The Strangling on the Stage

By: Simon Brett

Narrated by: Simon Brett

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

©2013 Simon Brett (P)2014 Isis Publishing Ltd

Always dependable

Would you consider the audio edition of The Strangling on the Stage to be better than the print version?

I always enjoy listening to Simon Brett read his own books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jude - she embraces life and ignores the things that worry so many people eg getting old.

Have you listened to any of Simon Brett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

His stories are formulaic, but none the worse for that. The Strangling on the Stage did not disappoint.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another good book

Simon brett gives us another good book with Carole and Jude. They get involved with another murder and put their ameteur sleuth skills to work. It's a good book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another Fethering hit

I love these books. I've read or listened to most of these books, and loved them all. I will probably go back and listen to them again they are so much fun. Try one !

Dynamic Duo

What made the experience of listening to The Strangling on the Stage the most enjoyable?

It's not Batman & Robin, it's Carol & Jude on the case. Simon Brett is marvelous at accentuating Carol's foibles, Jude's, too. Their banter is so much fun on my four mile walks. Simon's narration is right on. He's one of the few authors who narrates their own story. He's great at it!

What did you like best about this story?

Puzzling out the actor's death on the gallows.

Have you listened to any of Simon Brett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Well, he's just the best.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

He makes me laugh when describing Carol & Jude's relationship.

Love Brett's reading

Narration and characters lovely as always; enjoy the development of Carol and Jude across the series. Plot slightly less satisfying than others in the Feathering group.

Not my favourite

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Perhaps my tastes have changed over the years, but to me this was not one of the greatest of the Fethering mysteries Mr Brett has written. Not a great deal seemed to happen for most of the book, when it did............. well I guess I had worked out who was going to be murdered, if not the reason why and who did it. By the end I don't in all honesty think I even cared. Perhaps I ought to listen to it again, maybe I might find it better the second time around, though I doubt it.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Got to the murder considerably earlier, added a few more suspects.

Have you listened to any of Simon Brett’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have all of the Fethering books one way or another, plus many of his other works. This one would be somewhere near the bottom of the pile.

Did The Strangling on the Stage inspire you to do anything?

Listen to something else!

Any additional comments?

Could do better, much better. Go back to the original basics of the Fethering series.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I would like more of Jude and Carol

Would you listen to The Strangling on the Stage again? Why?

This is a book I really enjoyed Simon Brett is so good as well as the author he also reads it and gives the characters life. Yes I would listen to it again and again as I listen I can see them going around doing there investigating.

What did you like best about this story?

Just everything

Which scene did you most enjoy?

All of them

Any additional comments?

Please give more Simon Brett and the more of the Fethering mysteries. I have all of them that is on audible I just want more.. I also enjoy Charles Paris and Mrs Pargeter please give more.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The Fethering ladies tread the boards

The Fethering Mysteries are on my ESSENTIAL-NEED-THEM-TO-LIVE list. As are ALL Simon Brett's books. And I have listened to "Strangling" many times already.

Brilliantly read by the author, all the colourful character and witt, wry observations and social and class commentary are here; the essential and much loved ingredients of Simon Brett's writing.

This time, the ladies are pulled into the amateur dramatic society. Full of small town mentality and jealousy, motives and opportunities are everywhere.

Very much recommended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another Fethering Winner!

I have enjoyed all of this series, and love Carol and Jude!
An enjoyable read, best with a bottle of Chillean Chardonay!
<3

1 of 1 people found this review helpful