The Charles Paris Mysteries Books 1 - 6
(2026)(A book in the Charles Paris series)
An omnibus of novels by Simon Brett
Six witty, wickedly observant British cozy mysteries starring an actor who keeps stumbling over bodies between drinks.
The London theatre world: bad plays, good whisky and a dead man off the M4.
Charles Paris is an actor of intermittent employment, unreliable preparation and considerable experience of licensed premises. At forty-seven, he has just enough charm to get himself into trouble, and just enough curiosity to make sure he stays there.
After a dismal day recording a BBC radio play, Charles hears about a motorist shot dead near Theale. It seems nothing to do with him. But then an actress friend, Jacqui, turns up frightened, hurt and entangled with powerful theatrical impresario Marius Steen.
Soon Charles is wandering through West End clubs, shabby bedsits and show-business gossip, trying to work out who is lying, who is acting and who is dangerous.
He is not a detective. He is barely a responsible adult. But in Charles Paris's world, murder has a habit of waiting just offstage.
And the bodies keep turning up wherever the work takes him: the Edinburgh Fringe, an accident-plagued West End musical, a murderous amateur dramatics society, a seaside variety bill and the back corridors of the BBC.
Each book is packed with:
The London theatre world: bad plays, good whisky and a dead man off the M4.
Charles Paris is an actor of intermittent employment, unreliable preparation and considerable experience of licensed premises. At forty-seven, he has just enough charm to get himself into trouble, and just enough curiosity to make sure he stays there.
After a dismal day recording a BBC radio play, Charles hears about a motorist shot dead near Theale. It seems nothing to do with him. But then an actress friend, Jacqui, turns up frightened, hurt and entangled with powerful theatrical impresario Marius Steen.
Soon Charles is wandering through West End clubs, shabby bedsits and show-business gossip, trying to work out who is lying, who is acting and who is dangerous.
He is not a detective. He is barely a responsible adult. But in Charles Paris's world, murder has a habit of waiting just offstage.
And the bodies keep turning up wherever the work takes him: the Edinburgh Fringe, an accident-plagued West End musical, a murderous amateur dramatics society, a seaside variety bill and the back corridors of the BBC.
Each book is packed with:
- Actors, impresarios, comics and theatrical egos
Dry British humour with a deliciously cynical edge
A gloriously flawed amateur sleuth
Books 1–6 in Simon Brett's much-loved Charles Paris mystery series. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, M.C. Beaton and Robert Thorogood's Marlow Murder Club.
PRAISE FOR SIMON BRETT
"Few crime writers are as enchantingly gifted" The Sunday Times
"Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cosies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige" The New York Times
"One of the most exceptional detective story writers around" The Daily Telegraph
"[Brett is] a master of the amateur sleuth genre" Publishers Weekly
"Brett is brilliant" Booklist
"One of British crime's most assured craftsmen" Guardian
"A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans" P.D. James
"Murder most enjoyable" Colin Dexter
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Simon Brett's The Charles Paris Mysteries Books 1 - 6