Get Your Free Audiobook
Charles Paris: Murder in the Title
Non-member price: $15.61
People who bought this also bought...
-
Charles Paris: Star Trap
- A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: full cast, Bill Nighy
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
When Charles Paris’ agent rings with the news that he has a part for him in a new musical, Charles is delighted - and somewhat amazed, as he can neither sing nor dance. But Maurice has an ulterior motive: as one of the show’s backers, he wants Charles to play detective and investigate a series of accidents that have dogged the production. The pianist has been shot in the hand, and another cast member fell downstairs - or was he pushed? Anxious about their investment and their star, Chris Watt, the ‘angels’ are keen to ensure that nothing else goes wrong.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Good
- By elizabeth b. on 31-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: A Series of Murders
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
Charles Paris is thrilled - he’s landed a nice juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, 'The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries', and his estranged wife Frances seems to be on the brink of taking him back. But filming turns out to be a tortuous process, with pompous star Russell Bentley demanding numerous retakes and irascible author Winifred Railton constantly interrupting.
-
Charles Paris: The Cinderella Killer
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Suzanne Burden, Bill Nighy, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
A job in pantomime seems the perfect way to spend the Christmas season for Charles, but the cast of Cinderella are a motley crew from reality TV and Charles finds himself having to explain the traditions of panto to their baffled American star whose career is on a downward trajectory. When the star is shot dead, and Charles finds the body, he finds himself under suspicion.
-
Charles Paris: A Decent Interval
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's entertaining crime novel, starring Bill Nighy. Charles Paris has been resting for quite a while, so he's relieved when he is cast as Ghost of Hamlet's Father and First Gravedigger in a touring production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are a little tense - the lead roles of Hamlet and Ophelia are played by a reality TV contestant and TV talent show winner respectively, and their opinions on celebrity and the theatre differ somewhat from those of the more experienced members of the cast.
-
Charles Paris: An Amateur Corpse
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, Geraldine McEwan, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast adaptation of Simon Brett's comic crime novel An Amateur Corpse. Charles is out of work again, and to make matters worse his mother has come to stay and he's no way of escaping her. So when he's offered some voiceover work by old friend, Hugo, he's delighted to get out of the house. But Hugo's marriage is in trouble: his much younger wife, Ellie, spends all her time at her Amateur Dramatic Group, and Hugo is drinking too much.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Paris
- By elizabeth b. on 30-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: A Reconstructed Corpse
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4
Bill Nighy returns as Charles Paris: unsuccessful actor, bad husband, and dipsomaniac. Desperately in need of work, having been kicked out of his marital home, Charles jumps at playing a missing property developer in a crime-reconstruction program. But the missing person case soon turns to murder when severed body parts begin to appear.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great fun
- By elizabeth b. on 31-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: Star Trap
- A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: full cast, Bill Nighy
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
When Charles Paris’ agent rings with the news that he has a part for him in a new musical, Charles is delighted - and somewhat amazed, as he can neither sing nor dance. But Maurice has an ulterior motive: as one of the show’s backers, he wants Charles to play detective and investigate a series of accidents that have dogged the production. The pianist has been shot in the hand, and another cast member fell downstairs - or was he pushed? Anxious about their investment and their star, Chris Watt, the ‘angels’ are keen to ensure that nothing else goes wrong.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Good
- By elizabeth b. on 31-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: A Series of Murders
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
Charles Paris is thrilled - he’s landed a nice juicy part playing Sergeant Collins in the TV detective series, 'The Stanislaus Braid Mysteries', and his estranged wife Frances seems to be on the brink of taking him back. But filming turns out to be a tortuous process, with pompous star Russell Bentley demanding numerous retakes and irascible author Winifred Railton constantly interrupting.
-
Charles Paris: The Cinderella Killer
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Suzanne Burden, Bill Nighy, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
A job in pantomime seems the perfect way to spend the Christmas season for Charles, but the cast of Cinderella are a motley crew from reality TV and Charles finds himself having to explain the traditions of panto to their baffled American star whose career is on a downward trajectory. When the star is shot dead, and Charles finds the body, he finds himself under suspicion.
-
Charles Paris: A Decent Interval
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's entertaining crime novel, starring Bill Nighy. Charles Paris has been resting for quite a while, so he's relieved when he is cast as Ghost of Hamlet's Father and First Gravedigger in a touring production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are a little tense - the lead roles of Hamlet and Ophelia are played by a reality TV contestant and TV talent show winner respectively, and their opinions on celebrity and the theatre differ somewhat from those of the more experienced members of the cast.
-
Charles Paris: An Amateur Corpse
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, Geraldine McEwan, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 4
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast adaptation of Simon Brett's comic crime novel An Amateur Corpse. Charles is out of work again, and to make matters worse his mother has come to stay and he's no way of escaping her. So when he's offered some voiceover work by old friend, Hugo, he's delighted to get out of the house. But Hugo's marriage is in trouble: his much younger wife, Ellie, spends all her time at her Amateur Dramatic Group, and Hugo is drinking too much.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Paris
- By elizabeth b. on 30-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: A Reconstructed Corpse
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4
Bill Nighy returns as Charles Paris: unsuccessful actor, bad husband, and dipsomaniac. Desperately in need of work, having been kicked out of his marital home, Charles jumps at playing a missing property developer in a crime-reconstruction program. But the missing person case soon turns to murder when severed body parts begin to appear.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great fun
- By elizabeth b. on 31-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: Corporate Bodies
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Jeremy Front, Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast adaptation of Simon Brett's comic murder mystery, starring Bill Nighy as the irrepressible Charles Paris. Charles Paris (unsuccessful actor, bad husband, dipsomaniac) is currently appearing as a fork lift operator in a corporate video. It's not prime-time television or a major film, but it seems like easy money - until the fork lift is used to commit a murder. When Charles himself comes under suspicion, he decides to find out for himself who the murderer is.
-
Charles Paris: The Dead Side of the Mic
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, Charlotte Green, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
Actor and reluctant sleuth Charles Paris is facing chaos on the domestic front. He’s lodging with his ex-wife Frances, and now their pregnant daughter has moved in as well. It’s all a bit much.... So he is over the moon when he lands a job on the BBC Radio Rep - but the ink is barely dry on his contract when a murder takes place in Broadcasting House. A young female studio manager is found dead in an editing suite, and Charles steps in to investigate....
-
A Deadly Habit
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3
Having landed a small part in a new West End play, The Habit of Faith, Charles Paris is dismayed to discover that his good fortune has been orchestrated by his bête noire, the now-famous screen actor Justin Grover. But why has Grover become involved in this relatively obscure production - and why has he roped in Charles to star? From the outset the production is fraught with difficulties - and matters become even more complicated when a body is discovered at the foot of the dressing room stairs.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A habit to toss
- By elizabeth b. on 30-12-2019
-
Charles Paris: Cast in Order of Disappearance
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Suzanne Burden, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris with Martine McCutcheon as Jodie Ricks in this BBC Radio 4 comedy detective drama. Charles finds himself uncharacteristically employed in a film, having landed the part of Szabec, a middle management vampire in 'The Wreathing'. His co-star is swimwear model turned actress Jodie Ricks and before long, Jodie is using Charles as a confidant.
-
Agatha Raisin
- The Complete BBC Radio Drama Collection
- By: M.C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith, full cast
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 10
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 11
After a lifetime spent in public relations, one-woman dynamo Agatha Raisin struggles to adapt to life in a quiet country village - but she soon finds that there is murder and mayhem aplenty to keep her busy. Among the cases she has to deal with are a poisoned quiche; a vet who has been ‘put to sleep’; a hanged horticulturist; a murdered rambler and a curate who meets his Maker somewhat sooner than expected.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Entertaining, but...
- By Peter Gray on 21-01-2020
-
Charles Paris: Dead Room Farce
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- By: Simon Brett, Jeremy Front
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, full cast, Suzanne Burden
- Length: 1 hr and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3
A three-month run of a new farce is not to be sniffed at by a jobbing actor. Especially when there's the distinct possibility of a West End run. Which is why Charles Paris is standing on stage. However, by the time the troupe reaches Bath a darker mood has set in and Charles' old friend Mark has a drink problem that amounts to a death wish. But it's not the drink that kills Mark - it's somebody in the cast who has a secret that Mark must not be allowed to reveal....
Publisher's 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.
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars2
-
4 Stars2
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars1
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars3
-
4 Stars1
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars1
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars2
-
4 Stars2
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars1
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- guy
- 25-12-2015
Entertaining
Great way to spend a couple of hours - fun dialogue and a nice story that tells an engaging mystery with humour.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Cheryl Waters
- 04-02-2012
Another BBC Value Performance
Where does Charles Paris: Murder in the Title (BBC Radio Crimes) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
BBC Radio Drama rates usual kudoes!
What did you like best about this story?
Soundtrack mimics Golden Oldies of Charles Paris's past, reminding us of his age. Dialogue is sparkling.
Have you listened to any of Bill Nighy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
All Bill Nighy's performances as Charles Paris are delightful, well worth the modest cost...
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, and I did so twice...
Any additional comments?
Only the Colonial Radio Theater performances come close to matching the BBC Radio Crime dramas. Both troupes are well worth snapping up every offering.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Judith
- 20-04-2012
Charles Paris Rules!
These radio plays are good mysteries but Bill Nighy as Charles Paris makes them great. He is witty, unbearable, sexy, hilarious, and mostly drunk. Suzanne Glover as his long suffering wife Frances is absolutely perfect. It's easy to see why they achieved 35 years of "divorce avoidance." They have great vocal chemistry. The rock and roll sound tracks are a big plus. More, please.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-01-2016
Fantastic entertainment for travel or a rainy day
I never tire of the Charles Paris . The mix of louche behavior, contemporary music and exquisite performances makes me feel as though I am in the room watching the comedy undold. Perfect for when you want a great story, well told.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 03-07-2012
Quick entertainment
Is there anything you would change about this book?
As it was made for radio I thought they did a fair job of bringing the characters to life in the short time available; it took a bit of imagination to fill in the blanks but that's what radio is about and why we have the gift of imagination.
Did Bill Nighy do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?
Yes, I quickly came to know who the characters were and how their idiosyncrasies made up their personalities
Could you see Charles Paris: Murder in the Title (BBC Radio Crimes) being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
I don't know....too much realism has hit our screens; I'm not sure this would make it past the first season.
Any additional comments?
This radio drama is a great listen when doing those humdrum chores around the house.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Avril
- 17-10-2015
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.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Pippa
- 06-02-2016
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
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- S. M. A. John
- 03-05-2018
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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Maid Marian
- 25-10-2016
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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- harry
- 02-04-2015
very entertaining
Bill nighy lend himself naturally to these lighthearted detective stories, excellent series, first came across them on BBC4 EXTRA, collecting them all
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- T P Townsend
- 12-12-2014
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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- jashy
- 26-08-2014
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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Constable Elbow
- 01-07-2014
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.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 15-02-2014
Loved it!
Where does Charles Paris: Murder in the Title (BBC Radio Crimes) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Love hearing radio plays so this is a delight.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Charles Paris: Murder in the Title (BBC Radio Crimes)?
The humour linked with a good story.
What about Bill Nighy’s performance did you like?
The dry, laid back performance.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
This makes you laugh out loud.
Any additional comments?
Went online and purchased two more Charles Paris dramatised books with Bill Nighy when I finished listening.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Franster
- 02-10-2019
always good!!
another charles paris book finished. bill nighy has the most fabulous voice and its a pleasure listening to this series