Audiobooks by Simon Brett

Turf Wars (Complete, Series 1) (Bbc Radio 4 Comedy)

Four comic dramas about boundaries that are both territorial and personal, as heard on BBC Radio 4.Territory is the theme that unites these four humorous plays - whether that means fighting over an allotment plot, dealing with the sudden partition of a country, guarding the privacy of a garden or battling with the council over school catchment areas.In 'Losing the Plot', shy Edward decides to apply for an allotment plot after an encounter with attractive allotment-holder Amanda. But doing so involves an interview with ferocious site-manager Bernie who runs the allotments with military rigour. Starring James Fleet as Edward, Joanna Monroe as Amanda and Jonathan Coy as Bernie. Written by Nick Warburton and directed by Peter KavanaghIn 'An Incident at the Border', Arthur and Olivia are enjoying the sun in their local park on a beautiful summer's day. Olivia is reading a newspaper article on their country's new-found independence. Arthur, who is apolitical, is just enjoying watching the ducks. Suddenly a soldier arrives, dragging a tape across the ground, marking out the new border. He barges between the two young people. Now one is on one side of the border, and one on the other! How can the lovers be reunited? Starring Joseph Kloska as Arthur, Leah Brotherhead as Olivia and Nigel Planer as Reiver. Written by Kieran Lynn and directed by Peter Kavanagh.In 'How's Your Mother?' Humphrey Partridge is reckoned to be anti-social, indeed stand-offish. But he always has an excuse - namely that he has to look after his ailing elderly mother. No-one has ever met the legendary matriarch. Not even nosy Raj the local postman. But one morning when Humphrey is at work, Raj notices a fire in Humphrey's house, breaks in to put it out and makes an extraordinary discovery. Soon police are digging in Humphrey's garden. But just what is Humphrey's dark secret? Starring Michael Maloney as Humphrey Partridge, Adeel Akhtar as Raj/Sgt Wallis, Sam Dale as Mr Denton/Trevor, Sally Orrock as Mrs Denton and Christine Kavanagh as Mrs Jones. Written by Simon Brett and directed by Peter Kavanagh.In 'The Accidental Head', Beth just wants what's best for her 11 year old son; a solid secondary education at the kind of school that recognises his genius, as well as his aptitude for baroque music. A school like Folgate. But when the family is edged out of Folgate's catchment area, a battle begins Starring Katherine Parkinson as Beth, Darren Boyd as Jake, Emma Fryer as Ruth Willith, Alex Tregear as the journalist, Sally Orrock as Helen and Brian Bowles as Farmer/Hughes. Written by Jeremy Front and directed by James Robinson

Jeremy Front, Kieran Lynn, Nick Warburton, Simon Brett (Author), Adeel Akhtar, Full Cast, James Fleet, Joanna Monro, Jonathan Coy, Joseph Kloska, Katherine Parkinson, Leah Brotherhead, Michael Maloney, Nigel Planer, Sally Orrock, Sam Dale (Narrator)

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The Witness at the Wedding

The seaside town of Fethering, home to Carole Seddon and her friend Jude, is a place rife with foul play, as evidenced in this sixth mystery in the series. Carole's son is getting married to a wonderful girl with rather odd parents. Talk of publicizing the event seems to frighten them beyond words. When the father of the bride is found brutally murdered, Carole enlists Jude's help in sifting through the guest list, including Gaby's nefarious brother and her uncle, a justice of the peace, before the festivities become completely funereal.

Simon Brett (Author), Geoffrey Howard (Narrator)

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The Torso in the Town

Simon Brett (Author), Geoffrey Howard (Narrator)

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The Tomb in Turkey

Carole Seddon has never enjoyed holidays much. Nevertheless, she has allowed herself to be persuaded by her friend Jude to accept a fortnight's free accommodation at a luxurious Turkish villa owned by Jude's property developer friend Barney Willingdon. But from the outset the holiday is marred by a series of menacing incidents. As Carole and Jude launch into what they do best - investigating - it becomes clear that Barney Willingdon has made plenty of enemies, with his ruthless business deals and complicated love life. Matters come to a head when Carole's sightseeing trip to nearby Pinara is curtailed by the discovery of a body in one of the ancient Lycian tombs. And what really did happen to Barney's first wife, Zoe?

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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The Strangling on the Stage

When Jude agrees to lend her vintage chaise longue for the local Amateur Dramatic Society's production of George Bernard Shaw's The Devil's Disciple, little does she realise she'll end up in a starring role. It's an ambitious play, culminating in a dramatic execution scene: a scene that's played for real when one of the leading actors is found hanging from the specially constructed stage gallows during rehearsals. A tragic accident - or something more sinister? As Jude and her neighbour Carole know only too well, the Smalting AmDram Society is a hotbed of seething resentments, clashing egos, overreaching ambition and thwarted passion - but are any of the members emotionally-charged enough to commit murder? Carole and Jude make it their business to find out.

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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The Stabbing in the Stables

Fethering's favorite sleuths are at it again. Jude and Carole Seddon find themselves in the midst of some horseplay after stumbling upon the body of ex-equestrian Walter Fleet at Long Bamber Stables. The police attribute the stabbing death to the mysterious "Horse Ripper," who's been mutilating mares across West Sussex and who Walter obviously caught in the act. But considering Walter's track record out of the saddle, Jude and Carole find that there are plenty of murder suspects, including Walter's put-upon wife and more than a few jealous husbands who wanted Walter put out to pasture. "A pair of sleuths who are winning enough to make the reader invite them back for more...Holmes and Watson with a dash of Laurel and Hardy."-Toronto Star

Simon Brett (Author), Ralph Cosham (Narrator)

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The Liar in the Library

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 20 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.

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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The Killing in the Café

When the owner of Polly's Cake Shop announces her retirement, the Fethering residents start to worry about the loss of this popular amenity. Alarmed by rumours that the café might become a Starbucks, a group clubs together to form an Action Committee. The plan is that Polly's should become a community venture, managed and run by volunteers from the village. Roped in to help, Jude finds the committee meetings fraught with petty power struggles, clashing personalities and monstrous egos. Matters take a turn for the worse when she and Carole come across a badly-decomposed body on Fethering beach - and uncover a link to Polly's.

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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The Hanging in the Hotel

The Hopwicke Country House Hotel once boasted a clientele of the rich and famous. But hard times call for hard measures, so owner Suzy Longthorne throws open her doors to welcome the Pillars of Sussex, an elitist group of local businessmen whose social gatherings revolve around drinking and off-color commentary. She hires Jude to help keep the spirits flowing. But when one of the initiates turns up dead, it's up to Jude to uncover a truth no one wants discovered.

Simon Brett (Author), Geoffrey Howard (Narrator)

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The Father Paolo Baldi Mysteries: Death Cap & Devil Take The Hindmost

On sabbatical from the Franciscan order, Father Paolo Baldi is working as a philosophy lecturer in Dublin when his life takes an unexpected turn and he finds himself helping the police to solve crimes. Death Cap sees Paolo attending a monastic retreat far out in County Cork, where a sudden death among the Franciscan brothers causes him to suspect foul play. In Devil Take the Hindmost, Paolo and Tina investigate the death of a student on campus, following the trail that leads to an arrogant clique dabbling in the occult. Is there a rational explanation, or is the Devil really involved? Two more thrilling mysteries for the clerical sleuth, starring David Threlfall, Tina Kellegher and T.P. McKenna in the series created by Barry Devlin and written by Simon Brett and Annie Caulfield. 'Paolo Baldi... has become something of a Radio 4 institution.' - Independent.

Annie Caulfield, Barry Devlin, Simon Brett (Author), David Threlfall, T. P. Mckenna, Tina Kellegher (Narrator)

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The Corpse on the Court

Jude's life has been turned upside-down thanks her new man, Piers Targett, who's keen to get her involved in his hobby - or obsession - of Real Tennis. But when one of Piers' friends dies on the court in suspicious circumstances, Jude finds herself caught up in the police investigation. Meanwhile, Jude's neighbour Carole is trying to identify the human remains known locally as the 'Lady in the Lake'. As the two investigations become intertwined, Carole and Jude's efforts to find the truth look set to lead to more murders.

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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The Cinderella Killer

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, Kenny Polizzi, to the bizarre customs of English pantomime. During their sessions in the local pub, Charles finds himself increasingly caught up in Polizzi's tangled affairs. But Charles is about to be far more involved than he might wish when he stumbles across a body beneath Eastbourne Pier. As the world's press descends, the pantomime rehearsals slip into chaos. It's up to Charles to put his renowned sleuthing skills to the test to find out who really killed his fellow cast member - and why.

Simon Brett (Author), Simon Brett (Narrator)

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