Done to Death

A classic fair play mystery that blends the community spirit of Detectorists with the eccentricity and invention of Jonathan Creek.

Asta Norris is the latest member of the small town Wickleford Whodunnit Book Club, where her seen-it-all attitude isn’t winning her many friends. But when the club is caught up in a murder mystery of its own, might Asta be the only one who can bust through the cosy crime cliches and sort fact from fiction?

Asta is an expert on the ‘dying message’ convention from countless detective tales, so when a member of the book club is found dead next to a mysterious message, it seems like a clue tailor-made for her. But this cryptic scribble doesn’t fit any of the solutions Asta has seen in the stories.

The suspects include Selina Rand, stern and irascible librarian, her brow beaten daughter Jenny, and the snooty, snarky social-climber Shabana. Meanwhile, they’re all suspicious of Asta.

At Asta’s investigative right hand is Young Chuck, her would-be Watson. While he’s instantly charmed by Asta's quick wit, Chuck sees much more depth in Wickleford, the small town Asta is so ready to dismiss. Can Chuck convince Asta of the good in Wickleford even as she works to root out the wicked?

The most popular genre in the world has its fans, none more so than writer Brendon Connelly and his star detective Asta Norris, and they both have plenty to say about it….

Asta Norris -Saffron Coomber
Chuck Norris - Caleb Obediah
Selina Rand - Liz Carr
Jenny - Cerrie Burnell
Shabana -Nina Wadia
Iris -Tamsin Merchant
Daniel - Pete Gold
Asta’s mum - Maryam d’Abo

Writer : Brendon Connelly
Director : Polly Thomas
Sound designer : Fiona Thraille
Original music : Katherine Seaton
Casting : Ceyda Uzun
Producer : Sarah Golding
Executive Producer : David Beck

A Wireless Theatre production for BBC Radio 4