The Strangling on the Stage

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: a murder tied to a *chaise longue* in a Shaw play? But Simon Brett sells it with the confidence of a seasoned ham, and his narration is the secret weapon. His delivery is dry as a martini—olive optional—but with a mischievous glint, like he’s daring you not to laugh when the corpse is discovered mid-monologue. The pacing is brisk, almost breathless in the first act, as Brett juggles red herrings and theatrical ego clashes. I particularly loved how he voices the suspects: the local lothario’s smarm oozes through the speakers, while the elderly costume mistress’s clipped tones could curdle milk. That said, the mystery’s resolution hinges on a clue that feels *just* a tad too convenient—a letter tucked in a prop—though Brett’s sly foreshadowing softens the blow. And while the small-town setting is richly drawn, a few secondary characters blur together in the audio format; a cast list in the accompanying PDF would’ve helped. Still, the sheer *fun* of the listen outweighs these quibbles. Brett’s ability to skew both the tropes of golden-age mysteries and the vanities of amateur theater makes this a standout. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a pretentious director or a actor who butchers iambic pentameter, this is your audiobook. Just don’t listen while operating heavy machinery—you might laugh at the wrong moment.