-
Charles Paris: A Series of Murders
- A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy, Suzanne Burden, full cast
- Length: 57 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $8.26
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Dr Gideon Fell: The Complete BBC Radio Drama Collection
- Eight Full-Cast Crime Dramas from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction
- By: John Dickson Carr
- Narrated by: Wendy Craig, Donald Sinden, John Hartley, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his cape, canes and shovel hat, portly amateur sleuth Dr Gideon Fell cuts an eccentric figure - but his odd appearance belies his sharp intellect and astonishing faculty for deduction. Created by crime novelist John Dickson Carr and supposedly based on fellow author G. K. Chesterton, Dr Fell appeared in 23 novels between 1933 and 1967. This radio collection comprises all eight of the BBC adaptations based on Carr's best-selling books.
-
-
The Delightful Dr. Fell
- By DJDecca on 12-21-21
-
The Chief Inspector Dover Mysteries
- Six BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Crime Dramas
- By: Joyce Porter, Paul Mendelson
- Narrated by: Kenneth Cranham, Stuart McQuarrie, full cast
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cantankerous and dishevelled, Chief Inspector Dover is no one's idea of a model detective - but he does have an uncanny knack for solving crimes. In these radio dramas, set in the 1960s and '70s, he and his long-suffering sergeant, Charlie McGregor, investigate sinister cases of kidnap and murder. The first four are adapted from Joyce Porter's novels, while the latter two are original stories based on her characters.
-
-
Mildly entertaining
- By wisconsinclark on 02-26-22
By: Joyce Porter, and others
-
The Body on the Beach
- A Fethering Mystery
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Recently retired, Carole Seddon is residing in Fethering in the cottage she purchased with her ex-husband. There she maintains a quiet and sensible life with the companionship of Gulliver, her Labrador retriever. But everything changes when she and Gulliver, while taking their daily constitutional, find a corpse on the beach. What's more, there are two wounds on its neck. The body mysteriously disappears and the police dismiss Carole as a befuddled middle-aged woman.
-
-
Reminds me of "Rosemary & Thyme" TV series
- By Crochetaway on 11-17-14
By: Simon Brett
-
Father Paolo Baldi Mysteries
- The Complete BBC Radio Crime Series
- By: Simon Brett, Bill Murphy, Andrew Martin, and others
- Narrated by: David Threlfall, Tina Kellegher, Martin Clunes, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The complete series 1-5 of the thrilling mystery series. On sabbatical from the Franciscan order, Father Paolo Baldi is working as a philosophy lecturer in Dublin when his life takes an unexpected turn and he finds himself helping the police to solve crimes. Along with Tina, Paolo uncovers the truth behind the killings of several rockabilly band members and a high-profile case of a police officer’s murder as well as delving into the highly competitive world of celebrity chefs.
-
-
So hard to hear!
- By ljcsam on 01-08-20
By: Simon Brett, and others
-
Mrs Pargeter's Principle
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For Mrs Pargeter, it is a matter of principle that she should complete any of her late husband's unfinished business. Amongst his many bequests, perhaps the most valuable is his little black book, in which he listed all the people who ever worked for him, with details of their particular skill sets. This means that whenever Mrs P has a crime to solve, she can readily contact someone with the relevant expertise.
-
-
More Mrs. Pargeter, Please!
- By MerylB on 02-04-17
By: Simon Brett
-
The Clutter Corpse
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ellen Curtis runs her own business helping people who are running out of space. As a declutterer, she is used to encountering all sorts of weird and wonderful objects in the course of her work. What she has never before encountered is a dead body.
-
-
New Simon Brett
- By John Bacon on 06-15-20
By: Simon Brett
-
Dr Gideon Fell: The Complete BBC Radio Drama Collection
- Eight Full-Cast Crime Dramas from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction
- By: John Dickson Carr
- Narrated by: Wendy Craig, Donald Sinden, John Hartley, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his cape, canes and shovel hat, portly amateur sleuth Dr Gideon Fell cuts an eccentric figure - but his odd appearance belies his sharp intellect and astonishing faculty for deduction. Created by crime novelist John Dickson Carr and supposedly based on fellow author G. K. Chesterton, Dr Fell appeared in 23 novels between 1933 and 1967. This radio collection comprises all eight of the BBC adaptations based on Carr's best-selling books.
-
-
The Delightful Dr. Fell
- By DJDecca on 12-21-21
-
The Chief Inspector Dover Mysteries
- Six BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Crime Dramas
- By: Joyce Porter, Paul Mendelson
- Narrated by: Kenneth Cranham, Stuart McQuarrie, full cast
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cantankerous and dishevelled, Chief Inspector Dover is no one's idea of a model detective - but he does have an uncanny knack for solving crimes. In these radio dramas, set in the 1960s and '70s, he and his long-suffering sergeant, Charlie McGregor, investigate sinister cases of kidnap and murder. The first four are adapted from Joyce Porter's novels, while the latter two are original stories based on her characters.
-
-
Mildly entertaining
- By wisconsinclark on 02-26-22
By: Joyce Porter, and others
-
The Body on the Beach
- A Fethering Mystery
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Recently retired, Carole Seddon is residing in Fethering in the cottage she purchased with her ex-husband. There she maintains a quiet and sensible life with the companionship of Gulliver, her Labrador retriever. But everything changes when she and Gulliver, while taking their daily constitutional, find a corpse on the beach. What's more, there are two wounds on its neck. The body mysteriously disappears and the police dismiss Carole as a befuddled middle-aged woman.
-
-
Reminds me of "Rosemary & Thyme" TV series
- By Crochetaway on 11-17-14
By: Simon Brett
-
Father Paolo Baldi Mysteries
- The Complete BBC Radio Crime Series
- By: Simon Brett, Bill Murphy, Andrew Martin, and others
- Narrated by: David Threlfall, Tina Kellegher, Martin Clunes, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The complete series 1-5 of the thrilling mystery series. On sabbatical from the Franciscan order, Father Paolo Baldi is working as a philosophy lecturer in Dublin when his life takes an unexpected turn and he finds himself helping the police to solve crimes. Along with Tina, Paolo uncovers the truth behind the killings of several rockabilly band members and a high-profile case of a police officer’s murder as well as delving into the highly competitive world of celebrity chefs.
-
-
So hard to hear!
- By ljcsam on 01-08-20
By: Simon Brett, and others
-
Mrs Pargeter's Principle
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For Mrs Pargeter, it is a matter of principle that she should complete any of her late husband's unfinished business. Amongst his many bequests, perhaps the most valuable is his little black book, in which he listed all the people who ever worked for him, with details of their particular skill sets. This means that whenever Mrs P has a crime to solve, she can readily contact someone with the relevant expertise.
-
-
More Mrs. Pargeter, Please!
- By MerylB on 02-04-17
By: Simon Brett
-
The Clutter Corpse
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ellen Curtis runs her own business helping people who are running out of space. As a declutterer, she is used to encountering all sorts of weird and wonderful objects in the course of her work. What she has never before encountered is a dead body.
-
-
New Simon Brett
- By John Bacon on 06-15-20
By: Simon Brett
-
A Deadly Habit
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
By: Simon Brett
-
Guilt at the Garage
- By: Simon Brett
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Carole Seddon's trusty Renault is one of her most treasured possessions. So when it’s vandalized, there's only one person she will entrust with its repair: Bill Shefford, who’s been servicing the vehicles of the good citizens of Fethering for many years. But how could something like this happen in Fethering of all places? Then a note is shoved under Carole's kitchen door: Watch out. The car window was just the start. It appears that she’s been deliberately targeted. But by whom, and why?
-
-
5 stars
- By Beatrice on 09-05-21
By: Simon Brett
-
Daunt & Dervish
- The Complete BBC Radio Crime Series
- By: Guy Meredith
- Narrated by: Anna Massey, Bill Paterson, Frances Barber, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
London,1953. Josephine Daunt and Susan Dervish both worked for the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War, doing top-secret, highly dangerous espionage work. But in peacetime, they find themselves without a job and feeling useless. Determined to put their talents to good use, they decide to set up a detective agency, with the help of former private eye Bill Mackie. From their Covent Garden office, they handle a steady flow of business.
-
-
Excellent teleplsy
- By Susan on 05-14-21
By: Guy Meredith
-
Inspector Purbright
- Five BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Crime Dramatisations from The Flaxborough Chronicles
- By: Colin Watson
- Narrated by: Peter Jeffrey, John Rowe, John Pullen, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Inspector Purbright is a thoroughly English policeman: affable, polite, dogged and decent. Created by award-winning crime writer Colin Watson, he appeared in 12 Flaxborough mysteries, four of which were adapted for BBC TV under the title Murder Most English. These five radio dramatisations star Peter Jeffrey, John Pullen and John Rowe as Purbright.
-
-
It passes the time
- By BJM on 03-23-22
By: Colin Watson
-
The Man Who Died Twice
- A Thursday Murder Club Mystery
- By: Richard Osman
- Narrated by: Lesley Manville
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim—the Thursday Murder Club—are still riding high off their recent real-life murder case and are looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet at Cooper’s Chase, their posh retirement village. But they are out of luck. An unexpected visitor—an old pal of Elizabeth’s (or perhaps more than just a pal?)—arrives, desperate for her help. He has been accused of stealing diamonds worth millions from the wrong men and he’s seriously on the lam.
-
-
Smart, Funny, Superbly Read
- By Patience on 10-03-21
By: Richard Osman
-
Falco: The Complete BBC Radio Collection
- Five Full-Cast Dramatisations
- By: Lindsey Davis
- Narrated by: Anna Madeley, Anton Lesser, Ben Crowe, and others
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the first five Falco novels by Lindsey Davis, starring Anton Lesser as Marcus Didius Falco.
-
-
Wonderful but flawed...
- By Amazon Customer on 10-05-18
By: Lindsey Davis
-
The Noel Coward BBC Radio Drama Collection
- Seven BBC Radio Full-cast Productions
- By: Noel Coward
- Narrated by: Alex Jennings, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Renowned for his wit, style and sophistication, Noël Coward was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. His plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day. This collection brings together the very best radio adaptation
-
-
Some good plays...
- By Charisma on 08-11-18
By: Noel Coward
-
Stone: The Complete Series 1-4
- 17 BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Crime Dramas
- By: Danny Brocklehurst
- Narrated by: Craig Cheetham, Deborah McAndrew, full cast, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seventeen stories from the gritty crime series created by Danny Brocklehurst, starring Hugo Speer as Manchester detective John Stone. This collection brings together Series 1 to 4 of this intelligent detective drama, tackling morally ambiguous, complex and challenging subjects. DCI Stone and his team investigate a series of brutal murders and missing person cases, among other grisly crimes. Starring Hugo Speer as DCI John Stone, Craig Cheetham as DI Mike Tanner and Deborah McAndrew as DS Sue Kelly.
-
-
Gritty and hard-hitting
- By Sabeer on 04-14-18
-
Father Brown: The Complete Series 1 and 2
- 13 BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisations
- By: G. K. Chesterton
- Narrated by: Andrew Sachs, full cast
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With his black hat, huge umbrella, unworldly simplicity and 'beaming but breathless geniality', Father Brown is one of fiction's best-loved amateur detectives. Short and tatty, but with the wisdom and insight to unravel the most wayward of criminal minds, he has entertained generations. In this collection of 13 full-cast dramatisations, the high priest of detection becomes involved in seven intriguing cases that will tax even his mental powers to the limit.
-
-
excellent and funny
- By Delphine on 07-04-21
By: G. K. Chesterton
-
DSI Julie Enfield Investigates
- The Complete BBC Radio Crime Series
- By: Nick Fisher
- Narrated by: Full Cast, Geoffrey Matthews, Imelda Staunton, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Terminus finds her investigating the 'Lucky Charm' murders, as she searches for an elusive serial killer who haunts the railway station. In The Smithfield Murders, a grisly killing at London's famous meat market sparks another troubling investigation, while in The Net and the Canal, Enfield and her team look into a series of mysterious murders along Regent's Park Canal. Leaves of the Dead presents her with a trio of inexplicable deaths in the British Library - could they be ritual murders?
-
-
Couldn't be more pleased.
- By Apryl Morris on 12-30-20
By: Nick Fisher
-
George Cragge: In the Red & Other Mysteries
- By: Mark Tavener
- Narrated by: Barry Foster, full cast, Hugh Laurie, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A collection of four blackly humorous crime mysteries featuring the fictional BBC Radio crime correspondent, George Cragge. Adapted from the novel by Mark Tavener, In the Red sees the anarchic George Cragge investigate a spree of bizarre murders in the world of City finance, a small political party contesting a by-election, and a plan to overthrow the Director-General of the BBC. The sequel, In the Balance, features George Cragge kicking off a murder trail during the FIFA World Cup at Wembley Stadium. And with Europe becoming a hot potato, can the Prime Minister hold on to his job? In the Chair follows the maverick hack as he looks into a series of murders of dentists linked to New Labour policy. The final drama, In the End, sees George Cragge investigating a series of murders of journalists.
-
-
Totally marvelous!
- By Gracie Lou Freebush on 05-27-19
By: Mark Tavener
-
Agatha Christie: Sparkling Cyanide (BBC Radio 4 Drama)
- By: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: Peter Wight, Amanda Drew
- Length: 1 hr and 20 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance. Published in 1945, "Sparkling Cyanide" is all about remembrance. It begins with six characters recalling the horrific death of Rosemary Barton, a beautiful but shallow young heiress poisoned by a cyanide-spiked glass of champagne whilst celebrating her birthday at a smart London restaurant.
-
-
Good performance/Typical Christie plot
- By Cheryl Waters on 07-31-12
By: Agatha Christie
Publisher's Summary
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. To cap it all, nubile actress Lisa Stokes is crushed to death on set - and Charles finds her body.
It seems like a straightforward accident, but Charles can’t shake the suspicion that she was murdered. Can he find the killer, stay away from the booze and the women, and win back his wife?
Bill Nighy stars as alcoholic actor and amateur sleuth Charles Paris in this full-cast radio dramatisation.
More from the same
What listeners say about Charles Paris: A Series of Murders
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lazlo Shaw
- 12-17-21
Great listen.
loved it.
Bill nighy is the man.
Keep the books coming!!
looking forward to the next book.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M. Giorgi
- 08-21-20
Charles is Back In Town
As usual he's in trouble. How he gets out of it is another story. This one is really good. Just close your eyes and listen.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- VMW
- 12-07-17
i love charles paris
Another fantastic performance by the BBC. the writing is crisp and the script keeps you engaged. I love it!
-
Overall

- Diane
- 10-10-09
'A Series of Murders'
When I first saw that this audiobook was only 57mins long for ?8.89, compared to the other Charles Paris audiotape which is 6hs.28mins for the same price, I thought there must have been a misprint somewhere. But being a long-time fan of both Charles Paris and Bill Nighy, I went ahead and treated myself regardless.
Was this originally a full-length book? While the 'play' was enjoyable, it felt very 'compressed', to the extent that the characters came across as two-dimensionable cardboard cut-outs. This seems to be the fault of the BBC rather than the scriptwriter, who did his/her best with the time available. Surely extending it just another half hour would have made all the difference. I don't know where the 'series' of murders came from; there were only two. However, all the cast made the best of their lines; Bill Nighy has the perfect voice for Charles Paris. But I had to listen to it twice to catch the fast bits I missed the first time. It really deserves 5 stars, unfortunately
a big thumbs down and a lost star for the BBC for skimping on the time allowed, and another lost star for the decision to price a 57mins tape at ?8.89, whoever made it. ?4 - ?5 would be a fairer price, I think.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable listen. But most definitely a 'very special treat'!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- L. Bryant
- 08-23-17
Too short!
I'm a Bill Nighy fan and I love the rest of this series, so I used a credit to buy this one. It's good but it's really too short. If you get it, wait for a sale.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Catherine
- 11-23-10
a wonderful play, gripping and entertaining
Nighy makes Paris's slightly seedy, but self aware and almost-past-it cad utterly convincing with a tired, sardonic wit that carries the classically styled 'who-dunnit' plot to perfection. With every double whisky and plot twist I smiled or laughed. More please.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Charlie
- 12-30-14
A couple of easy listening murders!
A Good story line with a few twists and turns which make for an interesting listen. The play within a play works well too.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- jashy
- 08-26-14
Fabulous fun.
Would you consider the audio edition of Radio Crimes to be better than the print version?
Both are good. 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.
Which character – as performed by Bill Nighy and Suzanne Burden – was your favourite?
Charles, Frances, Maurice ............... they're all played expertly.
Any additional comments?
Love these dramatisations.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall

- Colin
- 04-22-13
What long car journeys were made for
I've listened to 2-3 of this series and thay are all excellent. The stories have excellent pace and the cast, very ably captained by the always-reliable Mr Bill Nighy, keep you engaged throughout. I also like the way that the overall production, whether by accident or design, reminds me of the very best radio plays you can hear on Radio 4, or even better, sitting in a tent listening to the radio as a boy in my parents back garden.
Very highly recommended
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall

- Paul
- 03-20-10
Charles Paris
Fantastic Bill Nighy and cast, all of these Simon Brett stories are excellent, more please.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Par
- 01-31-22
Not the best
A bit too short and too much explaining, not enough music and banter. Excellent performances as usual though. Not the best.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Norma Miles
- 12-22-19
A great weight lifted from my shoulders.
A Jeremy Front adaptation of Simon Brett's comedic murder mystery, A series of Murders, which, unusually, finds Charles Paris fully employed, playing Sergeant Collins in a TV detective series. But not for much longer. As the filming days pass on location in Dorset, the death toll rises as Charles earns the unwelcome title of Corpse Finder General.
With Bill Nighy playing Charles Paris and with a full BBC cast, this short one hour production is a pleasure for the ears and not to the heart. Wonderful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Franster
- 09-22-19
bill nighy is just brilliant! funny and serious!
bill nighy is just brilliant - funny and serious and perfect for my commute!!! highly recommended!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paula Morrow
- 09-30-21
Brilliant!
Loving these: especially the humour. Especially Bill and Susanne's acting, their humour, their timing. Maurice too - what is that actor's name... A very high standard from whole cast. Bill's little chortles and sounds of resignation. Thanks BBC!