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Not Dead, Only Resting
- Narrated by: Simon Brett
- Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins
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Not Dead, Only Resting
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Summary
Charles Paris is, as ever, waiting for a phone call from his agent, and is driven to painting and decorating to make ends meet.
A rare evening out at a high-profile restaurant among stars of stage and screen promises a break in the depressing routine. But when the restaurant’s handsome, temperamental chef is brutally murdered, Charles finds himself drawn into the ensuing investigation.
At first it seems an open and shut case: the chef’s partner is in France within hours of having a spectacular quarrel with him over a pretty youth. Yet as Charles’ inquiries take him into the feuds and jealousies of his own profession, both murder and motive are anything but obvious.
What listeners say about Not Dead, Only Resting
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mary Carnegie
- 28-08-16
So dated, but amusing in parts.
Just this side of unpleasantly anti-LGBT mockery, ridiculously stereotypical; Charles is not biased against "gays", apparently; the archaic terminology proves he is - but the transposition of Edwards and Mac Liammóir from Dublin to London is effective and amusing; a famous theatrical gay marriage of longstanding, portrayed with more understanding than any other relationship in this novel.
Otherwise the primitive attitudes of Monique and Ives's parents now seem merely silly in 2016; stereotypes of "camp" gay men are about as acceptable as "n" jokes - only as self mockery within the community.
There is however a classic amateur detective novel with our less than competent Charles Paris, generally out of his head on cooking whisky, stuff I wouldn't even put in a black bun, overestimating his sex appeal as usual. Women are rated by physical attractiveness- so maybe gay men do better on the measure of humanity.
This was a guilty pleasure- some characters enjoyable, most not. Stereotypes if not overdone are reassuring in a bedtime story. I like the updated Paris on Radio 4 much more - times have changed and women and LGBT people cannot be described in such throwaway lines.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jimmy Stirrups
- 17-01-23
Another classic Charles Paris
I've only ever listened to radio dramatisations before, so I thought I would try one read by the author. I've got say Simon Brett does a wonderful job with all the different characters featured in the story. i would recommend this title.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- GH Sheldon
- 26-09-22
Probably the worst Simon brett
So disappointed in this one loved the Charles parish,stories previously but this one is not up to that standard don’t waste a credit on this one
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nicola
- 29-08-22
Great fun
Easy listening - though not so easy as to be boring - well narrated and full of humour.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-03-22
Excellent as ever
Superb narration. Easy listening. If you like your murder stories "light" and entertaining, this is for you
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dawn Martin
- 26-01-22
A must for young hopefuls.
Well paced story, the villain nicely obfuscated. An eye opener on real life as a thespian, not much glamour darlings, some highly suspect rhyming slang and many vitriolic cracks from wicked critics. Great fun.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. Slm Drumm
- 21-01-22
Great listen, fab Simon Brett story
Great story written and read by Simon Brett. Cool spoof of actor detective Charles Paris.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Francis
- 19-05-21
Another good Simon Brett story
This is a well told tale with interesting French background.
Charles Parris is always entertaining.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 05-02-19
My Favourite So Far
I'm having a bit of a Charles Paris binge just now, buying all the books and radio performances I didn't have.
With only a handful left to listen to this has been my favourite. It's a bit of a departure for Charles, with no 'work' at all, and a little more serious but I really enjoyed it.
As always, loved Simon Vance's narration of his work. The characters come to life!
Back to some acting for my next one! Maybe a Bill Nighy outing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicolas Dawson
- 14-10-18
Mystery in exotic locale
Charles Paris discovers another world, foreign but not unfamiliar. Good holiday with old friends.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Norma Miles
- 20-12-21
"Yes, I'll be free."
Always a fan of Simon Brett's stories and, especially, those of Charles Paris, the actor avoided by fame and success, I really loved this one. Book ten in the series, Charles is still 'resting' when he discovers the chef partner of a celebrity restaurateur bloodied and dead in his bedroom, his other half missing, believed to have gone to France. Persuaded by a friend to do what the police seemed not to want to do - investigate - Charles meets up with old acting pals, like Stan who has created a company for the out of work thespian and who talks with a (probably) mock Cockney rhyming slang where he uses "Charlie" (Charile Chan) for van, "saints and" (sinners) for dinners, "Michael" (Caine) for brain, "permanent" ( wave) for grave, and many others. Conjuring up the atmosphere of a bygone London, with strong characters and humour, this is great fun. The mystery isn't bad, either.
Narration is by the author, often a mistake but not in this case.
Looking forward to my next Charles Paris.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Francine
- 31-10-18
Vivre Simon Brett!
This is a terrific book but my comments are really on the whole epic body of work (I've just finally been pushed to the point of having to say something). Brett's people --finely drawn, funny, sharp, poignant, real--.are simply brilliant, effortless creations--every one of of them (from the 'howon earthcan he possiblybesuch asympatheticcharacter Charles Paris", to the goddess Mrs. Pargetter, the Feathering girls, and every bit player in his sphere. However celebrated or widely -read he may be, Brett is under-rated. One of the greats!