It was as good a stage thriller as I’d seen in years, I thought during the interval. But then came the second half of Dead Simple - and slight disappointment.

Only slight, let me stress. Much remains to enjoy in Shaun McKenna’s deft adaptation of Peter James’s novel which features his Brighton-based hero Det Supt Roy Grace.

Alas, this did not, in my case, include lengthy consideration of who might be the principal villain, this being fairly obvious way before the end.

The play starts brilliantly with a stag party joke pulled on property developer Michael Harrison (Lewis Collier).

He has form where these are concerned himself, so his mates decide to repay him with massive interest – by burying him alive in a coffin in a remote wood, with the intention of releasing him after a short period of terror.

I am not giving too much away by saying that the plan goes massively wrong.

The burial party drive off (why isn’t clear) and are involved in an accident in which all are killed.

Who is to release Michael? No one knows where he is - including his best pal and business partner Mark Warren (Matt Milburn), who was not in on the plan.

His distraught fiancee Ashley Harper (Louise Stewart) eventually calls in the police and Grace (Gwynfor Jones) begins investigations with his assistant Det Sgt Glenn Branson (Vincent Jerome).

Meanwhile, Ashley’s uncle Bradley Cunningham (Martyn Stanbridge), having arrived from Canada for the wedding, supplies what comfort he can.

Adding to the plot’s satisfying twists is a clearly autistic youth from the accident recovery company who comes across the walkie-talkie linking with Michael and is therefore able to receive his messages from the grave.

Directed by Keith Myers and with an excellent set from Alex Marker, the play is on till March 11.

For tickets go to millatsonning.com.

CHRISTOPHER GRAY 4/5