Suddenly At Home, a classic thriller by master of suspense Francis Durbridge, isn’t a whodunnit but a “will-the-murderer-get-away-with-it”, and deserved a bigger audience at Devonshire Park Theatre on Wednesday.

Ben Roddy is convincing as scheming husband Glenn Howard, who kills wealthy wife Maggie (Susan Thorpe) for her money and to have a new life with his mistress.

Glenn’s plan is to put the blame on his wife’s former lover, writer Sam Blaine (Marcus Hutton, pictured), and to do this he needs the help of the dizzy Sheila Wallis (Jo Castleton).

Some of Durbridge’s characters are almost caricatures but the touch of menace that John Hester provides in supercilious interrogator Remick is brilliant.

Philip Stewart, who also directs the play, gives a lighter touch to Inspector Appleton, while Claire Vousden portrays both the soft and suspicious nature of Maggie’s sister Helen. But Vousden, like Roddy, does not show enough grief upon hearing that Maggie has been murdered. Lara Lemon, as obliging au pair Ruth, completes a fine cast.

Stewart’s sensitive direction and Geoff Gilder’s authentic 1960s set help maximise some neat twists.

Suddenly At Home is the second in a thriller season presented by Talking Scarlet and Eastbourne Theatres – and both provide great entertainment.