Author:Simon Brett,Jeremy Front,Bill Nighy,Full Cast,Suzanne Burden
A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Simon Brett's entertaining crime novel, starring Bill Nighy.
Charles Paris has been 'resting' for quite a while, so he's relieved when he is cast as the Ghost of Hamlet’s Father and First Gravedigger in a touring production of Hamlet. But rehearsals are a little tense – the lead roles of Hamlet and Ophelia are played by a reality TV contestant and TV talent show winner respectively, and their opinions on celebrity and the theatre differ somewhat from those of the more experienced members of the cast.
The show is barely on the road before tragedy strikes – just before opening night, part of the set collapses, seriously injuring one of the actors. Then anothermember of the cast is found dead. It's up to Charles Paris to turn detective and investigate the mystery: but with almost everyone having a motive for murder, will he ever track down the real killer?
Bill Nighy stars as Charles Paris, with Suzanne Burden as Frances, in this dramatisation by Jeremy Front.
Written by Jeremy Front, based on the novel by Simon Brett.
If you like Crumley's attitude, his cool view of human nature, his love of the drinking life and the West, and his scorn for authority, there's no one quite like him. He takes it to the limit'
—— Washington PostThe themes of nightmarish madness, betrayal and survival will glue readers to the page. Crumley remains one of the finest writers in the Raymond Chandler tradition'
—— Publishers WeeklyReading Crumley is like hurtling through an assault course...funny, salty and ruthless...one of the marvels of contemporary crime writing'
—— Literary ReviewCrumley writes like an angel on speed
—— Time OutParsons had me gripped from the first chapter to the last sentence
—— Irish IndependentFast paced and gripping
—— The ScotsmanSuperbly crafted crime drama that grips from start to finish
—— The Sunday PostParsons’ novel has startling emotional power, the result of brooding poetry gliding across a propulsive narrative … A remarkable novel on multiple levels
—— BooklistA taut always engaging thriller
—— the SUNIt’s all as addictive as your favourite boxset…it contains more twists than a contortionist caught in a tornado
—— ShortlistI've long been a fan of Tony Parsons's writing, and his sharp eye for detail, and I'm really enjoying his genre move into crime fiction. This is brilliant stuff!
—— Peter JamesI put my life on hold while I was reading because I couldn't tear myself away from the gripping story... It's complicated, brutal but Tony Parsons has managed to weave the brutality into a truly brilliant story.
—— Bestselling Crime ThrillersA rollicking, yet thoughtful spy thriller which looks set to become a summer blockbuster... [I Am Pilgrim] has plenty of action, but at its heart the drama is cerebral and rich in character, a battle of wills and intellect which is more George Smiley than Jason Bourne
—— Tom Tivnan , The Bookseller[Terry Hayes’] debut novel has been hyped as "the only thriller you need to read this year", and for once that isn't nonsense. I Am Pilgrim makes moussaka of its rivals
—— John O’Connell , GuardianI Am Pilgrim is going to be big
—— Simon MayoI Am Pilgrim is a satisfying and ambitious book, written with skill and verve
—— The TimesWorthy of the hype ****
—— Sunday MirrorI Am Pilgrim is a fresh new take on the genre...and it’s one you won’t regret picking up
—— David Baldacci[I Am Pilgrim] has been a fantastic read: a big, solid, chunky, fast-paced, rip-roaring thriller, the love child of a manic union between Jack Reacher and James Bond.
—— HeatMr. Hayes’s globe-trotting book has more kicks, twists and winks than anything of its dusty genre has provided in a long time. You will be happily surprised to find a new thriller franchise with brains to match its brawn
—— Janet Maslin , New York TimesWritten in a heart-stopping pace, this literary thriller lands somewhere between Homeland and Breaking Bad and then transports you to a different level. It is part spy novel, part psychological thriller. Twists and turns. Emotionally complex characters. Relevant geopolitical issues.
—— Monica Lewinsky , Wall Street JournalAn assured novel: well researched and vivid, with a strong plotline, delivered with verve and some appealing wry humour.
—— Laura Wilson , GuardianA vivid sense of history and locale
—— Best Books of 2016, Financial TimesMeticulously researched and delivered in clear, lucid and intelligent prose, Mukherjee is a fantastic addition to the stable of international crime writers, whose books effortlessly cross boundaries and bind readers in a community of excellence and enjoyment.
—— Eastern EyeVividly described, full of humour and humanity, it's a wonderful picture of that time and world, as well as being a perfect murder mystery novel.
—— Liz Anderson , iNewsBursting with lively historical details about post-World War I India, this is a stirring and entertaining mystery
—— Library JournalThis brilliant mingling of real history and fictional invention kicks off a series that does for the Raj what Philip Kerr did for the Reich
—— Karen Robinson , The Times / Sunday Times Crime Club, *Best Books of the Past Five Years*