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Major Bricket and the Body in the Bell Tower

A cosy crime mystery set in an English village

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Major Bricket and the Body in the Bell Tower

By: Simon Brett
Narrated by: Simon Brett
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'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times

'One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment' Guardian

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For Major Bricket, attending church in his village of Stunston Peveril in Suffolk is a good way to keep up with the village gossip. Having only recently retired from a career where he was privy to many international secrets, the Major likes to stay in the know.

Events take a turn one Sunday though when, after the morning service, Major Bricket notices the door to the bell tower open... and finds a body at the bottom of the stairs.

The dead man is dressed in a suit and dog collar. But who is he? And could someone in Stunston Peveril have killed him?

Perhaps predictably, most of the village residents seem more concerned with the Parish Council flower arranging rota than the mysterious corpse.

Major Bricket will have to rely on his long-nurtured detection skills, and his trusted friends Nga Luong and Rod, to solve the case.

A new cosy mystery series featuring a not-so-amateur sleuth in a peaceful English village with an alarmingly high death rate! Perfect for fans of Richard Osmand, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood and M. C. Beaton.

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Praise for Simon Brett:

'Murder most enjoyable' Colin Dexter

'A delightful, thoroughly English whodunnit' Daily Mail

'Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cozies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige' New York Times

'A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans!' P.D. James

'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly Cooper

'The wittiest around' Antonia Fraser©2026 Simon Brett Amateur Sleuths Cosy Crime Crime Fiction Mystery Village Detective Fiction
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Critic reviews

Praise for Simon Brett
Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted
One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment
Murder most enjoyable (Colin Dexter)
Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone (Jilly Cooper)
A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans! (P.D. James)
Like a little malice in your mysteries? Some cynicism in your cozies? Simon Brett is happy to oblige
The wittiest around (Antonia Fraser)
A delightful, thoroughly English whodunnit
All stars
Most relevant
Loved yet another 5 star novel from Mr Brett! Major Bricket back to his tip top sleuthing in the sleepy village where he spends his ‘quiet’ retirement…Not sure how this author manages produce so many different collections of ‘ not to put down’ novels! Next please…..

Major Bricket does it again…

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Can be a bit repeatative in areas such as the information where the guns are kept.

Easy listening enjoyable story

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All of Simon Brett’s books are brilliant and this new series is great . Rolls along , great characters and twists. King of cozy crime .

Entertaining read

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I was disappointed by the first book in this new Major Bricket series but as I've always enjoyed Simon Brett's stories and his readings, I thought I should give the 2nd book a go. I'm not convinced. There is no real wit and spark as found in previous books such as Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter, and the Fethering series. Sadly, even the reading hasn't the same quality of previous stories either. Time catches up with us all. I'll just enjoy re listening to earlier stories.

Gave the Major another go.....but, no.

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