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Jamie West
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Death on the Pier: A Theatrical Murder Mystery (Bertie Carroll Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Jamie West (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 171 ratings
Renowned murder mystery playwright Bertie Carroll turns real life detective when his leading lady is shot and killed on stage, in full view of an unsuspecting audience.

This theatrical debut is a delightful murder mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz and, of course, Agatha Christie.

“A proper page-turner.” Ian Moore (Death and Croissants)
“A denouement worthy of Agatha Christie.”Jim Eldridge (Author of the Museum Mysteries series)
“A love letter to a bygone era.” J.M. Hall (A Spoonful of Murder)
“What an incredible debut mystery.” Peter Boon (Who Killed Miss Finch?)
“Escapist fun from start to finish.” Jamie Bernthal (Author - Queering Agatha Christie)

An Amazon Best Seller and Chat Magazine Book of the Month!

The Palace Pier Theatre.
Brighton.
1933.

Renowned murder mystery playwright Bertie Carroll turns real life detective when his leading lady is shot and killed on stage, in full view of an unsuspecting audience.

Once the curtain falls and the applause subsides, the horrible truth begins to dawn on the cast of suspects backstage. But as motives, secrets and old rivalries begin to come to light, the murderer is still waiting in the wings.

With the help of Chief Detective Hugh Chapman, an old friend from school, Bertie must put his amateur sleuthing skills to the test to unravel the ultimate whodunnit. But, is there more to Bertie and Hugh that first appears? Over the course of their investigation, something that is more-than-just-friends seems to be re-kindled.

There is drama on stage and off in this debut novel from Jamie West, set in and around The Palace Pier Theatre in Brighton, a lost theatre, lovingly recreated.

If you enjoyed the theatrical antics in The Appeal or The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett, you'll love this theatre murder mystery. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and The Thursday Murder Club gang and for fans of classic crime like Agatha Christie and her modern counterparts like Anthony Horowitz, Tom Hindle and Robert Thorogood.

What Readers are saying about Jamie West:

★★★★★ “A delightful, thoroughly original and very cosy murder mystery.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “A fabulous debut and start to a series.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “A fantastic read. The characters and setting really shone.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “What an utter joy this is!” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “Well crafted and credible characters” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “A tight group of characters and a well paced plot.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “Light and funny while also being mysterious and captivating.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “This is a delightful cozy mystery” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “Lots of wonderful characters, with many twist and turns.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “Good story and engaging characters.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “A modern day Agatha Christie!” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “A manuscript of pure genius.” – NetGalley
★★★★★ “West writes in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading.” – NetGalley
★★★★ “A murder mystery done right.” – NetGalley
★★★★ “A highly enjoyable, riveting, cozy mystery” – NetGalley
★★★★ “This book was AMAZING.” – NetGalley
★★★★ “This was a wonderful and delightful read.” – NetGalley
★★★★ “The characters are well written.” – NetGalley
★★★★ “A good old fashion murder mystery.” – NetGalley
★★★★ “The description of every location and character really brings the book to life and I could picture it all immediately.” – NetGalley

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Bertie Carroll Mysteries
  2. Print length
    267 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 10, 2022
  6. File size
    4.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Death on the Pier by Jamie West

A denouement worth of Agatha Christie

A proper page turner

i found myself comparing it to the best agatha christie

Book Cover

Escapist fun from start to finish

Book Cover

Opening night can be murder

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A proper page-turner." - Ian Moore (Death and Croissants)
"A denouement worthy of Agatha Christie." - Jim Eldridge (Author of the Museum Mysteries series)
"Escapist fun from start to finish." - J.C. Bernthal (Queering Agatha Christie)
"What an incredible debut mystery" - Peter Boon (Who Killed Miss Finch?)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09RXZXNXJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brabinger Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 10, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 267 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739762223
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Bertie Carroll Mysteries
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 171 ratings

About the author

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Jamie West

Jamie West

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Jamie is the West End's resident murder mystery author!

He has worked backstage on countless shows in London’s West End. His work covers a huge variety of shows including The Book of Mormon, Miss Saigon, Kinky Books, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton. There are plenty more shows that could be listed here, but there simply isn't room!

A love for both theatre history and a good murder mystery is what has inspired his Bertie Carroll series, set in 1930s theatre-land.

His first novel, Death on the Pier, was published in October 2022, going on to become an Amazon Best Seller and Chat Magazine's Book of the Month. Murder at the Matinee, the second in the series, is coming out 5th September 2024.

He continues to split his time between writing and working in the theatre.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
171 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Maijie G
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cozy mystery for your Autumn TBR
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Death on the Pier was a surprisingly delightful cozy mystery. The mystery on itself wasn't really that complicated but the process of arriving to that reveal was beautifully written.

    The story was set in the 1930's and this was reflected nicely in the story. The societal norms mentioned, the small details included especially with some of the popular items during that period, the way the characters speak really added to the great atmosphere the story had. The story has also cleverly woven theatre customs and production elements. The writer deftly used them to create what felt like one of those classic mystery stories where the process of solving it is as enjoyable and fascinating as the resolution.

    I found Bertie and Hugh endearing though I am more biased towards Bertie. I enjoyed the interaction of these two - they definitely complement each other and one can feel the chemistry between them. That scene with the two of them during the end of the book was beautifully executed.

    The main characters definitely needed a bit more development and exploration which I hope the next installment will provide as it was a bit lackluster this time around. Parts of the dialogue felt stilted and some parts of the pacing was slow. Still, I had a fun time reading this book. Definitely fits well as an Autumn read. I recommend giving this book a try.

    This would be 4 stars out of 5 stars.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • June Price
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder takes center stage
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2022
    Deliciously clever. Delicately woven around theatre (British spelling) customs and production elements, it's a bit like stepping onstage and into the middle of a classic Agatha Christie type mystery for which you neither know the lines nor how the play ends. Nothing seems quite wrong....or right.

    That's the situation successful playwright Bertie Carroll finds himself in as he attends a performance of one of his older productions at Brighton's Palace Pier Theatre. It's the 1930s. The theatre was real, btw, and a quick search reveals it must have been rather resplendent at one time. Sadly, it no longer exists. But, I digress. Bertie is in town to meet with an old friend, Chief Detective Inspector Hugh Chapman who has a reputation for solving impossible cases. Bertie is, well, an unassuming writer and feels out of his element as the investigation into the onstage death of fading star Celia Hamilton begins.

    It happened in front of an audience who simply thought it was part of the play, as did Bertie initially, to be honest. It quickly becomes evident that it was no well-played death scene, however. It was the real thing. Celia is dead. The actress who pulled the trigger of the prop gun is the obvious suspect but, well, we all know that things aren't always what they seem. I won't detail the plot/investigation but it's fun watching Bertie gain in confidence as he uses his knowledge of day-to-day theatre customs, whether on casting, production, staging, or dressing the stage, to help solve the crime. You'll learn a great deal about the theatre in the process of solving this mystery.

    So, who did it? Did the butler do it? Was it the young, unknown actress, perhaps hoping to replace the difficult star? Perhaps the stage manager had snapped at one too many caustic criticisms? Or maybe the handsome young actor who seems, well, a tad undisciplined onstage? Breaking the fourth wall is a no-no, you know. Why is this show being produced anyway? It isn't even one of Bertie's hits. And, why is Hugh there in the first place? Do you know what a cigarette card is/was in that time period? He gives one to Bertie. There are hints of their connection but, given the era, they remain shadowy. I rather like that as I liked them both and it makes them human but doesn't distract from the story. But, enough teasers. Read the book. You won't be sorry, especially if you're a fan of classic mysteries and/or the theatre.

    Thanks to #NetGalley and BrabingerPublishing for the invite to the show. It was a delight to meet Bertie and Hugh and feel engulfed by the mystic of the theatre. Hope to catch another show with them soon!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Z
    4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars out of 5: A charming and enjoyable read!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2022
    A charming look at historical theatre—the people who made it happen (onstage and off), the buildings it took place in, and the communities that supported it—Death On the Pier by Jamie West just made me want to sit by the window with a blanket and a warm beverage and lose myself in the Brighton pier theater. I found the story—the mystery of who killed actor Celia Hamilton—and lead characters developed and lovable, and found myself excited to figure out whodoneit alongside Bertie—our protagonist, a murder mystery playwright, and Hugh—Bertie's school friend turned Scotland Yard detective.

    At times, I did have trouble distinguishing whose perspective various chapters were told from. For example, a chapter would appear to be solely describing the internal thoughts, desires, observations and motives of Bertie, and then out of nowhere we would get a one paragraph glimpse at those same things from Hugh, before going back to following Bertie for the rest of the chapter. Despite these confusing moments, the book was overall cohesive and easy to follow, and it didn't happen often enough to take me out of the world.

    West has done a lot work to create an accurate look at the real life world of British theater in the 1930s that is backed up by extensive research and first hand experience in modern-day theater. If I hadn't known going into it that West has backstage experience, I would have been able to tell right away with the amount of care and detail that went into describing the lives and experiences of those who are involved with theater. There were the things that have stayed the same from the 30s to today: the attitudes of actors, the way reviews and producers make or break careers, the stage manager's refusal to go onstage for an ill actor, and the "show must go on" mentality, to name a few. Add the research into the things that are different—technologies and other developments—together it created a believable and relatable world for this story to take place within. As a stage manager myself, I found that the line "stage managers are built of tougher stuff than you or me," told me everything I wanted to know about West's perspective as a crew member and author, down to the respect he has for the unseen moving parts that create theater.

    I also have a lot of appreciation for the representation of queerness in this story. Bertie's (and other characters') queerness isn't relevant until it is, and even then, is it really? It's just a part of who the characters are. That's something I feel like is missing from the literature canon at large—characters who happen to be queer and the story isn't focused on the struggle or experience therein. West did a wonderful job making it clear that Bertie (and others!) are unarguably and unapologetically queer while still allowing the murder mystery storyline to be the star of the book.

    Despite perspective issues and a few instances of repetitive dialogue or descriptions, I enjoyed this story thoroughly and will absolutely return to this world when West's second book comes out in 2023!

    Thank you to Netgalley and Brabinger Publishing for access to the ARC of Death on the Pier!
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mary R
    4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoy Golden Age mysteries and this is terrific. Set in Brighton in the 1930s, it is set in the world of theatre which is a world totally alien to me. I enjoyed the locked room type mystery when a killing on stage results in an actual death.

    Bertie is an interesting character and I enjoyed his working relationship with his friend, the detective Hugh. I wonder what is in store for these two in the future. The story took me a while to get to grips with but then it totally took off and had me hooked. Looking forward to reading the next one.
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  • Joshua Burch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Debut Novel!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I've been counting down the days til this books' release & it was definitely worth the wait & more!
    From the moment Bertie rushes down the wild & wet Brighton seafront, you get an immediate sense of who our protagonist is.
    I enjoyed the journey of Bertie's character in this novel. The layers of his inhibitions peeling away as the investigation progresses. The exploration of sexuality in 1930s Britain was handled in a subtle but effective manner. The odd hint here, the odd line there. No spoilers, but I'm totally shipping a relationship between Bertie & Hugh!
    The characterization in this story was strong, with each characters' voice well-defined. In particular the deliciously curt Celia Hamilton.
    The character ensemble as a whole was varied & entertaining.
    Whilst I managed to figure out some of the plot twists thanks to neatly placed clues by the writer, I was kept guessing until the end as to who the true culprit was. Look out for a beautifully written & ingenious twist, worthy of Agatha Christie herself!
    This was a thrilling & captivating debut novel from Jamie West. Pathos & humour. Tension & drama. West has a wonderful way of drawing these qualities together on the page giving us readers a healthy balance of light and shade.
    I can't wait to see more of Bertie Carroll in 2023!
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  • Mr. A.J. PENDLEBURY
    4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable debut.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I normally avoid potential vapid pastiche ( cosy ...ugh) crime books but an informative blog suggested that this could be far better than the dire usual suspects. Although the Brighton settings are very well done, I didn't get a strong sense of the 1930's . At least there weren't the usual mis -settings ,but the dialogue just didn't quite click for me.

    The theatrical parts were really tremendous ( better than the ubiquitous Ngaio Marsh always trotted out in theatrical mysteries ) . I found the ending to be imaginative and in the best GAD spirit . I am looking forward to the follow up.
    For GAD fans who enjoy the Brighton setting ,I would strongly suggest the Peter Bartram series set in the 1960's ; these have spot on settings and faster moving story lines .
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  • Ben Peyton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jolly good read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Pour a cup of tea, put your feet up, nibble on a cucumber sandwich, tune in to Classic FM, and lose yourself in Jamie West’s charmingly English debut novel, Death on the Pier.

    Set in Brighton during the 1930s, Jamie West has crafted a story full of vivid detail that only someone with inside knowledge of the theatre could create. A murder committed onstage during a live performance of a play leads to playwright Bertie Carroll (make sure you spell that correctly) and his policeman chum DI Hugh Chapman attempting to solve the mystery of whodunnit and why.

    What I particularly enjoyed about Jamie’s writing was how quickly the main players were introduced. It was easy to envisage the story unfolding on a screen and the Poirot and Death in Paradise vibes are strong.

    Something as simple as cutting sandwiches into squares or triangles oozes charm and this book is a joy to read. Incredibly quaint and wholesome, the denouement is well worth waiting for.

    It was a pleasure to tread the boards with Bertie and Hugh in Brighton and I can’t wait to see what Jamie comes up with next.
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  • River Lee
    2.0 out of 5 stars Dull
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The plot took a long time to evolve. SPOILER ALERT! It seemed to me that if there was a top detective from Scotland Yard present he should have taken the lead when the final resolution was given, not let his friend do it. I know it was set in the 1930s - but a professional stepping back to let an amateur in . . . nah! The characters were well delineated and mostly avoided obvious stereotypes. The book felt very slowly paced and this made it seem dull. I might read another Bertie Carroll Mystery - not sure!
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