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Mrs Pargeter #5
Mrs Pargeter’s Plot
Meet Mrs Melita Pargeter, a vivacious widow with a talent for solving mysteries.
When life in London gets too busy, there’s nothing Melita enjoys more than escaping to the glorious English countryside. Unfortunately for Melita, constructions for her dream summer home in Kent come to an abrupt halt when a body is discovered in the basement.
The dead man appears to have been shot by a gun belonging to Concrete Jacket, Melita’s builder. Concrete is swiftly arrested for murder.
But Melita smells a rat. Concrete may be a scoundrel but he’s no killer. Someone set him up. But who?
Melita immediately begins her own investigation. And with the help of a few colourful acquaintances, including a mischievous monkey named Eramus, puts together a devious scheme to catch the real villain.
But even the best laid plans sometimes go awry . . .
**A CWA DIAMOND DAGGER AWARD WINNER!**
When life in London gets too busy, there’s nothing Melita enjoys more than escaping to the glorious English countryside. Unfortunately for Melita, constructions for her dream summer home in Kent come to an abrupt halt when a body is discovered in the basement.
The dead man appears to have been shot by a gun belonging to Concrete Jacket, Melita’s builder. Concrete is swiftly arrested for murder.
But Melita smells a rat. Concrete may be a scoundrel but he’s no killer. Someone set him up. But who?
Melita immediately begins her own investigation. And with the help of a few colourful acquaintances, including a mischievous monkey named Eramus, puts together a devious scheme to catch the real villain.
But even the best laid plans sometimes go awry . . .
**A CWA DIAMOND DAGGER AWARD WINNER!**
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 1996
309 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Simon Brett
330 books536 followersSimon Brett is a prolific British writer of whodunnits.
He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.
He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.
After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.
He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.
He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.
He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.
After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.
He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 7, 2023
I believe reading this book in the series by Simon Brett brings me through the books thus far released. This was unsurprisingly a enjoyable romp with the pleasing Mrs. Pargeter and the various likeable criminals located through the address book left by the deceased Mr. Pargeter. This qualifies as "feel good" reading for me, cheerful and occasionally comedic.
March 3, 2021
This is a fast-paced madcap adventure in crime with Mrs. Pargeter swept along in a stream of incidents she has little control over as the "associates" of her late husband battle schemes of rivals and defend each other both in and out of prison. All the action started on this nice plot of land where Mrs. Pargeter is planning her new house when a body is found in the planned wine cellar. Her companions throughout this adventure have colorful names, such as Hedgeclipper, Keyhole, Truffler, Concrete, to name a few. She is called on by necessity to make a get away on a tractor across fields and is generally more active in this episode though always rewarded with her vodka comparis.
Loan from Friend - Thank you!
Loan from Friend - Thank you!
October 21, 2018
It took me a while to warm up to the characters in this series, but now that I’ve read (actually, listened to) three books in the series I really like them. The characters are well developed and striking in their uniqueness.
April 8, 2022
2022 bk 87. By the middle of the book I was mentally rating it a 3 star. I had difficulties maintaining my interest, even with the addition of Erasmus. However, once Blunt and Clix were added into the mix things (writing, plot lines, etc.) began to make sense and I even began to enjoy a certain one's forms of restitution. I think this book will remain in my mind because of one very incongruous scene involving a lawn tractor - and that was what raised the level from 3 stars to 4. I would not use this book to introduce someone new to Mrs. Pargeter, but it does fit as a member of the set.
March 8, 2022
Mrs P’s house building comes to an abrupt halt when a body is found in what was to be the wine cellar.
January 23, 2022
Brett, Simon. Mrs. Pargeter’s Plot. 1996. Mrs. Pargeter No. 5. Worldwide Library, 1999.
Mrs. Pargeter wants to build her dream house, so she has hired an old contractor buddy of her late husband. The contractor, Concrete Jacket, was the man you would call if you ever needed to build a place to hide the loot. Like a lot of her husband’s ex-colleagues, Mr. Jacket has lately gone straight, but he ends up in the jug when a body turns up in Mrs. Pargeter’s new wine cellar. She gathers her whole Damon Runyon crew to get Concrete back on the job. The comedy in this one is more slapstick than usual. Ex-con Fossil Face’s disastrous attempts to develop a sense of humor and make amends to those he wronged are hilarious. 3.5 stars.
Mrs. Pargeter wants to build her dream house, so she has hired an old contractor buddy of her late husband. The contractor, Concrete Jacket, was the man you would call if you ever needed to build a place to hide the loot. Like a lot of her husband’s ex-colleagues, Mr. Jacket has lately gone straight, but he ends up in the jug when a body turns up in Mrs. Pargeter’s new wine cellar. She gathers her whole Damon Runyon crew to get Concrete back on the job. The comedy in this one is more slapstick than usual. Ex-con Fossil Face’s disastrous attempts to develop a sense of humor and make amends to those he wronged are hilarious. 3.5 stars.
September 9, 2020
The late Mr. Pargeter had purchased land on which to build a country home in retirement, and his widow intends to carry on. The body in the wine cellar means a delay, as the contractor is arrested and refuses to help in his defense. Mrs. Pargeter, and her husband's colleagues, must solve the mystery, while contending with the well intentioned, but disastrous efforts of a reformed lag to make restitution.
March 31, 2022
A lovely murder mystery
Will Mrs Pargeter's house ever be built? She goes to look at the plot and finds a dead body. Then with help of her late husbands friends looks into solving the mystery. This book made me laugh too, especially the monkey, yes there's a little monkey involved in the mystery too. I can't wait to read the next book.
Will Mrs Pargeter's house ever be built? She goes to look at the plot and finds a dead body. Then with help of her late husbands friends looks into solving the mystery. This book made me laugh too, especially the monkey, yes there's a little monkey involved in the mystery too. I can't wait to read the next book.
July 22, 2016
I dearly love love this book....it is so very good. I love Simon Brett Books - he is a really good Mystery Author.
I highly recommend this book to anybody that loves to read Mysteries! I give this book 5/5 Stars here on Goodreads.
I highly recommend this book to anybody that loves to read Mysteries! I give this book 5/5 Stars here on Goodreads.
March 10, 2022
I didn’t like the ending
I enjoyed the Mrs Pargeter series when it was first published. I now remember why I didn’t like her”Plot” as much as the rest. Ending aside it was an amusing storyline.
I enjoyed the Mrs Pargeter series when it was first published. I now remember why I didn’t like her”Plot” as much as the rest. Ending aside it was an amusing storyline.
April 9, 2022
A gem of a book, with more than a touch of the comic to match with the more serious main plot line. Probably the best book in the series that I have read to date.
May 18, 2025
Mrs Pargeter has bought a building plot for the construction of her dream home, but when a dead body is found in the trench she begins an investigation that could turn out to be very dangerous.
This was fun, a lighthearted romp with the usual collection of petty criminals - many of them associates of the late Mr P - and an amusing subplot involving a reformed criminal whose idea of restitution causes more problems. The plot is quite weak, the investigation rambles for a while and there isn’t any real mystery about the culprits apart from a minor twist, but a lover of cosy mysteries would find a lot to like.
I wasn’t feeling too well when I read this and it cheered me up, so its 3.5* have been rounded up.
This was fun, a lighthearted romp with the usual collection of petty criminals - many of them associates of the late Mr P - and an amusing subplot involving a reformed criminal whose idea of restitution causes more problems. The plot is quite weak, the investigation rambles for a while and there isn’t any real mystery about the culprits apart from a minor twist, but a lover of cosy mysteries would find a lot to like.
I wasn’t feeling too well when I read this and it cheered me up, so its 3.5* have been rounded up.
April 1, 2023
I'm quite fond of Mrs. Pargeter but of the novels I have read, I think the story line here is rather ridiculous (too far over the line of believabiy)! I hope the Arthur gets back on track in the near future or one may need to make a change!
March 25, 2023
Exciting
I enjoyed the characters. They were written so you could understand them. I could not out the book down. I love Mrs. Pargeters relaxed attitude on life.
I would suggest this book to anyone who wants a mystery that is fun.
Enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the characters. They were written so you could understand them. I could not out the book down. I love Mrs. Pargeters relaxed attitude on life.
I would suggest this book to anyone who wants a mystery that is fun.
Enjoyable read.
November 16, 2017
A better than average series mystery that aims for comedy rather than thrills. The big reveal isn't a surprise but the progression of the running gag that triggers most of the book's actual action is beautifully done. It's all terribly British and this one would make a nice gentle Ealing Studios comedy. This is best Brett I have sampled thus far, for the simple reason that it is by far the funniest, and the characterizations are quite strong.
Having read a number of Brett’s books in a row, I notice that he has a habit of making sure his amateur detectives don't really solve the mystery. This a very odd authorial trademark, and if they are all like this, it is surprising the amateur detective was not killed in the middle of book two.
Having read a number of Brett’s books in a row, I notice that he has a habit of making sure his amateur detectives don't really solve the mystery. This a very odd authorial trademark, and if they are all like this, it is surprising the amateur detective was not killed in the middle of book two.
May 23, 2017
#5 in the Mrs. Pargeter English mystery series. Construction on Mrs. Pargeter's new country home comes to an unfortunate halt when a corpse is discovered in the wine cellar. The accused is Concrete Jacket, an associate of her late. Mrs. P is not about to let prison come between her and her dream home. Working with several of her husband's associates, she works to clear Concrete.
This is a light mystery with a good amount of humor along with characters with interesting names linked to their past behavior. Most interesting secondary character is Fossileface O'Donahue who adds humor and endless complications to Mrs. P's efforts. Then there is the monkey!
This is a light mystery with a good amount of humor along with characters with interesting names linked to their past behavior. Most interesting secondary character is Fossileface O'Donahue who adds humor and endless complications to Mrs. P's efforts. Then there is the monkey!
September 14, 2017
Mrs Pargeter is up to her neck in reformed criminals - and some who are not so reformed! These men and women love her and will do anything to make her happy because her late husband was their boss and they absolutely loved him. This time the plot is 2 fold - Fossil Face is out of jail and trying to make up for all his bad deeds by making restitution. Which is worse than the bad deeds he did because his brain doesn't work in quite the same way as regular people's. She is also trying to figure out the scam that is being perpetrated on men who are still in jail and their families. The story is funny and sweet at the same time. And best of all no language or sex!!
August 29, 2022
I love Mrs Pargeter this book would be 4 stars on a good day but I felt like there could have been more to the plot. It’s very easy to create a mental picture when reading a Mrs Pargeter book but I had a hard time creating a mental picture of these characters for sone reason. All in all ii was still a good read
September 2, 2022
Once the writer starts introducing silly animals into an otherwise 'petless' series,you know he's run out of ideas and is just keeping a deadline. Mrs Pargeter's series was very promising at the beginning. This book doesn't belong in it.
I dropped reading half way through.
I dropped reading half way through.
March 7, 2021
Light and entertaining. The author must have had fun writing this one!
June 1, 2024
The 4th in the series was entertaining if quite fluffy; this 5th entry is where the wheels apparently have come off. This was not only fluffy, but slapsticky in a bad way, and none of it was very interesting. I’ve finished it because that’s what one does when reading a series; #6 is next and I’ll soldier on through that, though I have no expectations of improvement.
After that one (Mrs. Pargeter’s Point of Honor), I’ll retire from the field - Brett took a hiatus of some almost twenty years and then essayed 3 additional volumes, but I some time ago read one of them and the memory of it even now makes me a bit sickish in my throat.
I’m still reading in the Feathering series and they’re still fairly worthwhile; the Charles Paris ouevre I read a good way back, but I’ve still got copies and intend to revisit Charles at some point. Alas, it is nigh time to bid Mrs. Pargeter “adieu.”
After that one (Mrs. Pargeter’s Point of Honor), I’ll retire from the field - Brett took a hiatus of some almost twenty years and then essayed 3 additional volumes, but I some time ago read one of them and the memory of it even now makes me a bit sickish in my throat.
I’m still reading in the Feathering series and they’re still fairly worthwhile; the Charles Paris ouevre I read a good way back, but I’ve still got copies and intend to revisit Charles at some point. Alas, it is nigh time to bid Mrs. Pargeter “adieu.”
March 28, 2023
I'm a big fan of Simon Brett, and the Mrs Pargeter's series is one of my favourites by him. This didn't disappoint. Gary the chauffeur, Truffler Mason, and Mrs P are joined by a motley crew of Mr Pargeter's 'associates' in a fast-pacing plot to get Concrete Jacket (Mrs P's builder) cleared of murder so he can carry on building her dream home. Not only are they up against the baddies who set Concrete up, but also by a newly released Fossilface O'Donahue who, after a spiritual epiphany, is hell bent on 'restitooshun' for all the wrongs he's done in the past. Not the brightest of the bunch, he manages to make everything worse.
This is a fun caper with fantastic characterisation and a plot that gallops along towards a well crafted and satisfying ending.
Thoroughly Recommended.
This is a fun caper with fantastic characterisation and a plot that gallops along towards a well crafted and satisfying ending.
Thoroughly Recommended.
May 17, 2025
Mrs Pargeter is building a country house, when things are halted by the discovery of a body and her builder accused of murder. Of course, the builder, as with everyone else in Mrs Pargeter's life are linked to her husband. A host of comedic, criminal nicknames proliferate and I began to lose track of who was who.
Having enjoyed the previous mystery in this series, this felt a little more of a slog. I felt the plot entirely lost its way, along with practical jokes, a monkey which causes havoc and a lack of interest in solving the crime. Still, Mrs Pargeter is a good character and I will probably try one more but will consider giving up if I don't like it.
Having enjoyed the previous mystery in this series, this felt a little more of a slog. I felt the plot entirely lost its way, along with practical jokes, a monkey which causes havoc and a lack of interest in solving the crime. Still, Mrs Pargeter is a good character and I will probably try one more but will consider giving up if I don't like it.
April 18, 2023
Another very amusing episode in the Mrs. Pargeter mystery series. In this one, we meet several more of the late Mr. Pargeter's colleagues, some friends and some more villainous, but all of them rogues. Mrs. Pargeter's contractor is unexpectedly detained by Her Majesty's finest, putting her new home on hold yet again. Her attempts to free him cause some peril, and some hijinks. I'm looking forward to the next one. This was read expertly by the author.
June 2, 2023
Hooray for Mrs. Pargeter
A great cast of villains ,some good some rotten to the core. A monkey. A vintage Rolls Royce. Champagne , vodka and Campari all do there best to give the ever optimistic Mrs. Targeted a wild and dangerous adventure through the countryside. What lengths this woman will do to get her home built is a delightful romp. Great for putting a smile on your face.
A great cast of villains ,some good some rotten to the core. A monkey. A vintage Rolls Royce. Champagne , vodka and Campari all do there best to give the ever optimistic Mrs. Targeted a wild and dangerous adventure through the countryside. What lengths this woman will do to get her home built is a delightful romp. Great for putting a smile on your face.
May 21, 2024
After being a bit disappointed by the last book, I quite enjoyed this one. Some of our returning characters (Gary, Truffler Mason) are fleshed out a bit more in this story, and there's still quite a bit of the tongue-in-cheek humor that makes this series so fun. A few of Mrs. Pargeter's personality quirks are starting to feel a bit like a tired joke, but overall I'm really enjoying this series and looking forward to the next book.
August 22, 2025
Number 5 in the series and Mrs Pargeter has decided to build a house on her plot of land but stumbles across a dead body when out looking at it with her contractor. The contractor,one of her dead husband’s buddies from years ago is suspected of the crime and Mrs Pargeter plots to get him released as she is sure he didn’t do it. Filled with mayhem and unusual twists and turns with fun, I find Simon Brett’s books although older worth reading 26 years late.
May 11, 2023
Enjoyable series
Mrs Pargeter's Plot brings another interesting storyline and a bunch of new characters previously mentored by her deceased husband. While definitely a good book, this one didn't peak my interest as much. Nonetheless with that said, I have downloaded the sequel which tells us a lot.
Mrs Pargeter's Plot brings another interesting storyline and a bunch of new characters previously mentored by her deceased husband. While definitely a good book, this one didn't peak my interest as much. Nonetheless with that said, I have downloaded the sequel which tells us a lot.
June 17, 2023
I keep comparing this one to the first two in the series. In those i enjoyed the heroine’s flair, intellect and personality, yet with this one she becomes one of many in a colorful cast. The investigation moved along well but the resolution to the mystery was obvious early on. A cozy read for sure.
November 18, 2023
Oh my goodness! Mrs Pargeter #5 was a real rollercoaster with rather more tension than I was used to with these books. Mrs Pargeter's attempts to have her own house built in good time is stymied by murder and mayhem. Different characters are introduced, along with the older ones, and, of course, the shadow of Streatham continues to hang over them! Cracking story...and now onto #6.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews