I always find it interesting to revisit the first outings of characters who subsequently go on to feature in lengthy novel sequences. Ian Rankin’s celebrated detective, John Rebus, is very different in his early outings from the thrawn, beer and whisky drinking rock and roll fan of the later novels. In Hide and Seek, the second book in the series, he favours cultivated jazz music, and shows signs of developing into a wine snob. Rankin was careful, however, to ensure that Rebus aged in real time, and that process of ageing, and growing disgruntlement, was central to his considerable success and verisimilitude as a character.

Another character who went on to enjoy a long career of detection is Simon Brett’s marvellous creation, Charles Paris. As the series developed, Charles Paris also underwent a metamorphosis, although his development seemed to occur without any aging process. In the later books in the series, Charles is a down at heel actor who has managed to pass through his career without any notable success. Frequently finding himself called upon to don a disguise inspired by one of his former roles, he can only ever recall the painful reviews he has received. Another key aspect of the later books is their comic nature, which is wholly absent from this first book in the series, which was written as a straight crime novel with a vaguely theatrical background.

It may be different in style to its successors, but it shows the same high quality. The plot is well constructed, and Charles Paris is just as empathetic a character, even though he seems to have had far more past success on the boards.

It is set in a bleak 1973, during the run up to Christmas, with cold weather exacerbated by the oli crisis, with petrol in short supply and hideously expensive, while miners’ strike has taken hold, ensuring that television shuts down at 10.30 each evening, shops are left dark all night, and everyone struggles to keep warm. Against this grim background, impresario Marius Steen is found dead in his Berkshire home. All the early indications suggest that the aging tycoon has merely succumbed to a heart attack brought on by the strains of over-zealous business. Charles, however, has reason to suspect that all is not as it seems, and embarks upon his own investigation.

I have recently gone back to early novels in successful series, and found that if I had read the first book at the time of its initial publication, I would probably not have bothered with any subsequent volumes. That is not the case here. With his Charles Paris books, Simon Brett started well, and then got even better. ( )

When I was 15 or 16 we spent Christmas with my older sister who was already married and she gave me one of the coolest Christmas presents I had ever had. She had ordered a "grab bag" from a mystery book catalog. This was where they just put 5 random mysteries in a box and send it to you so you had no idea what you might get. I thought this was so much fun!

I don't remember what 4 of those books were, though I'm certain they are still on my shelves somewhere. The 5th one however, led me to what has become one of my favorite authors and series of all time. That book was So Much Blood by Simon Brett. It's the second in the Charles Paris mystery series.

Simon Brett published 17 books in this series, the last one in 1997. I loved them all. He then went on to write several other series including Mrs. Pargeter and the Feathering series. I assumed, sadly, he was done with Charles Paris. But now, 17 years later, he has a new Charles Paris book coming out on July 1st. I'm starting a re-read of the series in order to get back into his world before I read the new book. I'm so excited!

The first book in this series is Cast, in order of Disappearance. We are introduced to Charles Paris, a chronically out of work London actor. We find out that he drinks too much and is a womanizer. But in my mind, he is a classic British amateur sleuth in the best traditions of classic British amateur sleuths.

In his first outing, he is asked by a young actress he knows to find out why her boyfriend, a prominent figure in British theater, wants nothing to do with her anymore. Charles is reluctant but always influenced by a pretty young thing. Soon the boyfriend turns up dead, blackmail pictures are circulated, the blackmailer turns up dead, it's all just a big mess for Charles. Throw in the blackmailer's wife who comes on to him at every opportunity and a petrol crisis that has all of England thinking twice about their mode of transportation and you've got a complicated puzzle for Charles to figure out.

This book is pure fun, smart and witty. The behind the scenes looks at the British theater and the BBC are fascinating throughout the whole series. I'm so glad to see that Charles is coming back! ( )