Fatal Encounter Lyceum Theatre, Crewe

PUBLISHER Howard Mansfield (Michael Howe) is a puzzled man. His wife Joanna (Anita Harris) is behaving oddly and won't say why. Eventually she promises to tell him everything but only later in the evening.

Then Howard comes home early to find Joanna in the same room as a blood-stained body. At this point, instead of insisting on an explanation, as any normal person would, Howard packs his wife off to their country cottage promising to sort things out.

All a little far-fetched, but this is perhaps to be expected in the darkly devious world of Francis Durbridge, whose thriller Fatal Encounter twists and turns through mystery and murder. Indeed, as one riddle appears to be solved, another presents itself, so that Howard – and the audience – are kept guessing.

Who, therefore, is the elusive Mr Big behind all the blackmail? Why is secretary Hilary Van Zale (Miranda Magee) so worried? And why does Grace Kingsley (Susan Skipper) not turn up for an important board meeting?

A further puzzle might be the absence of mobile phones in a play set – according to the programme – in the present.

That said, this Ian Dickens production sees solid performances from Nicholas Ball, as Chief Inspector Coldwell, and particularly from Michael Howe, on stage in all 10 scenes.

Fatal Encounter runs until Saturday, February 20. Tickets available from 01270 537 333.

Paul Gubbins