MURDER. It is a subject matter which always piques an audience’s interest.

For acclaimed author Peter James, he has made a living from the subject and the world of his protagonist Dectective Superintendant Roy Grace.

Not Dead Enough is the third of the writer’s work to be adapted by Shaun McKenna for the stage, and the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton is tonight’s setting where the mystery unfolds.

The show opens with a single spotlight shining on Katie Bishop, played by Charlotte Sutherland, chatting on the phone to her son who is Canada.

Moments later a dark masked figure appears from the never ending blackness to drag Katie away to commint the crime, setting the scene.

Enter DS Grace, embodied during this show’s tour being excellently portrayed by Shane Richie, who plays a credible detective quite different in persona to the roles he is normally associated with.

Along with his mortician girlfriend Cleo Morley, played by the energetic Laura Whitemore, Grace has one prime suspect to the murder of Katie Bishop, her husband.

Star of the show was Stephen Billington’s frantic, yet methodical Brian Bishop, becomes increasingly agitated with the detective’s line of questioning – but has his own secrets he is keeping close to his chest.

The play occurs between the mortuary, interview room and police station, with the set cleverly split across the stage with lighting used to focus attention on the relevant scene.

With the intensity of James’ books difficult to charm into a two-and-a-half-hour show, director Ian Talbot adds elements of comedy to lighten up the otherwise bleak subject matter.

Not Dead Enough really comes to life after the interval as the dialogue between Richie and Grace becomes blurred with Billington a more sinister version of Bishop.

Full of unexpected twists as the characters divulge their untold stories, Not Dead Enough and Peter James keeps the audience guessing right until the end.

Not Dead Enough will be on at the Mayflower until March 11, for more information and tickets visit mayflower.org.uk.