Simon Brett Books In Order

Publication Order of Blotto and Twinks Books

Publication Order of Charles Paris Books

Publication Order of Decluttering Mysteries Books

Publication Order of Fethering Mystery Books

Publication Order of Mrs Pargeter Books

Publication Order of Sod Books

Publication Order of Three Detectives Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Anthologies

Simon Brett is a British renowned prolific writer of Mystery & Crime Thrillers, Children and Humor writings. He is an author of Crime novels and series, a playwright of theatre works and a writer of Television and radio productions.

He is best known for his Mrs Pargeter novels, his much-loved Fethering series and the Charles Paris detective crime series that revolve around a crime detective who is set out to solve many crimes in the city but faces a lot of challenges in the job.

Simon has also been writing for radio drama series such as Foul Play, Smelling of Roses and No Commitments. He also did a popular TV series called Prunella Scales.

Early life and schooling

Simon was born to a father who was a chartered Surveyor and a mother who was a teacher in Worcester Park, United Kingdom on October 28, 1945.

Simon began his education journey at Beacon School in Banstead where his mother was a teacher. He later joined Homefield, a boys’ prep school in Sutton. He took an Eleven Plus exam rather than the popular Common Entrance. Fortunately, he got a direct grant to Dulwich college. It is in Dulwich that the young Simon gained interest in drama works and acted the roles of Richard II and Prospero.

Simon later on in 1963 would move on from Dulwich to Wadham College on a Major Scholarship in History which he would later leave for English. He then passed with a First class Honours in English in 1967. Simon spent lots of his college time doing theatre works and on his final year, was the president of the Oxford University Dramatic society. Apart from acting, Simon wrote and directed revues. In 1966 and 1967, he was part of the Oxford late-night show crew on the Fringe of the Edinburgh Festival. It was in 1967 when he directed a captivating show that won the interest of BBC earning him an enviable position as a Trainee Light Entertainment Producer. This started his career in Television and radio productions.

The writing career

As a trainee, he produced music programs, sketch shows, panel games, anthologies and light drama. He was also to manage the BBC machinery while at work. It was while on this job that he got the idea of doing crime fiction. He wrote about an actor detective and his manuscript was picked up thereby getting his Charles Paris novel, Cast in Order of Appearance published in 1975.

At BBC, Simon Brett is most remembered for producing the pilot episode of the comedy drama by the name The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams. He however did not stay to the very last end of the episodes since he moved on to London Weekend Television to do similar tasks. He is also known for the production “ Frank Muir goes Into” at BBC.

Work at London Weekend was not very eventful. He did not last long at London Weekend Television since he had already started feeling that his writing could pay him off and therefore stop doing an eight to five job. Before he left the Television, he produced programs such as Maggie and Her , End of Part One and The Glums from Take it From Here.

Currently, apart from his novels, series and television productions, Simon Brett does write for theatre. His ever humorous stage plays, Silhoutte and Murder in Play are usually produced by amdrams. Five of his many pantomimes have already been performed at The Theatre in Chipping Norton. He is also in the habit of writing a stage play for the Arundel Festival.

Simon has over the years been in multiple writers’ orgranisations such as Crime Writer’s Asscociation and Pending Right Advisory Patron where he was chair. Other organisations he has been part of are The Society of Authors, West Sussex Writer’s Club and Chichester Literary Society. He became the president of the Detection Club in 2001.

Works done

Simon is popular for his Mrs Pargeter novels, the Fethering series and the Charles Paris detective series. He has also authored novels such as A Shock in The System(1984), Dead Romantic (1985), The Three Detectives and The Missing Superstar (1986) among many others. His list of non-fiction material include: Baby Tips for Grandparents(2005), On Second Thoughts (2006), Baby Tips for Dads (2007) and Baby Tips for Mums(2007). As a playwright, Simon has scripted Murder in Play (1994), Silhouette(1998), The Tale of Little Red Riding Hood(1998), Sleeping Beauty(1999) among others.

He is the editor of the Detection collection (2005). He also has collections such as Box of Tricks (1985), Tickled to Death(1985) and Crime Writers and Other Animals (1998) to his name. Simon won the Edgar Awards for his Best Novel Nominee in 1986 with this A Shock to the System novel.

Synopsis of Earlier works

A Shock to the System:

The main character in this mystery book is a Mr. Graham Marshall. His ambitious nature has brought him success n his profession. He gets shocked when passed over for promotion by a colleague but he is to get more shocked when he is implicated for murder.

Charles Paris Series: Cast in Order of Appearance

It is a detective series that revolves around deaths and comedy. Marius Steen , a theatrical tycoon is killed. Bill Sweet, a shady blackmailer is also killed. All these crimes await Charles Paris, rather confused character who moves from women to booze to solve. He finds himself in one puzzle after the other with him even finding himself in bed with the blackmailer’s wife. Cast, In Order of Appearance was just the foundation novel of a long Charles Paris detective series.

Family ties

Simon Brett is married to Lucy and the two have three children, He met Lucy at BBC while he was still working there. Lucy was a studio manager on many programs that Simon Brett was working on. Their children are Sophie (1974), Alastair (1977) and Jack (1981). They also have two grandchildren from Sophie and her husband Jeremy.

Other Pastimes

When Simon is not doing his writing jobs, he is most probably reading, going to watch theatre stage plays or doing the The Times crossword. He also loves playing Tennis on the court at Petworth House.