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Charles Paris: Murder in the Title cover art

Charles Paris: Murder in the Title

By: Simon Brett,Jeremy Front
Narrated by: Bill Nighy,Suzanne Burden,full cast
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Summary

Charles Paris is his own worst enemy, a louche lush who can resist anything except temptation - especially in the form of women and alcohol. He’s been out of work so long now he feels he may never get a job and he’s driving Frances, his semi-ex-wife, mad.

So when he’s offered a small role in a play, she nearly pushes him out of the door. But it seems that ‘The Message is Murder’ is such a terrible production that someone wants to kill off the cast. First there is a series of nasty accidents, then someone attempts to stab Charles.

Can he find the murderer before they strike again? 

Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris in this entertaining dramatisation by Jeremy Front.

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

©2012 AudioGO Ltd (P)2012 AudioGO Ltd

What listeners say about Charles Paris: Murder in the Title

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great performance unnecessarily interrupted

Love Simon Brett and his Charles Parris character, but, oh why did the recordist not edit out every single cast list and introduction from the original BBC serial. These breaks in the story were really irritating.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

My guilty secret...

Terrible enough to admit listening to this series on Radio 4 or 4 Extra but imagine the ignominy of downloading them! I can't help it though - if I'm ever a bit gloomy (one does have these moments), a dose of Charles Paris with a strong cup of tea is the very thing to set me right. Bill Nighy is just so wonderful in this role and the supporting cast give their all so that the ludicrous plots slip by almost unnoticed.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lightweight but great fun

Where does Charles Paris: Murder in the Title (BBC Radio Crimes) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

About halfway

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I love the interaction with Frances his wife

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No -

Any additional comments?

I think it is Bill Nighy that makes this series - he just makes me laugh

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another excellent adaptation!

A superb adaptation from the production team led by Jeremy Front. Nighy & Burden create a wonderful atmosphere of marital tensions as the backdrop against another thespian themed murder mystery.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wry and languid - just right!

The wry Brett observation, delivered in Bill Nighy's languid tones, finds a near-perfect balance. The plot is just about sufficiently interesting to provide an entertaining background to a motorway or rail journey.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very entertaining

Bill nighy lend himself naturally to these lighthearted detective stories, excellent series, first came across them on BBC4 EXTRA, collecting them all

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Joy to Listen to

If you have not yet discovered the Charles Paris stories on the BBC then you are in for a treat. They are based upon the novels of Simon Brett but brilliant adapted by Jeremy Front.

Charles Paris is a struggling actor, alcoholic and misogynist. He lives sometimes with his long suffering wife although they are Semi-Detached. Bill Nighy plays the part to perfection and is perfect for the role. The rest of the cast are superb though, particularly Morris Glover who plays his agent.

The thing that makes these dramas work so well is the music that is added. Every song is a classic and usually has some relevance to the story.

The story revolves around Charles' appearance in provincial repertory theatre and as usual there is a murder and being the scenes dodgy dealings. Charles becomes sleuth and soon finds himself up to his eyes in it.

I listen to this again and again and it still makes me laugh out loud.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great as always.

Would you listen to Charles Paris: Murder in the Title (BBC Radio Crimes) again? Why?

Definitely. The BBC dramatisation though brings the story forward to today, and with wonderful down to earth dialogue - you're in the heart of the crime, the play, the tangled personal relationships and their history before you know it.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh, smirk.

Any additional comments?

Bill Nighy is fabulous as the dissolute actor detective.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Charles paris

First time I heard Bill Night playing Paris I was hooked, stories are great, and he is such a fine actor that it is a pleasure to listen to

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly entertaining

Fun murders with Charles Paris and some hilarious dialogue with his wife and her Italian lodger... Cutting edge drama rehearsals very wry.

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1 person found this helpful