Simon Brett

Simon Brett is a British author, dramatist, and broadcaster whose prolific career spans crime fiction, comedy writing, radio and television drama, and children's books, making him one of the most versatile writers in British entertainment. Born in Worcester Park, Surrey in 1945, Brett was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he was president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. He worked as a producer at BBC Radio and London Weekend Television before becoming a full-time writer. The Charles Paris novels — beginning with Cast, in Order of Disappearance (1975) — feature a not-quite-successful, perpetually tipsy actor who solves murders in theatrical settings. The series combines genuine mystery plotting with wickedly sharp satire of the entertainment industry and has been adapted into a beloved BBC Radio 4 drama series starring Bill Nighy. A Deadly Habit continues the series. The Fethering Mysteries, set in a West Sussex coastal village and featuring the unlikely detective duo of Jude and Carole, are quintessential British cozy crime. The Mrs Pargeter novels and the Blotto and Twinks series demonstrate his range within the genre. Brett has also written extensively for radio and television, including episodes of After Henry and the radio panel game No Commitments. He received the Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement — the highest honour in British crime writing. His writing is characterised by wit, precision, and a sharp eye for the absurdities of British social life. The audiobook editions of Brett's novels are delightful — his dry wit and clever plotting translate perfectly to audio. His books and audiobooks are perfect for fans of cozy crime, theatrical mysteries, and the finest tradition of British comic crime writing.