When it comes to Peter James, it seems I am late to the party. Twenty-one of his books have made it to number one on the Sunday Times bestseller list, the cases of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace (his much-loved fictional sleuth) have been adapted for a hit TV series, and he is the recipient of numerous honours, including the WHSmith award for Best Crime Writer of All Time. Even Queen Camilla is a fan!

The stage adaptation of Picture You Dead was, however, my first encounter with Peter James’ work. It is a true tale of ‘be careful what you wish for’; when Freya and Harry Kipling (Fiona Wade and Ben Cutler) pay peanuts for a priceless work of art at a car boot sale, it seems like a dream too good to be true - and of course, it is. A cold case resurfaces, further murders follow, and only Roy Grace (George Rainsford) can solve the crime. In the best tradition of detective stories, little is what it seems. The plot twists and turns, and we learn that beneath the seemingly upper-crust and respectable world of fine art lies a world of deception and threat.

The essence of a tale such as this must have been used a thousand times before, and yet this production (adapted from James’ novel for the stage by Shaun McKenna) is surprisingly fresh. The energy levels are high, the plot is fast-paced. Rainsford, as Grace, brings a suitable level of gravitas and insight to the role, ably supported by his ever-faithful sidekick Bella Moy (Gemma Stroyan). Elements of surprise come thick and fast, and few of last night’s audience (those who have not read the novel, at least) could have anticipated the conclusion.

A split set gives us an insight into three homes simultaneously: the Kiplings’ cosy nest, the opulent lair of art dealer and crook Stuart Piper (Ore Oduba), and the (surprisingly tidy) artist’s studio of Dave Hegarty (Mark Oxtoby), a copyist by trade (that is, one who copies the work of great artists but who makes no claim that his work is the genuine article). This onstage arrangement works well, and the fact that we flit between three settings without the need for scenery changes serves only to maintain the pace of the show.

This, ultimately, is a play that does exactly what it promises to do, and theatre-goers who have bought a ticket to enjoy a classic thriller set in modern times will not be disappointed. Picture You Dead makes for an extremely charming evening. It’s a lovely bit of escapism, and the appeal of Peter James’ work is not hard to understand; a classic whodunnit can surely never fail to entertain, and Picture You Dead is no exception.

Four stars

Picture You Dead was reviewed by Rachel Smith on Tuesday 24 June at Birmingham’s The Alexandra, where it shows until this Saturday 28 June.