Charles Paris has always mocked those who considered themselves to be actors and demeaned their noble profession by appearing in televised reconstructions for real life crime dramas.

As the title of this tome suggests, times are hard; bottles of Bells whisky are not buying themselves and our hero is reduced to taking such a job. Charles' personal life has hit rock bottom and the light at the end of the tunnel has been extinguished. The only thing that seems to get through to Paris is the conundrum of this missing man case, where things don't quite add up.

Simon Brett's great forte is that he writes in such a way that the reader feels superior to the detective but is fooled by a twist at the end. Greatly enjoyable. ( )

Down at heel actor Charles Paris has experienced many indignities throughout his lengthy but conspicuously unsuccessful career, but as [A Reconstructed Corpse] opens he finds himself plumbing new depths. He is back on television, playing the role of Martin Earnshaw, a property developer from Brighton. He is not, however, participating in a drama series, nor even one of the ghastly situation comedies in which he has occasionally landed a supporting part. Martin Earnshaw has disappeared in rather suspicious circumstances, believed to have fallen foul of local loan sharks after his business became over-extended following some imprudent deals. Charles Paris is, therefore, playing the role of Earnshaw as part of a reconstruction for a real-life crime investigation programme (clearly modelled on BBC's "Crimewatch"). This represents a new low for Charles as he was clearly selected for the part more for his apparent resemblance to the man who has disappeared than in recognition of any acting expertise. There is, however, a positive side to things, as for various reasons the disappearance of Martin Earnshaw (or, more accurately, the plight of his immensely attractive wife) has captured the public's imagination, and Charles's appearance on the programme develops into a continuing role as the investigation into the disappearance gathers pace.

As with all of the books in this entertaining series, Simon Brett manages to retain the integrity and plausibility of his plot while offering a very entertaining portrayal of the jealousies and egos that are manifested in the production of any television series. Charles Paris seems an immensely sympathetic character - not especially gifted as an actor, and certainly flawed as a man. He remains sensitive to the conflicting personalities amongst whom he has to operate, and the reader feels for him throughout the vicissitudes he has to face.

Very entertaining, both for the plot and Charles's continuing struggle to wring any drop of dignity out of an awkward situation, and also for its sardonic insight into the shameless world of television, in which any vestige of good taste is immediately satisfied if there is the merest chance of a boost to a programme's viewing figures. ( )

Cast list (read at the BBC radio website):

Episode One:

Charles ..... Bill Nighy
Frances ..... Suzanne Burden
Maurice ..... Jon Glover
Angie ..... Alex Rivers
Rob Garston ..... Adam Billington
Chloe Earnshaw ..... Francine Chamberlain
Greg Marchmont ..... Carl Prekopp
Superintendent Sorsby ..... Gerard McDermott
Zoe/Receptionist ..... Jane Whittenshaw
Actor/PC/Steward ..... Rikki Lawton

Episode two (new names only):

Juliet ..... Tilly Gaunt
Miles ..... Thomas Arnold
Police Constable ..... Christopher Webster
Barmaid ..... Victoria Inez Hardy

Episode three (new names only):

Sergeant ..... Simon Bubb
Sam Noakes ..... Adjoa Andoh

Episode four (new name only): Martin Earnshaw ..... James Lailey ( )

Probably the last thing I need to discover is another detective series, but I fear I have. Charles Paris is an actor. not a very good one, based on how little work he does, or some of the review notices he has memorised. He has an estranged wife who, at times, barely tolerates him, he lives in a miserable bedsit and is on more than first name terms with the contents of the whiskey bottle. But he's somehow honest, open, inquisitive (but not to the point of prying) and comes across as a nice man, trying his best in an un-nice world.
In this case, he is cast to play the missing man in a crime scene reconstruction for a TV real crime show (I'm thinking Crimewatch, but on ITV). There is a fair it about the ins and outs of TV production, the glamour it casts over people, the battle for ratings and the lengths people will go to be on the box. In this case those are pretty far. Initially he's not too involved, intellectually, but something starts to itch at him and he starts to do some digging around. There are some blind alleys, but the resolution was quite unexpected.
I listened to this, narrated by the author. It was on the library' audiobook shelf and I recognised the author and character as being one that has been reviewed on a thread in the 100 book group. The reviews tended to be positive, so I gave it a go. I liked the tone, full of wry remarks and sarcastic observations. I see this is number 15 in the series, but I really don't think that jumping into the middle impaired my enjoyment of the book. One I will look out for again. ( )

Simon Brett’s character Simon Brett has experienced many avenues of a professional actor’s life but [A Reconstructed Corpse] finds him taking on the role of Martin Earnshaw, a property developer who has disappeared, believed to have fallen foul of criminally-inclined rivals near his home town of Brighton. However, Charles is not acting in a play or television drama but is undertaking the “role” for a real-life crime investigation programme (clearly modelled on BBC’s “Crimewatch”). This is a new low for Charles as he was selected more for his apparent resemblance to the man who has disappeared than for any acting expertise. There is, however, a positive side to things, as for various reasons the disappearance of Martin Earnshaw (or, more accurately, the plight of his immensely attractive wife) has captured the public’s imagination, and Charles’s appearance on the programme develops into a continuing role as the investigation into the disappearance gathers pace.

As with all of the books in this entertaining series, Simon Brett manages to retain the integrity and plausibility of his plot while offering a very entertaining portrayal of the jealousies and egos that are manifested in the production of any television series. Charles Paris seems an immensely sympathetic character – not especially gifted as an actor, and certainly flawed as a man. He remains sensitive to the conflicting personalities amongst whom he has to operate, and the reader feels for him throughout the vicissitudes he has to face. ( )