Laying bare the criminality of the fine art underworld and the spurious characters who inhabit it, there was no mistaking that foul play was afoot from the outset.

As blood oozed from the Picture You Dead curtain backdrop, the voice of author Peter James himself warned of the dire consequences of keeping your phones on during the performance.

Caution noted, the stage adaptation of his novel makes compulsive watching.

Interestingly, the story of Picture You Dead, which is set in Brighton, was inspired by Peter’s meeting with real life art forger and now acclaimed copyist, David Henty.

The plot centres on an innocent, vivacious and easy-to-like couple, Harry and Freya Kipling, who become caught up in an alien world of deception, intrigue and murder after unwittingly buying what could be a long-lost masterpiece for £20 in a car boot sale.

Thinking they would ditch the painting and keep its opulent frame, they firstly test the water as to its worth with ex-con David Hegarty, an affable artist and copier who is tempted to ‘cross the line.’

On discovering the painting’s jaw-dropping potential financially, they are plunged into an ocean of murky water, where lies, forgeries, unsavory characters and murder - perpetrated by those who will stop at nothing to get their hands on works of art - are the norm.

Enter stage right DSI Roy Grace, who is affable, conscientious and emotionally intelligent. The literary phenomenon then becomes embroiled in a new art related killing while seeking to solve a cold murder case.

To reveal any more at this stage would spoil the performance for you.

What I can say is that the cast oozed with talent. George Rainsford, of Casualty and Holby City fame, was brilliant as the cherished DSI Roy Grace. Ably assisted by the diligent and detailed DS Bella Moy (Gemma Stroyan), the duo makes a first-class detective team.

We feel for, and sympathise with, the emotional rollercoaster Harry and Freya Kipling, beautifully portrayed by Ben Cutler and Fiona Wake, undergo and are charmed by the cheeky, multi-faceted Dave Hegarty (Peter Ash).

A trio of dastardly villains kept us on the edge of our seats. For me the most outstanding performance was from Jodie Steele as the aptly named Roberta Kilgore complete with killer heels, a killer instinct and larger than life personality.

We also loved to hate Nicholas Maude as the obsessive, egotistical and revoltingly slick art collector, Stuart Piper, and almost felt sympathy for low level con Archie Goff (Mark Oxtoby) who was coerced into re-offending.

High praise must also go to the play’s shiny-shoed and bow-tied Adam Morris as the over-exaggerated Antiques Roadshow presenter Oliver de Souza.

The wealth of talent extends to award-winning Director Jonathan O’Boyle, Lighting Designer Jason Taylor, Composer and Sound Designer Max Pappenheim and last, but far from least, the brilliant sets from Design Adrian Linford.

The attention to detail of the diverse locations including the Kipling’s home, a sumptuous lounge packed with fine art and a modern police station – are top notch.

With more twists and turns than a big dipper, Picture You Dead is enticing, enthralling and entertaining.

Picture You Dead plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday May 17, 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or the Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

Details of the UK tour 2025, which includes forthcoming performances at the Sheffield Lyceum and the Bradford Alhambra, can be found here.