The Body on the Beach

Fethering #1

by Simon Brett

Sensible Carole Seddon doesn't have the tolerance to deal with her new bohemian neighbor, Jude. But Jude doesn't seem so bad when Carole discovers another addition to the neighborhood-a dead body on the beach bearing two wounds on its neck.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Audiobook, Cozy, British Literature

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Simon Brett is a prolific British writer of whodunnits.

He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.

He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.

After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.

He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett is a 2000 Berkley publication.

This is the first in book in the long running ‘Fethering’ Mystery series.

Carole is walking her dog when she discovers a dead body on the beach. After reporting the crime, Carole is furious at the way she was treated by the police. She is also out of sorts because of her new neighbor, Jude. Carole likes her quiet, ordered life and Jude’s presence is bound to be a disruption.

But, much to her surprise, Carole finds herself intrigued by Jude, and discovers she is easy to confide in, although Jude doesn’t really reciprocate in the way Carole would like. The pair decides to investigate the suspicious death on their own, and discover they have a knack for detective work.

The village and all the quirky characters from the local pub add drama, humor, and excitement to the story as the mystery deepens once the ladies uncover more information. They eventually link together a rather complex set of circumstances, and slowly narrow down the suspects in a most disorganized, but effective manner.

This series came to my attention through Netgalley and Berkley publishing. I did not realize, when I was approved for 'The Liar in the Library', that it was part of a very long running series. So, before I tackled a book that deep into the thick of things, I decided to at least read the first few books in the series to get a better feel for the characters. I’m glad I decided to do that, since I have the distinct impression many the characters introduced here will become recurring ones and will develop more fully as the series continues.

As with most ‘first in a series’ mysteries, a lot of time is spent on time and place, and with the introduction of characters. The author created a nice, rich atmosphere in Feathering. It feels like an ideal backdrop for these characters. It’s a charming seaside village, but apparently it harbors a great many secrets and a bit of a sinister undertone.

Carole is an introverted type, while Jude is more gregarious. Jude remains a bit of an enigma, while Carole becomes more sociable. They certainly make an odd duo, but it works.

The mystery plot is a tad busy and messy, but it was the first case for these amateur detectives so I’m sure as they gain more experience they will get much better at playing detectives.

Overall, a solid beginning of the series and I look forward to visiting the quaint village of Feathering again soon.

3.5 rounded up.

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nichts stört für gewöhnlich die Ruhe des englischen Küstenstädtchens Fethering. Doch dieser Sommer ist anders: Die bärbeißige Pensionärin Carole findet eine Leiche am Strand, und als die Polizei sich endlich bequemt, die Ermittlungen aufzunehmen, ist der Tote wieder verschwunden...
Einzig und allein ihre extravagante neue Nachbarin Jude schenkt Carole Glauben - da beschließen die beiden Frauen, das Heft selbst in die Hand zu nehmen...
**
Mir hat dieses Buch sehr gut gefallen. Es ist irgendwie ein (für mich) typisch englischer, gemütlicher Krimi, und die mag ich generell sehr.
Die Charaktere sind alle irgendwie liebenswert und der Roman ist leicht und flüssig zu lesen.
Eine gute und spannende Unterhaltung!

[Ben Aaronovitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully mad pair of detectives... Grim is easy, successfull cosies walk a tightrope between believability and enjoyability.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always on the lookout for cozy mysteries that don't have themes (knitting, food, herb shops, what-have-you). I don't know how I managed to miss Simon Brett for so long, but I am really glad I finally ran across his books. This is the first of the Fethering mysteries, named for their setting, the seaside town of Fethering, England. The main characters are well drawn and could very easily be people that I know. They have enough personal quirks to make them interesting, but not so many that they become mere eccentrics. The Body on the Beach had an intricate enough plot that I was kept guessing pretty much up to the end. For the most part the characters behaved in understandable and realistic ways. **SPOILER ALERT** The only part of the book that I found unbelieveable was when Carole found the body. She was so unconcerned that she came home and washed her dog and cleaned up the kitchen before calling the police two hours later. I suppose the author may have been showing she was in shock, but if so he never brought it up later in the novel.
That aside, this is an enjoyable series and I am looking forward to reading more of Simon Brett's work.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Body On The Beach (Fethering, #1) by Simon Brett.

After reading 17 books in this British cozy series I went back to find which books I had missed. Body on the Beach was the first in this series and had missed. So glad I did that. File this under my favorites.
Carole and Jude are neighbors in the Fethering community. Jude being the new arrival. Carole a divorcee with her dog Gulliver is a retiree from the Home Office. Jude lives more of a bohemian lifestyle as oppose to Carole's set way of life. It's on Carole's usual morning walk on the beach with Gulliver that she comes upon a body apparently swept ashore by the tide.
Carole finishes off her morning chores before notifying the police who raises a red flag to the officers. Then after a search no body turns up! Carole informs Jude of her discovery and so the pair begins their sleuthing to find this disappearing body.
What a delightful start to this original British cozy. An important character worthy of mention is Ted Crisp owner of the local pub the Crown and Anchor.
Highly recommended.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Fethering mystery series by Simon Brett and I enjoyed very much. It was well-paced, with enough action to keep me reading and with two likable characters who I hope to find out more about. Carole Seddon is a retired public servant who has settled in the seaside town of Fethering, located near Brighton on England's southeast coast. Carole lives a routine life, walking her dog, following the routines and mores of the other retired people who have settled there. A new neighbour, Jude, arrives to unsettle Carole's routine and to bring along some excitement and friendship. The other change is the discovery, by Carole, of a body on the beach, which starts the chain of events that make up this story. It wasn't a perfect story, but it was entertaining and I will continue to read this series and take a chance on the others written by Simon Brett. Glad that I finally got a start on this series.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic first book in a series. I enjoyed so much in this Fethering debut, the setting, Carole and Jude, who become sleuth collaborators as well as next door neighbors, and even Carole's dog Gulliver. The cast of village regulars round out the "cozy" part of this series. The plot (and who actually was the body on the beach), has twists and turns that held my interest. I'm really looking forward to the second book (happy there are quite a few written in the Fethering series!) and wondering if we ever find out Jude's last name and history?!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars. I really enjoyed this first in the Fethering series. Love the two amateur detectives who are very different women in the 50-something age range. Also love the setting on the British coast. Really enjoying Simon Brett's writing too. Audiobook was just ok for me, didn't really add to or detract from the book. Will definitely continue on with the series, which is a long one and still being written. Bonus!

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little mystery. I think it fits into the "cozy" genre. Not too gripping, but some fun characters and a decent story despite some improbabilities. A good book to listen to while walking or doing housework. I'm not a big series fan, but I'll keep this one in mind (though my library has only one other book in the series available to borrow on audio).

[Mizloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like this series! The contrasting personalities and characters of Jude and Carol are both insightfully presented and the effect Jude has on Carol is entertaining. IF they weren't next-door neighbors, they'd never have become more than acquaintances. But they are next door neighbors, and Carol, after finding that body on the beach, does wash her dog before calling the police.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Osman would do well to read this.

This is how you write a book about unlikely investigators.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carole, retired from a job with the Home Office, settled in the quiet village of Fethering. A mysterious neighbor Jude moves in next door. While walking her dog, Carole discovers a body on the beach. Before calling the police, she washes her dog and tidies the kitchen. When they arrive at the scene, the body is missing, and they don't put much stock in her story. Her neighbor Jude is the only one who believes her account. A woman comes to Carole's door threatening her with a gun. She escapes out the back when Jude comes calling. Jude talks Carole into going to the local pub, even though Carole is not a pub person. Strange things occur at the yacht club, and ultimately that venue along with scenes with its members in other locations, provides most of the action for the book. The characters are quirky. I am not naturally drawn to them. I think the novel would have been strengthened by making it a police procedural. Carole and Jude are not the most endearing investigative team. I listened to the audio version read by Geoffrey Howard.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, and the series, was recommended to me as a great read a few months back, and I've finally managed to read the first book. With many first books in a series, especially with cosy mysteries, the author uses a lot of space to introduce the characters and the setting, and both were described very well. I think I am going to enjoy my time in Fethering as I read through these books. A small seaside town setting, and I do enjoy small town mysteries.

The two protagonists, Carole and Jude, are both great characters. Very different from each other, which is a bonus. They reminded me of the characters Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme, from the TV series Rosemary & Thyme. Simon Brett, the author of this book, did write and episode for that TV series. I'm sure any resemblance is purely my own imagination, but funnily enough the characters from that show popped into my head almost immediately when I first met Carole and Jude.

As is often the case with the first book in a series, the mystery is a little too convoluted, but it is well structured and I enjoyed the amateur approach shining through in the investigation. My expectation is the protagonists will develop their skills later in the series. But since the characters and setting is so engaging, then I say let the mystery do what it will in the first book. If you read cosy mysteries, you're in it not just for the mystery.

With 21 books so far in this series, and other series by Simon Brett I think sound interesting, I will be adding more books to the never ending story of my TBR.

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this free Audible listen in just before it expired. I have never read any Simon Brett books before and might not have. He wasn't on my radar.

It is a cute, cozy mystery about Carole Seddon, a middle-aged, set in her ways woman in a sea side British community who stumbles upon a body while walking her dog one morning. Because she has things to do, she doesn't get around to informing the police until later in the day. Well, that makes sense, doesn't it?

Not to the police, it doesn't, because when they look, there is no body. So Carole and her new next-door neighbor Jude ("Just Jude is fine." have to solve the mystery themselves with the help of various other neighbors, yacht club members, pub denizen, and random teenagers. Fun for all - except the bodies.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this new series she said. You will L O V E it she said. WHY is SHE always right?? Oh yeah. She is my mom, that's why!! LOL
I was NOT planning on liking and starting a new series right now. Guess book life had other plans.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I finish a book and I know exactly what i want to say, but there are times when I can think of nothing beyond what the book is about and how much I liked it.

I finished The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett, the first of his series of Fethering mysteries, weeks ago but it has taken me until now to formulate my thoughts.

They start in the form of a simple recipe:

■Take a traditional English mystery.
■Dust with:
■E F Benson, for observation, for wit and for knowing how communities work.
■Joanna Trollope, for presenting contemporary issues clearly and simply.

Just a slight variation from the norm, but it works quite well.

The story opens in Fethering, a town on the south coast of England. Not the traditional country village, but a small town that grew so that old houses in the centre were surrounded by desirable modern developments, and rather less desirable council estates. I live in a similar town, rather further down the south coast, and I have to say that the picture Simon Brett painted rang absolutely true.

Fethering was the sort of town people retired to. And that was exactly what Carole Seddon did when she took early retirement after diligently doing her duty for many years at the Home Office. She settled into a quiet and sensible routine.

Until early one morning, walking her dog on the beach, she found a body. naturally, she went home and called the police. But when the police arrived they told her that there was no body. Carole found herself dismissed as an attention seeker, an over imaginative old lady, and she didn’t like it one bit. But nobody believed her, so what she could do?

Well, she spoke to her new neighbour. Jude is Carole’s opposite, a free spirit completely oblivious to the conventions of a small town like Fethering. And she suggests that she and Carole make some investigations of their own.

And investigate they did. They spoke to many of the good people of Fethering and, through a mixture of deduction and luck, they found out what had happened.

It was a rather predictable mystery, there were no great surprises, but it was nicely constructed and very readable.

That was due in no small part to it being such a human story. A diverse cast, from right across the age and class spectrum, brought both town and story to life.

I realised that Simon Brett was a very clever writer. Using the third person and moving the perspective back and forth between Carole and Jude was a very wise decision. And he balanced entertainment, mystery and social commentary very nicely.

His masterstroke though was his detective duo. Though they were very different I saw what they had in common, what they needed from each other, and how that would hold their friendship together.

And there were signs that Carole might unbend a little, not stick quite so firmly to social conventions. That Jude might have an interesting past to discover, secrets to reveal.

I’m curious to meet them in the next book in the series, but hoping that the mystery might be a little stronger…

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in the Fethering mystery series sees retired divorcee Carole Seddon safely in a comfortable routine in her cottage on the South Coast. However, her safe, if somewhat uneventful life, is soon to be shaken by two events. The first is that, during an early morning walk on the beach with her dog, Gulliver, she discovers the body of a man. The second is the fact that she has a new neighbour, the gregarious and open minded Jude (no surname offered), who flouts the unwritten rules and conventions of the conservative community into which she has moved.

This first novel, involving the mis-matched duo, sees Carole initially disbelieved by the police as to her discovery, as the body seems to have disappeared. However, really, the mystery is second place to the evolving relationship between the two women, who seem so opposite and yet fulfill a need in each other. As they begin to investigate the 'underbelly' of Fethering ("This is Fethering, not Miami Beach!" explodes a disbelieving Carole when a gun is pulled on her) they find that even the most staid places have their problems; in this case drugs, disaffected youth and unhappy marriages. The plot is not the most original, but this cozy series is excellent and one I am enjoying re-reading. However, this first book is important to introduce the characters and well worth reading.

[Deb Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an entertaining cozy mystery. It's not in the same neighborhood as Christie or Grimes, but interesting enough that I'll read further into the series.

[Morag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good 'cosy murder' (strange term, but there you go....). I do understand the mixed reviews I've seen - misliking the uptight character of one of the protagonists and the hazy history of the other but some I think are missing the point: Mr B. is laying the foundation for a series. A LONG series, based on the titles! Dare I sat this author is a 'serial' offender'? Sorry. He does have certainly a track record of long running series and the creation of the worlds that go with them. The characters, their foibles and their relationships are offered and analysed with nicely acid perception - and are sketched in with a light hand, leaving plenty of room for development.

This is competent craft work rather than the artistry of a Simenon/Maigret - but he knows what he is about and this works really well as a comfort read. Not challenging, but sufficiently well-salted with wit and observation to maintain my appetite for the next literary snack. That said, it serves very well as a safe place to go when real life gets just a little too 'real' without insulting your intelligence or smothering you in sentiment.

I wonder how far I'll get in the series before it gets too 'samey'. Watch this space.

[Thereadingbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett

This is the first book of the Fethering Cozy Mystery series. Carole finds a body on the beach with two neck wounds. Her new neighbor Jude join forces to solve the mystery because the police seemed to dismiss the two. This series reminds me of the old British cozy mysteries the who dun-it from the past.

The ladies begin to ask questions and snoop around as they find evidence to discover who did the crime and why they did the crime. I like that Mr. Brett developed the characters and the town of fethering in this book the detail gives you the feel of everything around town which will be the backdrop to other books in the series. The two ladies seem to be opposites but it works for them they can play good cop bad cop to get the answers they seek.

I will be further reading this series and see what else the duo can do. I give this book a 3.5 stars it was a bit messy in spots but the overall story with its descriptions is worth continuing reading this cozy mystery.

If you are a lover of cozy mysteries and you like the style of the old British type cozies this series should wet your appetite and entertain you enough to read the series.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentler than a lot of modern detective novels with characters that are interesting and likeable enough but don't interfere with the plot. Some of them rely on stereotypes (pub landlord etc) but not to the detriment of the novel, it helped keep the focus on the story. It is set in locations I'm familiar with, which I enjoyed. I will read more of this series.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a mystery roll lately! What a delightful read. Mystery and charming characters with just enough improbabiltiy and humor to keep me totally engaged. Loved the writing style. I will read more of Simon Brett.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts out like a biscotti; Sandy and rather dry. Then it (slowly) builds to a crescendo that reads like it a written cappuccino or espresso. When the steamed milk clears, it's all over (somewhat abruptly), but nicely wrapped up.

[Peter Baran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading Simon Brett almost all of my adult reading life. I remember vividly staying up until the early hours of the morning on a school night to finish a Charles Paris, probably around 1987 or so, and his mixture of petty character work and set-up for a solidly old-fashioned mystery is second to none. I have read a few of the later Fethering books, out of order, so it was nice to read the first one, to get the measure of what he thought the series might be about until the characters really took it over. He opens with a very thorough take on the West Sussex village, its history, and its snobbishness. This is illustrated by Carole, our lead character, who has taken early retirement and is very set in her ways with a small c conservatism until she
a) discovers a body on the beach (cf the title)
b) involves her new, flighty and very mysterious neighbour Jude who - by the end of the novel - she realises is the friend she always needed. Its a twisty mystery (there is more than one body on the beach), but it gets small town, retirement belt perfectly and from what I remember, the books develop this relationship between Carole and Jude significantly. It also gives very good pub.

[Guru Jad · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a first novel of the Feathering series, this one is not encouraging much.

To begin with, the immense descriptions of the place and time and other superficial issues made me drift from the essence of the crime a bit. Although I know it is a novel setting forth a complete series, but I wished the writer had given thought to distribute the descriptions in each issue and focus more on the crime itself. In my eyes, the series issues would complement each other.

Second, the amateurish investigators are not so interesting. Somehow, I thought of Miss Marple - and she is not a favorite of mine as an investigator (although I love her novels a lot) - so this was a negative point according to me.

Finally, I felt that the series would have been better if it was treated in an Enid Blyton style. I imagine if the same plot with everything in the novel - and the series as a whole - was given to a bunch of kids trying to unravel the mystery behind those conundrums and crimes, the series would be better shaped and received. A whodunit series starring kids (of course some scenes would be twisted or totally reshaped), for I couldn't see it is entirely an adult novel!

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beginning to a series. I enjoyed Carole and Jude. Two neighbours who find themselves sleuthing. Carole is a bit stodgy, and Jude is pretty mysterious. They're both in their fifties, and for some reason, I had the ladies from Rosemary & Thyme in my head as I read. The front third was a good setup with people and the village of Feathering. The first body turns up fairly early in the book, so that was too the good. The middle third was slow, but I never wanted to put this down. The back third was a page-turner and had a good bit of suspense going for it. When I'd finished, I knew I would read another. I can't see reading all of them (there are 20 books!), but I did enjoy this.

Recommended if you possibly need to add another cozy mystery series to your life. I read this through Kindle Unlimited.

[Terri Milstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice little mystery that had a satisfyingly complex ending. With its narrator being the beloved Ralph Cosham, who made the first several Three Pines audiobooks wonderful, it was easy to enjoy from the start. The quaint setting and an interesting set of characters (including the very Odd Couple-ish Jude and Carol) along with about half the runtime as my fave mystery series (Three Pines as well as Vera, Shetland, and Kincaid/James) make me very interested in continuing on. I don’t see all of the books on Hoopla or Libby, but I also don’t sense that it will matter too much if you hit all entries or even if you read in order with this series.

[Andrea Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had trouble sleeping last night so I put my earbuds in at 4AM and listened to the audio book until I got up then listened to the rest of the book while I did laundry and cleaned.

Retiree Carole Seddon's peaceful life in the English seaside town of Feathering is turned upside down when she stumbles upon a corpse on the beach while walking her dog and joins forces with her bohemian neighbor, Jude, to find a killer. This held my interest even while doing other things in the house today.

[Betty Morrissey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, enjoyable, full of fun characters.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is your typical British cozy. It kept my interest and is a good start to the series.