whodunnit set in the 1960s New York art world, a time and place Helen Harrison has recreated with a page-turning mix of history, gossip, and fun!"—Bob Colacello, author of Holy Terror: Andy Warhol Close Up One artist. One student. One deadly mystery. When Regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton's corpse is discovered behind the easels of Manhattan's famed art school, whispers in the art community say he had it coming. As Benton's list of enemies lengthens to include the school's instructors, Vietnam War protesters, and members of Andy Warhol's entourage, one art student is ultimately painted as the murderer. The only problem: the suspect has vanished. Why would an art student murder Benton? And if he were innocent, why would he run? When TJ Fitzgerald, son of Detective Juanita Diaz and Captain Brian Fitzgerald of the NYPD, discovers his classmate is the prime suspect, he uses his own investigative skills to try and clear his name. But as TJ and his girlfriend work to unravel the clues to the art mystery, he begins to wonder if the police got it wrong and one secret may be the key to it all... Helen Harrison's An Artful Corpse is a clever mystery sure to please art enthusiasts and armchair detectives alike.
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1728214041
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
"A first-rate whodunnit set in the 1960s New York art world, a time and place Helen Harrison has recreated with a page-turning mix of history, gossip, and fun!"—Bob Colacello, author of Holy Terror: Andy Warhol Close Up One artist. One student. One deadly mystery. When Regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton's corpse is discovered behind the easels of Manhattan's famed art school, whispers in the art community say he had it coming. As Benton's list of enemies lengthens to include the school's instructors, Vietnam War protesters, and members of Andy Warhol's entourage, one art student is ultimately painted as the murderer. The only problem: the suspect has vanished. Why would an art student murder Benton? And if he were innocent, why would he run? When TJ Fitzgerald, son of Detective Juanita Diaz and Captain Brian Fitzgerald of the NYPD, discovers his classmate is the prime suspect, he uses his own investigative skills to try and clear his name. But as TJ and his girlfriend work to unravel the clues to the art mystery, he begins to wonder if the police got it wrong and one secret may be the key to it all... Helen Harrison's An Artful Corpse is a clever mystery sure to please art enthusiasts and armchair detectives alike.
A Reconstructed Corpse
Author: Simon Brett
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 1448300185
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 181
Book Description
Meet Charles Paris: a washed-up actor with a taste for wine, women . . . and solving crimes! A binge-worthy cozy mystery series from the original king of British cozy crime, internationally best-selling, award-winning author Simon Brett, OBE. For fans of Richard Osman - but with added bite! "Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cosies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige" THE NEW YORK TIMES "Few crime writers are as enchantingly gifted" THE SUNDAY TIMES "One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Perfect entertainment" THE GUARDIAN "A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans" P.D. JAMES "Murder most enjoyable" COLIN DEXTER _______________________ A middle-aged actor - and sometimes sleuth - tackles true-crime TV But is he playing a missing person . . . or a murder victim? The lines between showbiz and real life are blurred And the spotlight is on A RECONSTRUCTED CORPSE! Charles Paris is playing his most unusual role yet: portraying missing man Martin Earnshaw in Public Enemies, a crime reconstruction programme on ITV. It seems to be a one-off engagement, which suits Charles - the raging egos of the producers, presenters and police are just as intense as the search for the missing property developer . . . But Charles soon finds himself playing the role of murder victim, when severed body parts begin to appear! His now recurring role allows him an insight into the world of true crime, and he's convinced there is something amiss with the TV production, who are revelling in their soaring ratings, as well as Martin's publicity hungry wife. Once again, Charles decides to don his detective hat and uncover the truth . . . Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, M.C. Beaton and Faith Martin will love this hilarious cozy traditional mystery series featuring one of the funniest antiheroes in crime fiction. Written over a fifty-year-period, it perfectly captures life and contemporary attitudes in 1970s London - and beyond! READERS ADORE CHARLES PARIS: "Clever, witty, amusing, and pleasantly diverting" Booklist "Brett is a master of the English cozy, comfortable, witty and sympathetic to his hero's plight" Publishers Weekly "All the Charles Paris mysteries are wonderful" Shirley, 5* Amazon review "I really enjoy the Charles Paris series - there is a good balance of humour and detection . . . but this is definitely the best of the books I have read so far" Paulinderwick, 5* Amazon review "An absolute delight!" Roger, 5* Amazon review "Wonderful" Teresa, 5* Amazon review "The twist and turns, the cliff hanger at the end of every chapter has the markings of an excellent novel. My hat is off to you, Mr Brett" Dwayne, 5* Goodreads review THE CHARLES PARIS MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. Cast in Order of Disappearance 2. So Much Blood 3. Star Trap 4. An Amateur Corpse 5. A Comedian Dies 6. The Dead Side of the Mike 7. Situation Tragedy 8. Murder Unprompted 9. Murder in the Title 10. Not Dead, Only Resting 11. Dead Giveaway 12. What Bloody Man is That 13. A Series of Murders 14. Corporate Bodies 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 1448300185
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 181
Book Description
Meet Charles Paris: a washed-up actor with a taste for wine, women . . . and solving crimes! A binge-worthy cozy mystery series from the original king of British cozy crime, internationally best-selling, award-winning author Simon Brett, OBE. For fans of Richard Osman - but with added bite! "Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cosies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige" THE NEW YORK TIMES "Few crime writers are as enchantingly gifted" THE SUNDAY TIMES "One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Perfect entertainment" THE GUARDIAN "A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans" P.D. JAMES "Murder most enjoyable" COLIN DEXTER _______________________ A middle-aged actor - and sometimes sleuth - tackles true-crime TV But is he playing a missing person . . . or a murder victim? The lines between showbiz and real life are blurred And the spotlight is on A RECONSTRUCTED CORPSE! Charles Paris is playing his most unusual role yet: portraying missing man Martin Earnshaw in Public Enemies, a crime reconstruction programme on ITV. It seems to be a one-off engagement, which suits Charles - the raging egos of the producers, presenters and police are just as intense as the search for the missing property developer . . . But Charles soon finds himself playing the role of murder victim, when severed body parts begin to appear! His now recurring role allows him an insight into the world of true crime, and he's convinced there is something amiss with the TV production, who are revelling in their soaring ratings, as well as Martin's publicity hungry wife. Once again, Charles decides to don his detective hat and uncover the truth . . . Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, M.C. Beaton and Faith Martin will love this hilarious cozy traditional mystery series featuring one of the funniest antiheroes in crime fiction. Written over a fifty-year-period, it perfectly captures life and contemporary attitudes in 1970s London - and beyond! READERS ADORE CHARLES PARIS: "Clever, witty, amusing, and pleasantly diverting" Booklist "Brett is a master of the English cozy, comfortable, witty and sympathetic to his hero's plight" Publishers Weekly "All the Charles Paris mysteries are wonderful" Shirley, 5* Amazon review "I really enjoy the Charles Paris series - there is a good balance of humour and detection . . . but this is definitely the best of the books I have read so far" Paulinderwick, 5* Amazon review "An absolute delight!" Roger, 5* Amazon review "Wonderful" Teresa, 5* Amazon review "The twist and turns, the cliff hanger at the end of every chapter has the markings of an excellent novel. My hat is off to you, Mr Brett" Dwayne, 5* Goodreads review THE CHARLES PARIS MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. Cast in Order of Disappearance 2. So Much Blood 3. Star Trap 4. An Amateur Corpse 5. A Comedian Dies 6. The Dead Side of the Mike 7. Situation Tragedy 8. Murder Unprompted 9. Murder in the Title 10. Not Dead, Only Resting 11. Dead Giveaway 12. What Bloody Man is That 13. A Series of Murders 14. Corporate Bodies 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit
An Amateur Corpse
Author: Simon Brett
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 1448300037
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 155
Book Description
Meet Charles Paris: a washed-up actor with a taste for wine, women . . . and solving crimes! A binge-worthy cozy mystery series from the original king of British cozy crime, internationally best-selling, award-winning author Simon Brett, OBE. For fans of Richard Osman - but with added bite! "Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cosies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige" THE NEW YORK TIMES "Few crime writers are as enchantingly gifted" THE SUNDAY TIMES "One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Perfect entertainment" THE GUARDIAN "A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans" P.D. JAMES "Murder most enjoyable" COLIN DEXTER _______________________ A middle-aged actor - and sometimes sleuth - who desperately needs a drink A closing night celebration of an amdram production of Chekhov An old friend, who's clearly ill at ease And waiting behind the scenes . . . AN AMATEUR CORPSE Jobbing actor Charles Paris is first to arrive at the Breckton Backstagers' cast party. After suffering through their production of Chekhov's The Seagull, he badly needs a drink. Charles wishes he hadn't agreed to lead a critical discussion of the play in a few days' time. But cast member, advertising executive - and old friend - Hugo Mecken has put a lot of lucrative voiceover work his way of late, and it would be churlish to back out now. He only hopes he doesn't feel compelled to repeat his mistake with their upcoming run of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. After rather too much cheap red wine, Charles returns home with Hugo in the small hours, and is disturbed to hear him confess he feels like he's losing control and is on the verge of committing a terrible crime. Charles doesn't give the matter too much thought. Not until he stumbles over the very dead body of Hugo's wife, hidden in the coal shed, his old friend prime suspect for the murder . . . Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, M.C. Beaton and Faith Martin will love this hilarious cozy traditional mystery series featuring one of the funniest antiheroes in crime fiction. Written over a fifty-year-period, it perfectly captures life and contemporary attitudes in 1970s London - and beyond! READERS ADORE CHARLES PARIS: "Nicely done indeed" Kirkus Reviews "The characters and witty dialogue reign supreme . . . Simply delicious" Norma, 5* GoodReads review "A good plot, nice twists and good banter" Agoston, 5* GoodReads review "These just keep getting better and more ingenious" Christian, 5* GoodReads review "Loved this. Hilariously funny" Arabella, 5* Amazon review THE CHARLES PARIS MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. Cast in Order of Disappearance 2. So Much Blood 3. Star Trap 4. An Amateur Corpse 5. A Comedian Dies 6. The Dead Side of the Mike 7. Situation Tragedy 8. Murder Unprompted 9. Murder in the Title 10. Not Dead, Only Resting 11. Dead Giveaway 12. What Bloody Man is That 13. A Series of Murders 14. Corporate Bodies 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 1448300037
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 155
Book Description
Meet Charles Paris: a washed-up actor with a taste for wine, women . . . and solving crimes! A binge-worthy cozy mystery series from the original king of British cozy crime, internationally best-selling, award-winning author Simon Brett, OBE. For fans of Richard Osman - but with added bite! "Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cosies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige" THE NEW YORK TIMES "Few crime writers are as enchantingly gifted" THE SUNDAY TIMES "One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Perfect entertainment" THE GUARDIAN "A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans" P.D. JAMES "Murder most enjoyable" COLIN DEXTER _______________________ A middle-aged actor - and sometimes sleuth - who desperately needs a drink A closing night celebration of an amdram production of Chekhov An old friend, who's clearly ill at ease And waiting behind the scenes . . . AN AMATEUR CORPSE Jobbing actor Charles Paris is first to arrive at the Breckton Backstagers' cast party. After suffering through their production of Chekhov's The Seagull, he badly needs a drink. Charles wishes he hadn't agreed to lead a critical discussion of the play in a few days' time. But cast member, advertising executive - and old friend - Hugo Mecken has put a lot of lucrative voiceover work his way of late, and it would be churlish to back out now. He only hopes he doesn't feel compelled to repeat his mistake with their upcoming run of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. After rather too much cheap red wine, Charles returns home with Hugo in the small hours, and is disturbed to hear him confess he feels like he's losing control and is on the verge of committing a terrible crime. Charles doesn't give the matter too much thought. Not until he stumbles over the very dead body of Hugo's wife, hidden in the coal shed, his old friend prime suspect for the murder . . . Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, M.C. Beaton and Faith Martin will love this hilarious cozy traditional mystery series featuring one of the funniest antiheroes in crime fiction. Written over a fifty-year-period, it perfectly captures life and contemporary attitudes in 1970s London - and beyond! READERS ADORE CHARLES PARIS: "Nicely done indeed" Kirkus Reviews "The characters and witty dialogue reign supreme . . . Simply delicious" Norma, 5* GoodReads review "A good plot, nice twists and good banter" Agoston, 5* GoodReads review "These just keep getting better and more ingenious" Christian, 5* GoodReads review "Loved this. Hilariously funny" Arabella, 5* Amazon review THE CHARLES PARIS MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. Cast in Order of Disappearance 2. So Much Blood 3. Star Trap 4. An Amateur Corpse 5. A Comedian Dies 6. The Dead Side of the Mike 7. Situation Tragedy 8. Murder Unprompted 9. Murder in the Title 10. Not Dead, Only Resting 11. Dead Giveaway 12. What Bloody Man is That 13. A Series of Murders 14. Corporate Bodies 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit