Simon Brett

'A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans!' P.D. James'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly CooperIntroducing a new, but not-so-amateur, sleuth from another peaceful English village with an alarmingly high death rate! The first mystery in a new cosy series from one of the world's favourite crime writers - perfect for fans of Richard Osmand, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood and M. C. Beaton._______________________Meet Major Bricket, an infrequent resident of Highfield House in Stunston Peveril, Suffolk. In the past the Major's work assignments, frequently in foreign countries, have prevented him from spending much time there and a result, there is an air of mystery around him while everyone in the village speculates on the nature of his occupation.But now the Major has retired and has come home for good in his open-topped little red sports car... and what a homecoming it is, for lying spreadeagled on his lawn in the summer sunshine is the corpse of a clown.The circus is in Stunston Peveril for the annual village fair, yet none of their quota of clowns is missing - or at least, nobody is saying. Could the body be that of an unfortunate early guest at the village's highlight of the social calendar, the Fincham Abbey Costume Ball?Fortunately Major Bricket's past clandestine career means that he is now very well placed to solve the mystery of the dead clown on his camomile lawn . . ._______________________Praise for Simon Brett:'Murder most enjoyable' Colin Dexter'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times'Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cozies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige' New York Times'A delightful, thoroughly English whodunnit' Daily Mail'The wittiest around' Antonia Fraser

Bill Nighy returns as the actor and amateur sleuth, Charles Paris Bored, broke and reduced to baring all as a life model, Charles Paris is relieved to land a role in a new sitcom – even if it is woefully unfunny. But no sooner has filming begun than things start to go wrong. First a charmless PA dies in a freak accident, then the young, cocksure director bites the dust. Once again, Charles finds himself on the case, hunting for clues from a host of showbiz suspects including an insecure, ego-ridden TV detective, a director suffering a midlife crisis, an ex-Bond girl and National Treasure, and her cognitively confused rock star husband. As the pound shop Poirot investigates, Frances (his semi-detached wife), and Maurice (his worse-than-useless agent), are furious. Following a skiing accident, Maurice has moved in with them, and is proving to be the house guest from hell. As tensions rise at home and on set, can Charles work out who is killing off the cast and crew – and more importantly, stop Frances from murdering Maurice? Jeremy Front’s witty drama stars Bill Nighy as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances and Jon Glover as Maurice. Credits Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett Directed by Sally Avens Technical producers: Peter Ringrose & Alison Craig Production Coordinator: Luke MacGregor Cast Charles – Bill Nighy Frances – Suzanne Burden Maurice – Jon Glover Ash Amos – Phaldut Sharma Judy Gilmore – Christine Kavanagh Stevie Dean / Howard Langridge – Tony Turner Scott / Argyll / Art Tutor - Joseph Ayre Sadie – Maggie Service Cheryl – Anna Spearpoint Barmaid – Abbie Andrews First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 27 January – 17 February 2025 © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (p) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

'A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans!' P.D. James'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly CooperIntroducing a new, but not-so-amateur, sleuth from another peaceful English village with an alarmingly high death rate! The first mystery in a new cosy series from one of the world's favourite crime writers - perfect for fans of Richard Osmand, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood and M. C. Beaton._______________________Meet Major Bricket, an infrequent resident of Highfield House in Stunston Peveril, Suffolk. In the past the Major's work assignments, frequently in foreign countries, have prevented him from spending much time there and as a result, there is an air of mystery around him while everyone in the village speculates on the nature of his occupation.But now the Major has retired and has come home for good in his open-topped little red sports car... and what a homecoming it is, for lying spreadeagled on his lawn in the summer sunshine is the corpse of a clown.The circus is in Stunston Peveril for the annual village fair, yet none of their quota of clowns is missing - or at least, nobody is saying. Could the body be that of an unfortunate early guest at the village's highlight of the social calendar, the Fincham Abbey Costume Ball?Fortunately Major Bricket's past clandestine career means that he is now very well placed to solve the mystery of the dead clown on his camomile lawn . . ._______________________Praise for Simon Brett:'Murder most enjoyable' Colin Dexter'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times'Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cozies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige' New York Times'A delightful, thoroughly English whodunnit' Daily Mail'The wittiest around' Antonia Fraser

'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. James'Murder most enjoyable' Colin DexterBlotto and Twinks are off on another adventure - and this time they're bound for the Alpine village of Luzvimmen in Switzerland, where Blotto participates in racing the prestigious and very fast Croissant Run, though someone seems determined to sabotage his chances.Twinks, on the other hand, is on a mission to rescue her friend's sister from the sinister finishing school she is trapped in - the Convent of the Sacred Icicle. Once inside, Twinks is threatened by an elderly nun who shows her a secret glacier in which the Phantom Skiers are entombed... awaiting resurrection so they can wreak vengeance on people who are too curious... like Blotto and Twinks.Meanwhile, up at Schloss Luzvimmen, the crazed Count von Strapp is set on global domination via a deadly arsenal of Swiss cheese hardware he's planning to unleash on the world...Yes, everything's much as usual in the world of Blotto and TwinksPraise for Simon Brett'One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment' Guardian'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly Cooper

'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. James'Murder most enjoyable' Colin DexterThe latest hair-raising adventure featuring the aristocratic brother and sister sleuthing duo!Praise for Simon Brett'One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment' Guardian'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly Cooper

'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. James'Murder most enjoyable' Colin DexterBlotto and Twinks are off on another adventure - and this time they're bound for the Alpine village of Luzvimmen in Switzerland, where Blotto participates in racing the prestigious and very fast Croissant Run, though someone seems determined to sabotage his chances.Twinks, on the other hand, is on a mission to rescue her friend's sister from the sinister finishing school she is trapped in - the Convent of the Sacred Icicle. Once inside, Twinks is threatened by an elderly nun who shows her a secret glacier in which the Phantom Skiers are entombed... awaiting resurrection so they can wreak vengeance on people who are too curious... like Blotto and Twinks.Meanwhile, up at Schloss Luzvimmen, the crazed Count von Strapp is set on global domination via a deadly arsenal of Swiss cheese hardware he's planning to unleash on the world...Yes, everything's much as usual in the world of Blotto and TwinksPraise for Simon Brett'One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment' Guardian'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly Cooper