Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780373262625
ISBN number: 0373262620
Label: Worldwide Library
Manufacturer: Worldwide Library
Quantity: 1
Printing Date: December 01, 1997
Publishing house: Worldwide Library
Sale Popularity Level: 1794813
Studio: Worldwide Library
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Things are looking up for struggling actor Charles Paris. He's landed a plum role in a production of 'Twelfth Night', forged a reconciliation with his wife and even cut back on his favorite comfort--liberal shots of Scotch whiskey. But when the play's director falls mysteriously ill, a replacement with a vision takes the reins and turns the production into a farce. Charles's life takes a turn for the worse as he returns to the bottle and loses touch with his wife--but it's the murder of a fellow thespian that makes him get hold of himself and take on the role of detective.
Amazon.com Review:
A funny and stylish return for Charles Paris, the thespian sleuth created by Simon Brett, Sicken and So Die is a delightful take on the world of avant-garde theatre and a classic whodunit sure to please Brett's devoted readers. Staging a successful play is a high-stakes venture for all involved, and jealousies can run wild in the business. When strange illnesses start pointing toward poison, it's up to Paris to stay ahead of the intrigue or wind up hospitalized, or worse, in the morgue.
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Rated by buyers 
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Hamlet's words define the principal focus of this richly entertaining 1997 Simon Brett crime novel. The Shakespeare play being prepared for performance is "The Twelfth Night". Brett's desultory but reader-friendly actor Charles Paris has secured the part of Sir Toby Belch. If Brett loses a reader or two here it will be because his fascination with the play, how to interpret it, and how to prepare it for performance edge out this genre's "requirement" for a murder in the opening chapter.
Brett's literate and lilting prose will always win him a place in my favorite living authors, whatever his subject.
Rated by buyers 
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Simon Brett writes great mysteries becuase the parts that don't deal with the mystery could easily make a good book on their own. I think these are the best sorts of mysteries, just like, say, Singin' in the Rain is a great movie becuase it's great even without all the singing and dancing. Sicken and So Die does an excellent job as a novel about the theatre, but the mystery is just as important, and it's not that well done this time.
In Sicken and So Die, Charles Paris, the weary middle aged actor, is working in Twelfth Night and is having a nice time doing it. Then, the director is poisoned and a new avant-garde one takes the helm, much to Charles' annoyance. As he valiantly continues to play his part the way he thinks it should be done, he investigates a series of accidents that have happened in the play. Could they not be accidents?
The Twelfth Night stuff works really well. Here, Brett finds his stride and he creates a hilarious portrayal of the theatre. The mystery, however, is different. Brett seems to be going thorugh the motions a bit, as if in a hurry to get back to the good stuff. Too much time is also spent on Charles and his wife. These parts add a sour edge to the book.
Still, Sicken and So Die makes for a very entertaining read. I would also recommend Murder Unprompted and Star Trap, two earlier, better Charles Paris mysteries. One only hopes that Simon Brett writes a Charles Paris mystery that leaves the mystery out.
Rated by buyers -
I love Charles Paris and other Simon Brett books, so I did enjoy the book. However I would recommend that those new to the charactors would check out some of the older ones - to have more background and general flavor.
I did LOVE IT when Charles tries to salvage his dignity as a performer by playing the part the way he wanted. Very mid life crisis (I guess slightly past). I hope we watch Charles grow extremely old aged.
Rated by buyers -
One of the reviews on the dust jacket said that "the novel works equally well as a classic whodunit and a comic novel of the theater." Well, I have to admit that the whodunit part is a little perfunctory. But it is very entertaining as a comic novel of the theater.
It really is the story of unsuccesful actor Charles Paris butting heads with a politically correct director who mangles a production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. As someone who has butted heads with the PC crowd myself, I really identified with Charles, and I always enjoy Brett's witty, sympathetic style.
If you enjoy the Charles Paris stories for the way they evoke backstage gossip and the ups and downs of an actor's life and the colorful characters in the theater, or if you enjoy the story of someone struggling against trendy goofiness in the arts, then I think you'll like this novel a lot. But if all you want is a mystery and you consider the rest just window dressing, then you probably will be unsatisfied, because the mystery doesn't really take off until the very last part of the book and it does feel a bit rushed.
Rated by buyers 
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I'm surprised by the glowing reviews from the professional reviewers. I found this a very minor whodunnit indeed. No crime occurs till half-way through and even then Charles Paris doesn't quite solve it himself. Much of the book is taken up with an analysis of "Twelfth Night." Paris's failed marriage and stalled career are dwelt on at length but go nowhere. The writing is professional and witty, and the characters are well-drawn, but there's practically no mystery here at all.
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