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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
A murder in theatrical circles; depicted without graphic violence
Language
Barely any
Mild language; theatrical milieu includes some earthy dialogue
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief romantic entanglements appropriate to the milieu
Substance Use
Some
Charles Paris's drinking is established as his defining personal weakness from the outset
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Mild puzzle-mystery tension; Charles's self-deprecating narration keeps things light
What this book is about
The first Charles Paris mystery introduces one of crime fiction's most endearing antiheroes: Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor of modest talent and dissolute habits who finds himself involved in a murder investigation connected to the entertainment industry. Brett's creation is a brilliant vehicle for comic observation of the theatrical world, and Charles's combination of intelligence, self-awareness, and weakness for Scotch makes him a compulsively readable narrator. The first of a long and consistently enjoyable series.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Protagonist's drinking is a character-defining trait
Reader Verification
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