An Amateur Corpse

Simon Brett's backstage mysteries are always hits with mystery fans. You don't have to be a theater goer to enjoy the intrigue and dramatic mischief enacted behind the spotlights. With a trademark blend of sophistication and wit, An Amateur Corpse raises the curtain on a tangle of provocative relationships. The middle-aged actor, Charles Paris, is enjoying free food and cocktails in the Critic's Circle at a suburban production of The Seagull. But when the alluring leading lady is found strangled, and her volatile husband, Paris' longtime friend, is accused of the murder, Paris quickly moves into the role of trench-coated detective. To identify the culprit, he must navigate the maze of rivalries and affairs that flourishes in the play's cast. Narrator Simon Prebble's urbane accents perfectly capture Paris' self-deprecating intelligence and flair. Laced with impeccable British humor and memorable vignettes, An Amateur Corpse is Simon Brett at his best.