Books by Simon Brett
Simon Brett has written more than 100 books, including the Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter and Fethering series of crime novels. Blotto and Twinks are his most recent creations. He was awarded an OBE in 2016 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
The Body on the Beach
by Simon Brett
The Body on the Beach is the first book in Simon Brett's Fethering series, set in an English coastal village. Carole, an emotionally repressed and recently retired civil servant, is out walking her dog Gulliver along the beach when (inevitably) he sniffs out a dead body.
Cast, in Order of Disappearance
by Simon Brett
Published in 1975, Cast, In Order of Disappearance is the first book in the series featuring one of the funniest anti-heroes in crime fiction, the seedy, alcoholic, out-of-work (mostly) actor Charles Paris. Simon Brett (who’s been on Five Books recommending his favourite whodunnits) continues to write the occasional book in the series just because they remain so popular. The audiobook is actually a BBC dramatisation starring Bill Nighy, an excellent choice for the louche actor he portrays.
Note: if you take your thrillers very seriously, this is not the book for you.
Narrator: Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Suzanne Burden, full cast
Length: 1 hour and 52 minutes
Interviews with Simon Brett
The Best Whodunnits, recommended by Simon Brett
When it comes to whodunnits, the latest ones aren’t always the best. Veteran crime writer Simon Brett talks us through some of his all-time favourites, of which the most recent was published nearly four decades ago.
Interviews where books by Simon Brett were recommended
Best Crime Fiction of 2020, recommended by Sophie Roell
If you’re looking for escapism, crime novels can be a good way to go. Which is strange, given that nearly all of them revolve around murder. Sophie Roell, editor of Five Books and an avid consumer of the genre, picks her personal favourites published in 2020.
The Best Cozy Mystery Books, recommended by Sophie Roell
If you’re looking for a murder set in a pleasant environment—often an English village—with a charming sleuth and minimal bloodshed, cozy mysteries could be the genre for you. Sophie Roell, editor of Five Books and a keen mystery reader, introduces some of her favourites—from classics of the genre to more recent bestsellers.
