After You with the Pistol

By: Kyril Bonfiglioli

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Kyril Bonfiglioli's wickedly fun mysteries featuring the Honorable Charlie Mortdecai, degenerate aristocrat, amoral art dealer, seasoned epicurean, unwilling assassin, and general knave-about-Picadilly, have been cult classics in the UK since their first publication there in the 1970s.

Charlie's back in After You with the Pistol, along with his new bride, Johanna, and his thuggish manservant, Jock. He's also still drinking too much whiskey, and anything else he can get his hands on, which makes it all the more difficult to figure out what the beautiful and fabulously wealthy Johanna is up to when she tries to convince Charlie to kill the Queen. Suffice it to say that Johanna is not quite what she seems. Don't miss this brilliant mixture of comedy, crime, and suspense

©1972 Kyril Bonfiglioli (P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"We're seduced by Charlie's wit, wordplay, and disarming candor about his vanity and many appetites." (Dallas Morning News)
"Wickedly entertaining....A sure-fire, acid-tongued winner." (Publishers Weekly)

One of my very favorite authors

I love love love Kyril Bonfiglioli, and my only complaint about this author is that he did not live longer to write more. His main protagonist, Mordecai, is a drink-swilling, lying, ridiculous coward - and I could not love him more. While the accent of the narrator makes listening slightly difficult for the American reader, listen closely, because the entendres are hidden so well and happen so quickly that you do have to be paying attention to get them all. These books are hilarious, and while the characters are sometimes spoofs of themselves, each person is truly a portrait of him- or herself in all their too-human imperfection. The plot is believable, unpredictable, and cohesive - there is no need to forgive plot lapses in Bonfiglioli's stories. This writer is brilliant, and if he had more works out there, they would be my first purchases with my coveted Audible credits.

Do you need more reasons to buy from this author? In what other book can you read about the master of the house voicing concern to the butler about a constipated canary? Seriously, buy these books. You will not be disappointed.

Funny, clever, orginal

The first two of Bonfiglioli's books are clever, literate and original. Head's up for readers: The third in the series takes a turn for the grim. For me, No. 3 sort of spoiled the pleasure I had in the first two.

Fun, witty, and exciting

My favorite off-color detective series and still the only books to make me laugh out loud.

Very Amusing

All three books in the series are wonderful. Highly recommended.

The 70s were different

The characters are engaging, and CM is hilarious and witty.
It reads like it was written whilst a bit drunk, and the editor was out of town.
The “plot” just sort of happens to you without any warming up, but the narration makes it worthwhile.
Also, the 1970s were unwoke af, so keep that in mind if you are triggered by sarcastic uses of stereotypes.