Major Bricket and the Circus Corpse

The first mystery in an unputdownable new cosy crime series

By: Simon Brett

Narrated by: Simon Brett

'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

Introducing a new, but not-so-amateur, sleuth from another peaceful English village with an alarmingly high death rate! The first mystery in a new cosy series from one of the world's favourite crime writers - perfect for fans of Richard Osmand, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood and M. C. Beaton.
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Meet Major Bricket, an infrequent resident of Highfield House in Stunston Peveril, Suffolk. In the past the Major's work assignments, frequently in foreign countries, have prevented him from spending much time there and as a result, there is an air of mystery around him while everyone in the village speculates on the nature of his occupation.

But now the Major has retired and has come home for good in his open-topped little red sports car... and what a homecoming it is, for lying spreadeagled on his lawn in the summer sunshine is the corpse of a clown.

The circus is in Stunston Peveril for the annual village fair, yet none of their quota of clowns is missing - or at least, nobody is saying. Could the body be that of an unfortunate early guest at the village's highlight of the social calendar, the Fincham Abbey Costume Ball?
Fortunately Major Bricket's past clandestine career means that he is now very well placed to solve the mystery of the dead clown on his camomile lawn . . .©2025 Simon Brett

Critic reviews

Praise for Simon Brett:

Murder most enjoyable

A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans!

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

Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted

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

A delightful, thoroughly English whodunnit

The wittiest around

Constant sniffing by narrator

Enjoyed the cozy mystery. Secret Service meets St Mary Mead. Even enjoyed the narrator… until the sniffing started becoming irritating. Will check out the previews (before buying them) of books in the rest of the series and see if sniffing is a reoccurring problem!

Enjoyable all around

The narration was excellent. The story was entertaining. The writing was high-quality. I look forward to more in the series.

Love Simon Brett

Very nice written and narrated as always. Will expect more from Major Bricket. Love a good English murder mystery

5 stars

Great new series! This is a well developed story with engaging characters and entertaining plot. I look forward to the next book.

Not for me

This review is for the audiobook.
I got to the bit where he unveils the hidden techno-lair in the garden and I was done. I enjoy the Feathering series very much and the Mrs. Pargeter series as well. But this one just felt awkward and (to me) it was really unengaging. Even the reading on this one was off-putting, with a LOT of deep, exaggerated, audible sniffs. At first I thought it was an affectation for some of the characters, but it seems more to be random and quite distracting.
Too bad because I was looking forward to a new series by Simon Brett, as I have read or listened to all the Feathering and Pargeter stories.