You’ll notice this this is the twenty-second book in the series. You’ll also notice that I’ve only tucked into four other books featuring Jude and Carole, so please don’t be put off by the dauntingly high number of books in this series. Like many long-running murder mystery series, while you’ll doubtless gain more information and background if you read all the books in the correct order – as the murder mystery is contained within the book’s narrative arc, you don’t flounder all that much if you haven’t had the pleasure of picking up one of these stories before.

Apart from anything else, Brett is far too experienced and canny a writer to allow any of his readers to struggle with who is doing what to whom. That said, this isn’t one of my favourites. As Carole and Jude get caught up in the politics and backbiting surrounding the local theatre, I felt increasingly distanced from the poor chap who got walloped on the head by his main prop. Though there is always the bonus that the fictional village of Fethering is literally a couple of miles up the road from where we live, so I had extra fun working out exactly which of our local theatres this one is based upon.

Another plus is Brett’s commentary on the social dynamic within contemporary Britain, which is often caustically to the point. The tension between withdrawn and pathologically shy Carole and free-spirited Jude didn’t seem so sharp in this story. The person who stole the show for me is one of the stars of the current run, the ghastly Babs, who made me laugh while wondering exactly who Brett was basing her upon. I thought the pacing was a tad rushed during the denouement, which was a shame and a mistake the very technically adept Mr Brett rarely makes. That said, it’s still a solidly four stars out of five – and I’ll still be keen to get hold of anything this gifted, experienced author writes. While I obtained an arc of Death in the Dressing Room from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
7/10

British mystery author Simon Brett’s best-known character is second-rate actor Charles Paris, who gets involved in all sorts of theatrical mysteries. However, the Paris series isn’t the author’s longest-running. Instead, that honor goes to the tandem of Carole Seddon and her neighbor, Jude, who are the protagonists of the Fethering mysteries (named for the town where they live). Carole is a somewhat uptight, retired civil servant, and Jude, whose past is murky, has a more eclectic background, including stints as an actress and model. The pair have little in common besides their general age, geographical proximity, and enjoyment of solving mysteries. Fortunately, one or the other has a habit of stumbling across murders they can then solve. In the latest Fethering novel, “Death in the Dressing Room,” Jude is the stumbler, who walks into an ex-boyfriend’s backstage dressing room and discovers his recently dead body. The result is an entertaining puzzle mystery that provides readers with many of Brett’s usual insights into regional theater and the television industry.

“Death in the Dressing Room” is set against the backdrop of the performance of a play at a regional theater near Fethering. The play is the stage version of “House/Home,” a popular 80s television series (imagine a cross between “Three’s Company” and “Friends”). The stage show features most of the original cast, including Drake Purslow, Jude’s former boyfriend, who played the landlord on the series. When Jude goes backstage on closing night to congratulate him, she discovers instead that his head has been bashed in, apparently the result of a falling prop (a mid-80s bulky computer). Jude spots a bloody shoe print near the body and suspects foul play, since no one reported the death. That’s all Jude and Carole need to begin their investigations. And when Carole discovers another TV series cast member had died of an apparent overdose after attending another show at the same theater a few years after the TV series, the pair suspect the deaths are connected.

Simon Brett’s Charles Paris stories are popular largely because of the author’s background in the theater, which gives them an authentic feel and allows him to include many bits of interesting stage trivia. “Death in the Dressing Room” has that same insider feel. The Clincham Theater, where Purslow meets his demise, is not a shoebox venue for local players; it’s a 1,000-seat edifice suitable for hosting touring productions originating in London. Brett gives readers an insider’s insight into how the theater operates. He also gives his readers a better feel for the workings of British television, at least in the 1980s. “Death in the Dressing Room” isn’t a relic of the 1980s, though. The author brings social media into the storyline and other plot developments that are very much a product of the current decade. I really enjoyed the book’s authentic feel for its background subject matter.

As a mystery, “Death in the Dressing Room” is good, but those who enjoy the challenge of figuring out whodunit may be a bit frustrated. In the best Detection Club fair play tradition, the author reveals all the clues readers need to figure out what really happened 30 years earlier and in the present day. However, some crucial details aren’t revealed until very late in the book, just before Jude and Carole describe what happened. (Whether either death is a murder is one element of the ultimate puzzle Carole and Jude solve.) I figured out part of the mystery in advance, but not the last elements, which relied on the last information the author provided.

The author’s humor is clear throughout “Death in the Dressing Room.” For example, Carole describes her feelings about X (the former Twitter): “Everything she read about X made it sound like the gateway to a contemporary form of hell. A hell where scammers were out to scam you, trolls were out to vilify you, and crooked salesmen would blackmail you into buying bitcoins.” Observations like that abound in the book, much to my (and probably most readers) amusement. The highlight is a charity function that one of the “House/Home” actors arranges in memory of the deceased Drake. The event features something I’d never heard of: a celebrity tug-of-war.

I have not read any previous Fethering novels, so I hadn’t been exposed to Carole and Jude. However, when I began “Death in the Dressing Room,” I realized some background research might be in order. The relationship between the pair has developed over 22 books, and newcomers to the series and its amateur detectives might sometimes get confused. The two don’t consider each other friends, but friendly rivals in a game of sleuthing one-upmanship. Carole’s favorite research method is Googling (not X, as she noted), although she reluctantly goes to the Clincham Theater as a volunteer, so she can poke around in their old records. (Not surprisingly, she discovers a significant clue in those records.) By contrast, Jade relies on her background and charm to interview potential witnesses and gain their confidence. Both methods lead to the story’s ultimate solution.

One problem with the book was the author resorting to unwarranted shortcuts to move the story along. Neither Carole nor Jade is a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes, their deductions are a matter of plot convenience. The most egregious example is how Carole figured out Drake’s death was related to the one that occurred 30 years earlier. Since her internet research into Drake’s death had gone nowhere, she decided to research the previous death… because she could. I doubt Hercule Poirot adopted many lines of inquiry in his career merely because he could.

“Death in the Dressing Room” is an amusing trifle for those who enjoy this type of cozy mystery. Readers’ enjoyment of this book will depend on their tolerance for the main characters. I wasn’t overly impressed by Jude and Carole. Perhaps I’d have enjoyed the book more if I had read any earlier books in the series. However, it’s a short work (under 200 pages) that moves quickly. The author’s industry insights and humor, along with the good central mystery, are enough for me to give the book a solid recommendation. Simon Brett can take another bow.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

Simon Brett continues the Fethering mysteries in Death in the Dressing Room. Carole Seddon respectable retired lady living in Fethering gets involved in the local theatre after local actor Drake Purslow is discovered dead in the theatre after the final installment of the local play. Carole is not interested in theatre but is interested in sleuthing. She becomes a volunteer and discovers an earlier death of an actor may be a murder connected to this death. Great look at the interior workings of local theatre. Enjoy the behind the scenes view of the theatre.

I assumed that this would be a Charles Parris mystery, since it is set in a regional theatre. I have a long history with Charles Parris, and haven't read any of the Fethering mysteries, which surprises me that there are more than the Parris ones. So whilst I don't know the character dynamics between the two key sleuths here, it is very simple to pick up. I read this whilst travelling on the Brighton to Littlehampton line, where Fethering is nominally (the regional theatre feels like Worthing to me). Beyond that Brett is still in his comfort zone as the play the murder takes place within is a touring update and adaptation of a partially beloved 90's sitcom - and he knows actors, TV and their world so well that it is a perfect backdrop. (The same can be said in Mrs Pargetter's Patio where its delve into competitive reality shows felt very real).

Brett is such a dab hand at this stuff I was a little surprised that the pacing seemed off to me, but actually it all works to bulk out his suspects and give his regular cast some proper character beats. I've probably read too many modern cosy mysteries recently which whizz through a lot of this stuff. The work is put in, though, for a nicely twisty denouement. Along with the joy of trying to match up the archetypes of his characters with known real actors and writers, and a proper British denouement, its great to read someone who knows how to do this stuff so well.

Jude and Carole are back and they’re attending the opening night of play , when Jude goes back stage she finds one of the actors dead.
Is it an unfortunate accident or something more sinister?
Carole and Jude begin their investigation who could want the actor dead? Is it related to the death of a cast member years ago?
No need to worry the intrepid neighbours will route out the culprit.
The writing is excellent as always but I did feel Carole was wanting to be the top investigator more then usual and found the character a bit childish at times.
This didn5 detract from the story and this a great addition to the Fethering Mystery series.
Looking forward to the neighbours next investigation.
A excellent read for all cozy mystery fans .
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House .

An accomplished writer and craftsman of cosy crime tales Simon Brett’s books are never a disappointment. The Fethering series always seem fresh and are an entertaining read. The main characters show development and interest so it is not just a plot driven work in the so called cosy crime genre. This latest in the Sussex village Fethering series will not let down his readers new or old.

I absolutely love Simon Brett's books but hadn't seen this series before.

I think I was missing some of the character background as I didn't enjoy the constant sniping between them and it was the first book I'd read in the series however it was a fun, quick read.

Thanks for the arc.

In the latest Fethering mystery from Simon Brett, OBE—king of British cozy crime—nosy neighbors Carole and Jude take center stage when murder strikes backstage.

Carole Seddon, proper and retired, doesn’t care for the theatre. But her bohemian neighbor Jude once trod the boards, so when a new play based on a vintage sitcom hits the local stage, Jude insists they attend. Carole agrees—mainly to see if the star, Drake Purslow, is one of Jude’s many scandalous exes.

But the curtain truly falls when Drake is found dead in his dressing room—and Jude smells foul play.

Was it an old grudge from the sitcom days? Or something more recent and deadly? Either way, Jude is on the case—and Carole, despite her protests, can’t resist joining the investigation.

The story moves along.

Carole and Jude find themselves trying to figure out who killed the leading man in the town’s current theater production. But so many enemies, old and new, the ladies have their work cut out for them. But is the killer so intent upon revenge that they’ll make an encore performance of murder?

What is it about British cozy mysteries that are just so cozy? I don’t know what it is, but this author absolutely captures everything about British Cozy mysteries that I love. I can’t wait for more from Simon Brett.

Simon Brett is a master storyteller and a master of detective novels. This is an excellent novel even if not a fav of mine.
It's always a pleasure to catch up with Carol and Jude, travel to Feathering, follow this surprising and solid mystery.
A novel that kept me guessing and turning pages even if I found it a very small bit less entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!


This was such a fun read, I didn’t expect some of the twists!

4/5

I've been reading Simon Brett for a very long time and I'm so happy I can still depend on him for an entertaining British cozy mystery. The series with Carole and Jude is fun because they're nothing alike, but I feel like I'm visiting old friends. This mystery has to do with the theater and there are lots of interesting side tracks, with revelations from the past. A satisfying read

This is the first book in the series I have read which didn't much matter for the mystery but not sure about the relationships. I found the sleuths a bit on the wooden side and Im not sure if this is because I dont know them and are missing something or what. So all I can say is the mystery was solid and came to a satisfying conclusion but I didnt care about the characters enough to want to go back and catch up on more about them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Carole and Jude are an off set of friends. Really more like neighbors than friends, they both enjoy figuring out puzzles and mysteries, so when Jude finds herself in what appears to be a murder plot, Carole decides to step in to help. I have to admit I spent half the book trying to figure out why these two even spoke to each other, rather than being non speaking neighbors. They just didn't gel as a crime fighting duo to me. By the end of the book you could see each of their strengths, and how they each contributed to getting all the clues sorted out and found for the current murder. It's an ok book, and for me it was a solid three, just because I just wasn't buying the main characters, or the stereotypical actors from the sitcom.

This was my first book by this author. It was very “British”, which I quite enjoy. I had a love hate relationship with this story. I either loved what I was reading or disliked it. There was no in between. I loved the dynamics between the two neighbors, Carole and Jude. Complete opposites. I felt the story was difficult to follow at times. I didn’t guess the murderer. I was blessed with an ARC and these are my own, unbiased opinions.

The Fethering Mysteries is now Simon Brett’s longest running series, this being the twenty-second title featuring Jude and Carole. Those of you who have read the series will know what to expect. Simon doesn’t take any risks with these stories, and are, to an extent, pretty close in structure to the traditional US cosy – namely Jude and Carole keep sticking their noses in until they trip over the murderer.
Having said that, Simon does this exceptionally well. I could do with a little development with Jude and Carole – they are still pretty much the same characters as they were in book one, and I’m not sure why we need to be reminded about Carole’s brief fling with Ted the landlord when that story never seems to go anywhere. But that familiarity works well, as you don’t need desperately long introductions. And bonus points for having the dead body appear by the end of chapter one!
A huge plus here, though, that makes this one of the best Fethering books, is Simon mining his many experiences behind the scenes in TV comedy. I’d love to know how much is drawn from his own life and how much is made up. Some characters do seem rather familiar, and this background is mined to provide a highly enjoyable background to the story.
All in all, if you want an enjoyable read that doesn’t outstay its welcome, you could do an awful lot worse than to take a trip to Fethering.

When Jude discovers the body of an old actor friend she was due to catch up with, she knows that his death was not an accident.
Her and Carole's investigation takes them to the realms of sitcom from the 1980s and the possibility of a connection with a previous death in the cast.
Plenty of red herrings are thrown up until the killer is revealed.
A nice quick read.

This was a fast and fun read, peppered with lots of chuckles. Anyone who knows anything about theatre people or who has experienced a nosy neighbor will recognize and find humor in the author's character descriptions. Simon Brett is known for all the mysteries he has written. While this one didn't stray from his usual script, it was entertaining.

A provisional theatre has been staging a production of a popular sit com from the late 1980’s using many of the cast from the original TV series. The last show of the tour has just finished with the theatre staff, cast, families, and friends celebrating on stage. Jude and Carole, having seen the show, go backstage in search of Drake, one of the actors who Jude had worked with in the past, only to find him dead in his dressing room. Suspicions aroused this enterprising duo embark on their own investigations.

Jude and Carole come from different backgrounds and life experiences which provides for some delightful quick witted conversations. The ‘cast’, and list of suspects, are many and varied with the TV characters and the actors portraying them described with suitable theatrical relish.

This mystery has good pace and provides some interesting insight into the workings of a theatre and the fickle nature of ‘fame’. My only minor criticism is that the ending felt a bit rushed and abrupt. Overall, an amusing and fun cosy mystery.

What was meant to be an enjoyable night at the theater and a reunion goes terribly wrong in this latest in a long running series that can be read just as enjoyably as a standalone. Jude finds her old pal Drake dead in his dressing room! Now, along with her friend Carole, she's investigating and working her way through the other members of the cast to find the villain, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's very classic cozy with enough twists to keep you guessing.