The Strangling on the Stage

Fethering #15

by Simon Brett

When Jude agrees to lend her vintage chaise longue for the local Amateur Dramatics Society's production of George Bernard Shaw's The Devil's Disciple, little does she realize she'll end up in a starring role. It's an ambitious play, culminating in a dramatic execution a scene that's played for real when one of the leading actors is found hanging from the especially-constructed stage gallows during rehearsals.

A tragic accident - or something more sinister? Carole and Jude make it their business to find out.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy, British Literature, Cozy Mystery

208 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Simon 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.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Brett sends up the claustrophobic and egotistical world of amateur dramatics when Carole Seddon and Jude look into the death of the male lead of a local production of George Bernard Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple. Back-stabbing, preening, and an all-consuming thirst to be the center of attention permeate the Smalting Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society, located in a village near to the women’s own seaside village of Feathering. The over-sized egos — particularly that of the lascivious and conceited Richie Goode, who plays Dick Dudgeon in the play — clash, leading to a sturm und drang exit and a number of lesser spats. Could Goode’s death on the gallows at the stage not been a terrible accident but murder? Carole and Jude certainly think so!

I somehow managed to miss the 15th entry in Brett’s deliciously snide Feathering mystery series. But I always adore reuniting with the sensitive healer Jude, a pretty blonde, zaftig Earth Mother type, and the prickly Carole, a divorced, opinionated and anal-retentive Home Office retiree of the old stiff-upper-lip and repressed-emotions sort. It has been nice to see the wonderful influence that the free-spirited Jude has on Carole — and everyone around her. Ah, that I lived near Jude’s Woodside Cottage in Feathering in Sussex!

As always, Brett weaves a memorable cast of characters and a lovely plot in The Strangling on the Stage. He makes them absolutely believable, all the time having fun with the usual self-absorption, histrionics and jealousies associated with amateur dramatics. Unfortunately, the ending seems more than a bit contrived — enough to reduce this breezy novel to four stars rather than five.

You don’t have to read these cozies in order. But those who have been with Carole and Jude from the beginning will enjoy the way that the frosty Carole has begun to thaw.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Strangling on the Stage (Fethering, #15) by Simon Brett.

This story was so much fun! Loved it. File it under my favorites.
A client of Jude's, Storm Lavelle, has gone thru another spent relationship that's gone nowhere and she's at Woodside for a healing treatment. Storm is caught up in a starring role in The Devil's Disciple. It appears that Jude has just the chaise lounge that they need in the play. Of course, Jude agrees to lend it to the cast for their play. Carol, Jude's next door neighbor, is persuaded to drive the chaise lounge to St. Mary's Hall in her Renault.
This book just keep getting better and better. The flamboyant characters in the amateur dramatic circle (amdram) each had their own pronounced effect on their interactions and the plot. I just can't recommend this particular book enough or the Fethering series.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book by mistake, I picked it up from the library thinking it was the next book, however it turns out I missed two books from the series.

I have been reading the Feathering series by Simon Brett for quite a while and I really enjoy them. I love the characters of Jude and Carole and their atypical crime solving partnership. This outing in the series involves an amateur dramatics group that Jude and then Carole become involved in. One of the actors is strangled with a noose and the investigation takes off!

I always like Simon Brett’s humor at the expense of comfortable middle class life with petty vanities and rivalries galore. I am going to have to go back and read the two books I missed before I say anything more because Carole and Jude’s friendship/partnership seems somehow different in this, number 15 in the series. Perhaps it is something that I missed in the previous books. I didn’t feel that Carole had a strong a role, especially initially in the book and that Jude’s “healing” practices took over at times.

Really great series overall and I will go back and read what I missed.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude takes center stage on this adventure, Carole is kind of her sidekick this time around. Good plot, I didn’t guess whodunnit and I loved the subtle humor. The final answer to why was priceless.

Off to #16

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems Brett has decided that Carole is less exciting to write about than Jude, or that's what I'm given to assume since she's barely in this book. It's all about Jude (did we ever learn her last name before this book? It's Nichol, from her second marraige). Carole doesn't even have a side story here as she did in the last installment where she looked into a cold case. She just has to stand and listen to Neville Prideaux and Gordon Blaine wax on about staging and props. The "star" of the show, Ritchie Good, is strangled by accident when the noose on the gallows is a real one and not the fake Velcro rope. He's killed because he refuses to pay his dues by the woman who obnoxiously collects them throughout the book, Mimi Lassiter. The solution is a little ridiculous -in fact, when we first meet Mimi and she's talking about gathering dues and how that's her main role, I thought, it would be a dumb motive if she kills Ritchie because of his not paying them himself. Sure enough, she killed him for not paying his money!
We do find out at the end that Carole's son and his wife are expecting another child!
I also enjoyed the ongoing joke about Elizaveta's "drinkies thing" and how everyone wants to be invited. (But do they???)

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all of the books in this series, and enjoyed all of them. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Carole has a limited role in the first half of the book, as the story centers on Jude, and her involvement with a local theater company. Throughout the Fethering Mysteries, I have learned a lot about Carole, and have learned to appreciate her reserved, emotionally challenged character. Throughout the series, she has grown, through her relationship with Jude, and her new role as a grandmother. In The Strangling on the Stage, I felt that Simon Brett and Jude no longer even like Carole. Her reserved character was presented in a more disapproving manner as Jude wondered about her neighbor, instead of the amusing manner in which she accepted her neighbor in the past. Even Carole's dialogue was changed, to simple responses of "Huh."

While I would like to continue to see what happens to Carole in light of the unexpected ending of the book, I am not sure that I will continue reading this series.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude’s chaise longue is needed to play a starring role in an amateur production of Shaw’s ‘The Devil’s Disciple’. When there is row among the cast members Jude herself takes up a role in the play. Then Richie Good is found dead in what could be a tragic accident and Carole – Jude’s neighbour and fellow amateur sleuth – is persuaded to be the prompter.

Naturally the two friends can’t resist investigating the mystery of Richie’s death and it soon becomes clear that almost the whole of the group had at least a motive for wishing him dead.

I enjoyed this entertaining mystery with its intriguing plot. The characters are well drawn and believable and it is interesting how the relationship between Jude and Carole develops and changes in each book in the series. If you like crime novels which focus on the mystery rather than on any violence connected to the crime then try this one.

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this series for so long now that not only have I a detailed picture in my mind of central characters Jude and Carole and their neighbouring cottages (Woodside Cottage and High Tor) but also of their home village of Fethering (by the sea) particularly the much frequented local The Crown and Anchor.

So it is with a sense of ease that I settle down in my favourite armchair in the evening, with a finger or two of a mellow tipple and open The Strangling on the Stage.

How the author thinks up new ways , motives and reasons for killing people off, I dont know but Fethering must be catching Midsomer as the most dangerous place in the UK to live.

An easy going story with well drawn characters ( and couldnt you just see Elizaveta playing Lady Bracknell?)

I didnt work out the murderer but really in this Fethering mystery it didnt seem to matter.
An enjoyable read.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good to welcome back Feathering’s intrepid detective duo Carol and Jude and this book sees them dabble in the (sometimes murky) world of Amateur Dramatics. When Jude is asked by a friend to lend a chaise longue to the Smalting Amateur Dramatic Society, little does she know that here and Carol will not only be drawn in the glitz and glamour of the stage but also a murder investigation which will test their powers of detecting to the limit. The plot of the book twists and turns and the reader is kept guessing until the very end.
A very enjoyable, easy light read which shows that Simon Brett is back on form!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite series by a wonderful author. Thanks to NYPL I have access to some additional choices in this series!

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jude the healer and amateur sleuth finds herself in for more that she expected when she loans her vintage chaise longue to the local Dramatics Society's production of George Bernard Shaw's The Devil's Disciple.

Its a whole new world from what she was living, although not entirely new. So she is not unprepared when one of the actors hits on her, the founder leaves the production in the huff and everyone seems to have a whole lot of ego on full display. But when one of the actors dies on stage, even Jude is left wondering if its an accident, a suicide or something more sinister.

So as she has done before, Jude joins forces with her neighbor Carole to do a little sleuthing. And to get in, they have to become a part of the cast: Jude takes over the role that the founder had abandoned, and Carole took over being the prompter.

There's a lot going on but scant clues and the police seem to be equally stymied. But with grit and determination (and tongue in cheek), Jude and Carole move forward, discovering the little secrets and hidden histories of the cast and crew, and yes, eventually, just what happened and why.

Light, funny and charming, there isn't a terrible lot to the mystery but a definitely clever ending. Another witty tale from Simon Brett.

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable light read

[Emma Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant motive - I did not see that coming but it was perfect.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another light read, with the usual occasional barbed comment aimed at the West Sussex middle classes - this time an amateur dramatic society. A bit less of Carole this time and a bit more of Jude; quite glad that this one didn't contain the what-happened-to-everyone-in-years-to-come bit which has been a feature of some of the earlier books in this series. I felt a bit less enthusiastic about this one, hard to pinpoint why though. I think that although this series doesn't necessarily need to be read through in order, by the time it is this far in you probably do need to have read an earlier one first, as there is quite a lot of back story to Jude and Carole's "investigations" by now which might be a bit mystifying if this is the first one you read. The best thing about these really is the social observation: it's entirely recognisable but it is maybe a social group which doesn't feature much in other detective series (neither the low life of the gritty modern thriller nor the more aristocratic or nearly so background of some earlier writers). As I have thought before, I'm not sure I would be comfortable about these books if I were one of Simon Brett's Sussex neighbours!

[Craig Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Fethering mysteries, and this one is no exception. Simon Brett has captured the petty vanities and "clinging on to power and fame" that goes on within local Amateur Dramatic Socieities perfectly. Jude's Chaise Longue is borrowed for the centrepiece of a local production, and Carole is pressganged into delivering it to the Church Hall... in her usual stuffy prudish way Carole shuns any involvement.. "if I ever talk about getting involved in Amateur Dramatics, Jude, you have my full permission to have me sectioned.." she declares stubbornly.

Some time later and following what appears to be an accidental death involving a stage-set gallows apparatus, and Jude and Carole are on the scent of possibilities other than accidental death. This involves Carole taking an active role in the production, in her own inimitable way. Jude and Carole are great fun and Simon Brett is brilliant at sending up middle class England with all its window dressing and showing it for what it really is.. a thinly laid on veneer of respectibility in a hidden depth of all sorts of things that need to be hidden or "what will people think"... I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of Simon Brett, though with so many brilliant books in the three Fethering, Mrs. Pargenter and Charles Paris series, he is entitled to one lackluster mystery. This one focuses on Jude, gives short shrift to Carole and is much the worse for it. Here Jude and Carole become involved with an amateur production of G B Shaw's The Devil's Disciple when Jude's chaise longue is needed as a prop. The plot requires a hanging, nicely executed with a Velcro equipped noose, except there is another quite real noose, and you know what happens when they are switched. The second weak point of the novel is the plot, I have to say. The villain comes totally out of left field.
You won't be missing much if you skip this one and I really do hope the next Fethering mystery restores the balance between Jude's and Carole's POV.

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy an outing with Jude and Carole and inhabitants of Fethering. This latest one did not disappoint. I found the constant oblique references to “Call the Midwife” very funny, and being an actor/director for a Community Theatre, I found the descriptions of the inner machinations of such a group positively hilarious. Simon Brett writes easily and humourously, and his characters and situations are completely engrossing from the start. I’ve read a number of his other series, Mrs Pargeter and Charles Paris, and all of them have the same tongue-in-cheek delivery, with strong plots and believable characters.

[Marina Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It starts off promisingly enough, with a humorous look at all the egos and volatility of amateur dramatics, the gossip of women friends, the absurdities of provincial small-town life. But, although the build-up is decent enough, the murder (weapon) is implausible and the resolution is just plain silly. I've enjoyed other books in the Fethering series: they are frothy, undemanding and cosy fun, but I do like a bit more of a satisfying conclusion in my murder mystery.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really didn't like the characters this time. Jude did way too much giggling (or suppressing them or whatever)

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed another visit with Carole and Jude. What I really like about this series is their odd couple friendship. And the mystery associated with amateur dramatics is good enough.

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I've read. I picked it up in a library somewhat distant from my local area, and noted maybe six or eight titles. NDJ books often tend to be of lesser quality, I've found, and are often part of a series. I'm sorry to say that my suspicion was confirmed. I tried to get into the story, but there were too many red flags. The character of Jude turns out to be a self-serving woman who seems to have no moral rules where it comes to investigating crime. She leaves a crowded bar to go and get her bag (with purse in it) which she has conveniently left in another room!!! She finds a man hanging, obviously dead, but doesn't call the police immediately, preferring to inspect the scene first.
Ridiculous plot, cliche characters and plodding dialogue. We hear about the ageing actress' "drinkies things" fifty times or more, never using any alternative words. Could someone gift this author a thesaurus?
This book comes under the heading of "cosy mysteries" - no dark thoughts, no frightening crimes, just all good friends together, drinking tea in the homes of potential killers.
Readers may learn a little about the dynamics of amateur theatre companies, which do ring true to an extent. The ending is just pathetic, one of the worst I have ever read. Whodunnit fans, don't even bother.
This is the 15th!! book in this series, and I sense the author's desperation in trying to find something new and exciting - and failing. This series follows an earlier series (Pargeter), which proves that an author can keep on providing what their fans want indefinitely.
I award this a 2.6. I don't think I'll be wanting to read any more of this series.

[Christopher Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 15th in the 'Fethering mysteries' series, but the first one I have read. Fethering is a fictitious village on the south coast of England and Carole and Jude are 2 neighbours who live there. This particular mystery involves the death of one of the players in the local amateur dramatics society. Was it an accident? Possibly suicide or perhaps murder? Carole and Jude investigate what is going on by taking on roles in the society's latest production. They are likeable characters, who don't seem to have a particularly rigorous or logical approach to their investigation. They just seem to chat with the key people involved and stumble upon key developments mainly by chance or coincidence. This is a very old fashioned book, but in a quite a cosy and comfortable sense. No-one seems too upset at the death, in fact, it doesn't even stop the production of the show. The police are only mentioned very briefly and take no part in the investigation. We are very much in the Miss Marple territory of amateur sleuths working away in an English coastal village. This is an entertaining and relaxing read and I would be happy to return to Fethering in the future.

[Eugene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Feathering Mysteries seem alas to be settling into the formulaic piece of their evolution. The characters are more card board cutout (even my favorite, the heretofore somehow exotic Jude!), the plots relatively thin, the denouements that fizzle out…Brett has been cranking out mysteries for so many years, it’s not unexpected, just disappointing.
Here, Jude is recruited to play a part in the current production of the Smalting Amateur Dramatic Society (called SALTOS for some obscure reason), and after the leading man is found dead on the stage, she brings in partner Carole Seddon to investigate, as they believe it was murder but the authorities do not. This might have been a fun read, but it all comes across as rote storytelling, there’s little bubble and fizz, and an excess of repellant characterization. I’ve enjoyed this series quite a bit, so I’ll look for a rebound in the last few…

[Larissa McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 - I absolutely love this series and the characters. It was another fun cast (literally) as Carole and Jude got involved in amateur dramatics. I liked their investigation, although there were a few head-scratching parts: it seemed to be a giant breach in the UK version of HIPPA laws and patient confidentiality when Jude was told Hester was in the convalescent home. And Jude's constant "giggling" was a little out of character compared to previous books, he just needed to switch up adjectives.

The book was a little slow in the beginning as everything was laid out but once it got going it was impossible to put down! I did correctly guess the killer, but it wasn't that obvious - just the person you most middle suspect! A fun Feathering investigation.

[Liz V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Jude's healer friends borrows Jude's chaise lounge for an amateur theatrical production and then prevails on Jude to fill in when an actor is needed. Naturally, there is as much drama off stage as on and, when the leading man dies in a prop-gone-wrong accident, neither Jude nor Carole can resist investigating. With Carole filling in for yet another casualty, she and Jude learn about the emotional baggage of the members of the group.

Unfortunate, as seems to be prevalent in the books I've read recently, justice as perceived by the amateur sleuths prevails over law, almost earning 2 stars.

[Deirdre · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy lighthearted read, but not the best of the Fethering books. The plot was a bit daft and the conclusion ridiculous. It read as if Simon Brett was bored with the series and just throwing any old rubbish together.
Carole loses a lot of her vulnerability and complexity and comes across as quite a flat dull character. Maybe it's because Jude takes centre stage here, but definitely something in the dynamic between the two characters just isn't working.

It read like a book written to fulfill a contract, while the writer's mind was actually elsewhere.
Shame, as the series overall is up there with the best of the 'cosy' mysteries.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent little mystery. Compared to some of the others that I've picked up recently it was a masterpiece of prose and storytelling, but overall it was good. The groundwork was (mostly) laid for the murderer reveal (though I would have liked to have had a little more solid reason for the character) and the characterizations were diverse and engaging. I'm glad to see Simon Brett has written many other mysteries, and I'm willing to take a look at more.

[Philip Maughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I am reading the Fethering stories in no particular order. They are all stand-alone mysteries but have a few scenarios that move on the personal lives of Carole and Jude, which are easy to understand.
In this book, Jude's surname is revealed, or is it? I'll leave it for you to decide.
Anyway, amateur dramatics is the focus of this book, with some great characters to boot.
It's a hoot, and, as usual, Carole's attitudes come under scrutiny.

[Moonlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got this book at the library, I was unaware that this book was in a series of other mysteries. I saw few of the other books in the series that the library had but this one intrigued me the most. I’m pleasantly surprised how much I love this book because I’m not usually into mystery books but I really enjoy Jude and Carole’s relationship and eagerness to investigate murders. I’m happy to see that there is more adventurous that I am able to read.

[Priscilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hm. Better to listn than to read Simon Brett. Good at dialogue which makes him a good writer of radio plays, thus my recommendation to get an audiobook. Not very satisfying as a read. My mind kept flowing away.