An Amateur Corpse

By: Simon Brett

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

On the night of the final performance of The Seagull, in which Charlotte had taken a leading part, her husband Hugo jealously watched her dancing with younger men at the backstage party. He started drinking heavily and continuously. Two days passed in an alcoholic daze. Charlotte disappeared, presumably with her lover, and, when her body was found in the coal shed, strangled with her own scarf, every sign pointed to Hugo as the murderer. He could remember nothing and admitted to the police that he could have killed his wife. Charles Paris, actor and amateur detective, was an old friend of Hugo's who had been present at the last night of The Seagull and the following party. He had stayed with Hugo through part of the drinking spree, and it was he who discovered Charlotte's body. Charles was convinced of Hugo's innocence, but to prove it seemed impossible. The only thing to do was to find someone else guilty. It had to be one of the Backstagers, but who and why?

©1978 by Simon Brett (P)1993 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Charles Paris fan

I have found myself downloading all of Simon Brett's 'Charles Paris' mysteries. They are light, but I really enjoy his characters and the atmosphere he creates. They are peopled with slightly quirky characters, but nothing beyond belief. The fact that an actor somehow finds himself caught up in all these murders should stretch belief, but the author creates a world where it seems totally plausible.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Can't stand Frederick Davidson!

Charles Paris is my absolute favorite mystery series character. I love all the theatre lore and those wonderfully painful "reviews" inserted whenever one of his performances is mentioned. The characters are recognizable and funny without being characatures or even unsympathetic. There is lots of sly humor but also pathos.

I wish Audible had more of the Charles Paris series. I understand Simon Brett narrated one himself. I enjoy Geoffrey Howard’s narration-- he sounds like Charles Paris-- a seasoned performer who knows his way around all the various accents and personalities.

But why, oh why did they unleash Frederick Davidson on so many of his audiobooks? Am I the only person that thinks he turns every character from Lord Peter Whimsey to Bertie Wooster and God knows who else into a smoke-gasping drag queen? Nothing against drag queens but his manner of speaking is so severe and affected it overwhelms any characterization this side of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and adds a dimension to these beloved old friends I just can't get used to.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Narrator ruins this story

I've read many of the Charles Paris mysteries, and listened to the BBC Radio adaptations, but couldn't make it through this version as the Narrator is just awful.

Good story, typical Charles Paris

Is there any other series hero as flawed as Charles Paris? Drinks too much, unfaithful to his wife but unable to let her go as she tries to move on, mediocre in his profession - sounds pretty contemptible but in fact he is very likable and somehow I end up believing with him that it's not really his fault.

Meanwhile, as usual it is a good mystery.