A dinner party of assorted folk gather in an affluent area of Glasgow, the hostess has planned a murder mystery game with thinly veiled secrets of unrest and conflict, leaving the guests to find the murderer.
The Company of Rebus: A Game Called Malice | Photo © Nobby Clark
In perfect fashion, a body is found, and Rebus is forced into action.
This is a far cry from the hard-nosed detective of old.
The opulent dining room setting designed by Terry Parsons, brings a sense of Agatha Christie, but the clues are there if you can pick them out from the general chatter.
The static setting leaves little for character development but the cast works well together. Gray O’Brien is a softer but still as sharp Rebus whilst Harriet Godwin (Teresa Banham) is the hostess.
There is conflict between Billy Harman (Jack Flemming) and Neil Mckinven (Paul Godwin) sets an early tension. Jade Kennedy (Candida) as the influencer much younger guest has a pivotal role whilst Abigail Thaw (Stephanie Jeffries) completes the cast.
For fans of Ian Rankin, this may feel a little tame and with two acts at just 40 minutes, each leaves a strange sense of being incomplete or lacking the detail of previous stories.
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Reviewer: Petra Schofield
