What Bloody Man Is That?
Meet Charles Paris: a washed-up actor with a taste for wine, women . . . and solving crimes! For fans of Richard Osman – but with added bite! “Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cosies? Middle-aged actor Charles Paris is elated to get back to his roots in classical theatre in a provincial production of the play dreaded by superstitious folk: Macbeth. However, his enthusiasm is quickly dampened as he finds himself doubling almost every role within the play and working with a tumultuous cast, including a nervous director, an over-dramatic leading lady and the dreadful Warnock Belvedere, whose reputation as a difficult actor precedes him. In the aftermath of a disastrous run-through, arguments amongst the cast and one too many drinks, Charles stumbles across the body of Warnock in the cellar of the locked theatre. The curse of the Scottish Play has struck again, but this time, it's not just superstition – it’s murder! Suddenly thrust into the spotlight of a sinister plot, Charles Paris finds himself centre stage in the familiar role of private eye. Fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, M.C. Beaton and Faith Martin will love this hilarious cozy traditional mystery series featuring one of the funniest antiheroes in crime fiction. Written over a fifty-year-period, it perfectly captures life and contemporary attitudes in 1970s London – and beyond! READERS ADORE CHARLES PARIS: “A delightful theatrical mystery” Library Journal “The mystery is superb, clues and red-herrings all in the right places. The denouement is well crafted and satisfying” Brian, 5* GoodReads review “Charles Paris continues to be a delight” Andy, 5* GoodReads review “Great read – his best book!” Gordon B., 5* Amazon review “Great entertainment” the.ken.petersen, 5* LibraryThing review “Brett is always capable of weaving an intricate yet plausible plot, which he lightly peppers with humour . . . Most entertaining on a number of levels!” Eyejaybee, 5* LibraryThing review THE CHARLES PARIS MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. Cast in Order of Disappearance 2. So Much Blood 3. Star Trap 4. An Amateur Corpse 5. A Comedian Dies 6. The Dead Side of the Mike 7. Situation Tragedy 8. Murder Unprompted 9. Murder in the Title 10. Not Dead, Only Resting 11. Dead Giveaway 12. What Bloody Man is That 13. A Series of Murders 14. Corporate Bodies 15. A Reconstructed Corpse 16. Sicken and So Die 17. Dead Room Farce 18. A Decent Interval 19. The Cinderella Killer 20. A Deadly Habit