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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1211096 in Books
• Published on: 1997-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback

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.

From Publishers Weekly
For actor Charles Paris, life is wonderful for a change: Frances, his wife, has let him back into her apartment (and bed), and he has landed the splendid role of Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night. Of course, none of this can last. At a publicity party, the director succumbs to abdominal cramps severe enough to hospitalize him. Enter Alexandru Radulescu, an avant-garde director who says Shakespeare "writes only about sex." As the provocative, spectacle-loving Radulescu slices and dices the comedy to shreds, Charles, who clings to a traditional interpretation, becomes increasingly resented by his colleagues, all of whom appear to be turning into Radulescu groupies. When, following a group dinner, another member of the company falls sufficiently ill to leave the show, Charles suspects foul play. While he sizes up who might do what to whom (and how many additional lines they would finagle if they did it), someone else prowls behind the scenes to stage yet another incident, this one fatal. For followers of this series, this is classic Charles Paris, with the interminably struggling actor again giving us Brett's (Singled Out, 1995, etc.) wry and entertaining view of the theater. The story is tightly wrapped around Twelfth Night, and readers who are familiar with the play will surely derive more pleasure from it than those who aren't.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Charles Paris, last seen in An Amateur Corpse (Audio Reviews, LJ 7/94), is an aging and rather undistinguished actor. Recently, the downward trend of his life has taken a turn for the better: he and his ex-wife are back together, and he has a good role in Twelfth Night with a touring company. Suddenly, the director falls ill and is replaced by an avant-garde Romanian, Alexandru Radulescu, who is obsessed with sexual motifs. Paris and Radulescu can barely stand each other when, suddenly, members of the cast start to die. Brett gives us a lively and candid view of the theater world with all its pettiness, massive egos, and posturing. As reader, he does a creditable job of bringing this world to life. The conflict between the traditional Paris and the ground-breaking Radulescu is especially well done, the latter being read with much energy and passion. Still, the murders and their resolution seem almost an afterthought to the stage world. Nevertheless, thespians and fans of Brett will appreciate this work. For larger popular collections.?Michael T. Fein, Catawba Valley Community Coll., Hickory, N.C.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Brett has done better, but this will do.
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.

Not Up To Normal Standards
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.

The play's the thing.
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.