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Charles Paris: Murder Unprompted

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

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About this listen

Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris in a BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's novel.

Charles Paris is understudying in a West End production, whose star Michael Banks seems unable to master the script. Has Charles time to solve a murder, win Frances' heart and make it on stage by the time the curtain goes up?

Also featuring: Suzanne Burden, Danny Webb, Jon Glover, Jemima Rooper, Liza Sadovy, Rachel Bavidge, Nitin Gonatra, Tilly Gaunt, Thomas Arnold, Jot Davies, Leslie Philips, Simon Treves, Jasmin Callan and Miranda Colchester.

Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.

©2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Action & Adventure Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Funny Witty Heartfelt
All stars
Most relevant
loved it, another grest Charles Paris Mystery, i have all the other Chsrles Paris audio books and look forwsrd to more of the same please

More Charles Paris

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Bill Nighy can deliver the best deadpan humour south of the Tweed! Charles Paris, played by Nighy, is probably the most charming, unreliable, endearing and infuriating recidivist alcoholic detective in fiction. He does have insight, but it dissolves, with conscience and penitence, with his first sniff of booze. Still, he's seemingly less narcissistic and smarter than most of his colleagues, and his semi-ex-wife Frances veers between affection, fury, irritation and maternal concern for him. He is capable of wise social comment and appraisal of other people.
Of course, by now, he should have succumbed to some horrid alcohol-related illness, but it's fun to listen in to his critique of theatre folk, art, pretentious money men, etc.

Gentle murder with irony

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I love all the Charles Paris books narrated by Bill Nighy. They are great stories - I especially love the mix of gentle humour with a murder mystery where the characters are so interesting. I also love a full cast performance - Suzanne Burden is excellent as the exasperated wife. I can't recommend these highly enough, I listen to them again and again.

What's not to like

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Not as funny and tightly woven as other Charles Paris stories. It seems to take place 5 years earlier than the other ones I've heard and doesn't seem to be in its stride yet. But still entertaining.

Not the best, but still good

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Simon Brett's Charles Paris stories are always sheer delight, especially when performed for the BBC with Bill Night his lugubrious, worldly self. Funny, quirky and seeped in behind the scenes acting and family rivalries, they are a joy not to be missed. This one is no exception.
Worth every penny/ credit.

Shooting Stars

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