Audiobooks by Simon Brett

"Professional declutterer Ellen Curtis doesn't do house clearances. So when Tamara Nicklin, owner of a local gastropub, asks Ellen to clear her late father's house, she's not interested . . . even when Tamara admits that the real reason she wants to hire Ellen is to find his missing will. Then Ellen discovers Tamara's husband has plans for the house. Plans Tamara doesn't know about. And it's clear to Ellen that this is the right job for her, after all. Ellen dives in, and what she finds in the dead man's house soon makes her wonder if Tamara's father really fell down the stairs, or if he was pushed. Can she sort through the secrets and lies to find not just the missing will – but the truth?"

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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Ink and Daggers

"An enthralling anthology of 20 CWA Dagger Award-shortlisted gripping and thrilling stories for the most hardened crime fan. Featuring bestselling authors such as Neil Gaiman, Ann Cleeves, Christopher Fowler and Val McDermid. OVER TWENTY CWA DAGGER AWARD-WINNING SHORT STORIES FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST IN CRIME FICTION Legendary editor, Maxim Jakubowski, delivers another chilling anthology collecting stories of cold-blooded murder, revenge and crimes-gone-wrong from the best of the best in crime fiction. Spine-chilling and gripping, these tales will grip you with their devious narrators and crafty twists. Featuring classic stories from Neil Gaiman, Ann Cleeves, Christopher Fowler, Val McDermid, Lavie Tidhar, Chris Simms, Christine Poulson, James Sallis, Victoria Selman, Conrad Williams, Stuart Neville, George Pelecanos, Simon Brett, John Lawton, Ken Bruen, Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins, Peter Robinson, Martyn Waites and Kevin Wignall."

Ann Cleeves, Chris Simms, Christine Poulson, Christopher Fowler, Conrad Williams, George P. Pelecanos, James Sallis, John Lawton, Ken Bruen, Kevin Wignall, Lavie Tidhar, Martyn Waites, Max Allan Collins, Maxim Jakubowski, Mickey Spillane, Neil Gaiman, Peter Robinson, Simon Brett, Stuart Neville, Val McDermid, Victoria Selman (Author), Christopher Ragland, Eilidh Beaton, Jeff Harding, Samuel Eldritch, Toby Longworth (Narrator)

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Mrs Pargeter's Past

"A gambler on the run. A widow with deep pockets. A pair of criminal brothers with a secret agenda. The new instalment of the quirky, inventive and charming mystery series featuring widow Mrs Pargeter – whose late husband was absolutely NOT one of the most notorious villains in Essex (the very idea). Mrs Pargeter's friends know two important details about her marriage to her late husband. First, that it was blissfully happy. And second, that Mr Pargeter was not a man to bring his work home with him. So, while the chance of her ever being asked by the police what he did for a living is, naturally, remote, Mrs Pargeter would be able to reply, in all honesty, that she doesn't know. What she does know is that Mr Pargeter's former associates are all respectable members of society, and if they were ever criminals, they are now 100% reformed. So when she learns that Short Head Shimmings, her late husband's former accountant, has fallen on hard times, she springs into action, chequebook at the ready. But Short Head has borrowed from the wrong people, and the infamous Batinga Brothers aren't out for his money – they're out for blood. The only way to save Short Head is to dismantle their criminal empire. But how can the highly law-abiding Mrs Pargeter, whose only weapons are her charm, her quick wits and her little black book of Mr Pargeter's contacts, hope to do such an impossible thing?"

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Charles Paris: Situation Tragedy: A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

"Bill Nighy returns as the actor and amateur sleuth, Charles Paris Bored, broke and reduced to baring all as a life model, Charles Paris is relieved to land a role in a new sitcom – even if it is woefully unfunny. But no sooner has filming begun than things start to go wrong. First a charmless PA dies in a freak accident, then the young, cocksure director bites the dust. Once again, Charles finds himself on the case, hunting for clues from a host of showbiz suspects including an insecure, ego-ridden TV detective, a director suffering a midlife crisis, an ex-Bond girl and National Treasure, and her cognitively confused rock star husband. As the pound shop Poirot investigates, Frances (his semi-detached wife), and Maurice (his worse-than-useless agent), are furious. Following a skiing accident, Maurice has moved in with them, and is proving to be the house guest from hell. As tensions rise at home and on set, can Charles work out who is killing off the cast and crew – and more importantly, stop Frances from murdering Maurice? Jeremy Front’s witty drama stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice. Credits Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett Directed by Sally Avens Technical producers: Peter Ringrose & Alison Craig Production Coordinator: Luke MacGregor Cast Charles – Bill Nighy Frances – Suzanne Burden Maurice – Jon Glover Ash Amos – Phaldut Sharma Judy Gilmore – Christine Kavanagh Stevie Dean / Howard Langridge – Tony Turner Scott / Argyll / Art Tutor - Joseph Ayre Sadie – Maggie Service Cheryl – Anna Spearpoint Barmaid – Abbie Andrews First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 27 January – 17 February 2025 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jeremy Front, Simon Brett (Author), Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Jon Glover, Suzanne Burden (Narrator)

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Death in the Dressing Room

"Carole Seddon doesn't care for the theatre. But her neighbour Jude counts the job of actress among her many and varied past careers. So when Jude attends the closing night of a new play based on a classic TV sitcom, Carole is interested – but only because she suspects the leading man, Drake Purslow, is one of her scandalous friend's ex-lovers. The night turns out to be more dramatic than either Carole or Jude could have ever predicted. After the performance, Jude makes her way to Drake's dressing room, only to find him dead – in what, to Jude's experienced sleuthing eye, seem very suspicious circumstances. Did one of the play's cast – made up almost entirely of the original sitcom's actors – have a long-held grudge against the show's star? Or are more recent hatreds to blame? Jude is determined to find out – and Carole is right there to investigate alongside her."

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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A Messy Murder

"Professional declutterer Ellen Curtis doesn't need to like her clients to help them sort their homes out. Aging TV personality and curmudgeon Humphrey Carter might have a chip on his shoulder the size of England, but a job's a job. But when Ellen arrives the morning after Humph's eightieth birthday party, primed and ready to tackle his study - she gets the shock of her life. Humph's dead. . . and all signs point to him having taken his own life. His wife is adamant he's been murdered, and the more Ellen looks, the more dirt on Humph she digs up. . . and the more suspects she uncovers. Can she track down a killer - if there even is one? And can she keep herself from killing not only her own infuriating mother, but also her two grown-up children, who all seem determined to destroy her peace of mind?"

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mrs Pargeter's Patio

"When widow Mrs Pargeter has her morning coffee, her intention is to admire her beautiful garden in peace and quiet. Little does she expect one of the patio's paving slabs to crack in two, revealing a human skull with a neat hole in the middle of its forehead! Mrs Pargeter decides to investigate. And who better to assist than her late husband's 'business associates', private investigator Truffler Mason and chauffeur Gary? The trio are soon certain that a murder has been committed and the body disposed of under some convenient building works. But who is the victim? And more importantly, who put the body under Mrs Pargeter's patio? Mrs Pargeter and her friends must find out the truth before suspicion turns towards the late Mr Pargeter, whose business dealings Mrs P remains - naturally! - in blissful ignorance of . . ."

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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Charles Paris: A BBC Radio Collection: A Series of Murders, Sicken and So Die, Murder Unprompted, The Dead Side of the Mic & Cast in Order of Disappearance

"Five full-cast BBC radio dramatisations, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris Thespian sleuth Charles Paris is his own worst enemy, a louche lush who can resist anything except temptation - especially in the form of women and alcohol. Estranged from his long-suffering wife, Frances, his personal life is shambolic, and as an actor, he's C-list at best. But he does have a talent for solving murders - which is just as well, because wherever he goes, someone seems to drop dead... A Series of Murders - Charles has landed a juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, 'The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries'. But will all the deadly doings be restricted to on-screen? Sicken and So Die - A suspected poisoner is on the loose in a production of Twelfth Night - can Charles track down the culprit before this comedy turns into a tragedy? Murder Unprompted - There's drama backstage when a murder is discovered in a West End theatre production. Has Charles time to find the killer before the curtain goes up? The Dead Side of the Mic - A job with the BBC radio rep coincides with the mysterious death of a studio manager in Broadcasting House. Once again, Charles steps in to investigate... Cast in Order of Disappearance - Playing a middle-management vampire in 'The Wreathing', Charles finds himself dealing with a blackmailer, a maiden in distress - and a murderer. Has he bitten off more than he can chew? Written by Jeremy Front Based on the novels by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice Text copyright © Simon Brett 1975 (Cast in Order of Disappearance), 1980 (The Dead Side of the Mic), 1982 (Murder Unprompted), 1989 (A Series of Murders), 1995 (Sicken and So Die) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jeremy Front, Simon Brett (Author), Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Jon Glover, Suzanne Burden (Narrator)

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Charles Paris: A Second BBC Radio Collection: Murder in the Title, A Reconstructed Corpse, An Amateur Corpse, Corporate Bodies & A Decent Interval

"Bill Nighy stars as the lovably louche Charles Paris in these five BBC Radio dramatisations Charles Paris - unsuccessful actor, bad husband, and dipsomaniac - is back, and getting into trouble once more. As he tries to woo back his semi-detached wife, Frances, and land a few half-decent roles, he finds himself embroiled in murder and mayhem and forced to turn detective. Luckily, his sleuthing is much better than his acting... Murder in the Title - The thespian sleuth gets a part in a terrible play - but someone wants to kill off the cast. First a series of nasty accidents occur, then Charles is the victim of an attempted stabbing. Can he find the killer, or will he be fired first? A Reconstructed Corpse - Charles is playing a missing businessman in a crime reconstruction programme. But when severed body parts begin to appear, he must piece together a macabre jigsaw puzzle of murder. An Amateur Corpse - What starts as a simple voiceover job leads Charles to the discovery of a dead body. Could his old friend Hugo really be a murderer? All the signs are pointing that way... Corporate Bodies - A corporate video turns into a horror movie when a secretary is killed. As he investigates, Charles uncovers blackmail, sexual intrigue and multiple motives for murder amongst the workforce. A Decent Interval - Cast as The Ghost and First Gravedigger in Hamlet, Charles is finding rehearsals tense as both the lead roles are being played by reality TV stars. But soon it's not just Shakespeare's lines being murdered... Written by Jeremy Front Based on the novels by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice Text copyright © Simon Brett 1978 (An Amateur Corpse), 1983 (Murder in the Title), 1991 (Corporate Bodies), 1993 (A Reconstructed Corpse), 2013 (A Decent Interval) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jeremy Front, Simon Brett (Author), Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Jon Glover, Suzanne Burden (Narrator)

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Charles Paris: A Third BBC Radio Collection: The Cinderella Killer, Dead Room Farce, Star Trap, A Doubtful Death & A Deadly Habit

"Bill Nighy stars as the irrepressible Charles Paris in these five BBC Radio dramatisations Actor, alcoholic and amateur sleuth Charles Paris returns in another quintet of humorous theatrical thrillers. All Charles asks for is a nice juicy part in a successful play - but wherever he appears on the bill, murder and mystery always play a starring role... The Cinderella Killer - Panto seems the perfect way to spend the Christmas season for Charles, but when the show's star is found dead, the slapstick must make way for a murder investigation. Dead Room Farce - Charles is appearing in a revival of a 1970s farce. But when two cast members die in suspicious circumstances, he suspects foul play is afoot. Star Trap - When a series of accidents befalls the cast of a West End musical, Charles steps in to investigate. Who is trying to sabotage the show - and why? A Doubtful Death - Charles has landed a role in an immersive theatre production of Hamlet. But when an actress goes missing, he must decide if it is to be or not to be a murder case... Also included with this story is an exclusive afterword with scriptwriter Jeremy Front, who adapted it from an unproduced screenplay by Simon Brett. He reveals what it's like behind the scenes of Charles Paris, and explains the mechanics of recording for radio. A Deadly Habit - Offered a job in a verbatim theatre piece set in a monastery, Charles has reservations. Then disaster strikes the production - and he smells criminality... Written by Jeremy Front Based on the novels and screenplay by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice Text copyright © Simon Brett 1977 (Star Trap), 1998 (Dead Room Farce), 2014 (The Cinderella Killer), 2018 (A Deadly Habit), 2020 (A Doubtful Death) © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jeremy Front, Simon Brett (Author), Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Jon Glover, Suzanne Burden (Narrator)

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Charles Paris: So Much Blood: A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

"A brand new full-cast BBC radio dramatisation, starring Bill Nighy as Charles Paris August in Edinburgh, and thousands of performers of all stripes have flocked to the Fringe Festival. Among them is Charles Paris filling in at the last minute after a student actress breaks a leg and has to drop out. Showcasing an earnest one-man show in a sea of stand-up comics is a bit of a gamble, but at least he's acting, and with a Charles Paris production, what could possibly go wrong? Charles is sharing a venue with a group of student actors, but when one of the performers dies in a freak stabbing, the actor-cum-amateur sleuth smells a murderous rat and decides to investigate. When the killer sets his sights on him, Charles realises that he must be getting close to the truth - despite not having a clue what's going on... Help arrives in the form of his agent, Maurice, in town scouting for talent, and Charles' 'semi-detached' wife, Frances, who inadvertently finds herself directing Charles' show. The three become drawn into the mystery, and find themselves playing detectives. This unlikely trio are way out of their depth, but when has that ever stopped Charles Paris? Jeremy Front's witty drama stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice. Written by Jeremy Front Based on the novel by Simon Brett Produced and directed by Sally Avens Cast Charles Paris - Bill Nighy Frances - Suzanne Burden Maurice - Jon Glover James - Roger Ringrose Anna - Natasha K Stone Martin - Connor Curren Laura - Chloe Sommer Angus/Sam - Tom Kiteley Tessa - Joanna Monro Eilish - Catriona Stirling Sophie - Fiona Skinner First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9th-30th June 2023 ©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Jeremy Front, Simon Brett (Author), Bill Nighy, Full Cast, Jon Glover, Suzanne Burden (Narrator)

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Molesworth: A BBC Radio Collection: Down with Skool!, How to be Topp & more

"A collection of BBC readings and dramas celebrating the much-loved schoolboy terror First featured in five books by Geoffrey Willans, with cartoon illustrations by Ronald Searle, Nigel Molesworth is one of the funniest comic creations in literature. A superbly satirical chronicler of 1950s England, he influenced a generation with his anarchic take on life. These wonderfully entertaining recordings show the self-proclaimed 'curse of St Custard's' at his very best. In Down with Skool! & How to Be Topp, based on the first two Molesworth books and read by Griff Rhys Jones, he gives us the lowdown on the Head Beak, masters, bullies and lessons - and offers his inimitable advice for tiny pupils on how to survive the first term. Simon Brett's sequel, Molesworth, finds the onetime 'goriller of 3B' now all grown up. Middle- aged and still surrounded by many of the characters from his youth, he's as keen as ever to share his wisdom. Across four episodes, he presents a guide to the home, the office, the arts and leisure. Willie Rushton stars in this full-cast drama, with a cast including Clive Swift and Penelope Nice. Topping off our collection is The Molesworth Report: How to Be Topp, a celebration and philosophical assessment - ahem! - of Nigel Molesworth by some of his fondest fans. 'I couldn't live with someone who didn't enjoy the Molesworth books', says the poet Wendy Cope. John Walsh, Sir Tim Rice and Russell Davies also pay tribute to the world-weary, ink-spattered schoolboy, whose comic misspellings, mangling of English and Latin and detestation of swots, snekes and oiks gave the world a cache of unforgettable images and catchphrases. Credits Down with Skool! & How to Be Topp Read by Griff Rhys Jones Abridged by Wendy Cope Based on the books by Geoffrey Willans Produced by Susan Roberts First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13-21 August 1991 Molesworth Molesworth - Willie Rushton Grimes - Clive Swift Louise - Penelope Nice Gillibrand/Darryl - Robert Harley Peason/Grabber - Bob Sinfield Fotherington-Thomas - Phil Nice Arabella/Carole/Lucinda/Lady Eiderdown - Chrissy Roberts Written by Simon Brett and based on characters created by Geoffrey Willans and Ronald Searle Music by Oonagh Bernon Produced by Mark Robson First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 23 March-13 April 1987 The Molesworth Report: How to Be Topp With Wendy Cope, John Walsh, Sir Tim Rice and Russell Davies Produced by Penny Arnold First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 May 2004 Cover illustration by permission of the Ronald Searle Estate © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Geoffrey Willans, Simon Brett (Author), Clive Swift, Full Cast, Griff Rhys Jones, Penelope Nice, Willie Rushton (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks by Simon Brett

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