It is not often that a murderer announces the time and place of his or her crime, but in A Murder is Announced, that is precisely what happens. One Friday morning, the residents of the village of Chipping Cleghorn, are invited to attend a murder at a neighbour’s house. The murder is apparently due to take place that evening at 6.30.

Of course, everyone thinks it is a joke of some kind, or maybe some new parlour game, and several people turn up eager to find out what it’s all about. However, events take a sinister turn and punctually at the stated time, a death does occur.

What a very clever idea of Agatha Christie this is – a murderer who actually invites people to witness his or her villainy.

The are several different threads winding in and out, but it is an extremely well-plotted tale and one which, when all is revealed, has you admitting that the clues were there if only you had been clever enough to see them.

Miss Marple is, as always, quietly brilliant and there are some interesting and likeable characters in this play.

A definite must-see for all Agatha Christie fans.