Murder With Love contains the right ingredients for a gripping thriller – lies, deceit, hatred, blackmail and, of course, murder, but it is not one of Francis Durbridge’s best whodunnits.

The audience is given too many facts to digest, and much of the first act is taken up explaining past relationships between characters involved in a complex plot.

But we are kept guessing who has apparently killed the unscrupulous Larry Campbell (Nick Barclay) and Fleet Street columnist Jo Mitchell (Liz Garland).

Barclay and Garland give fine performances, while Corrinne Wicks excels as Campbell’s mistress, TV presenter Clare Norman, and John Hester makes an excellent Inspector.

Chris Sheridan is also convincing as sinister George Rudd, but Tom Butcher less so as barrister David Ryder, whose wife died while having an affair with Campbell. Ryder shows little emotion even when confronting his enemy with a gun.

Designer Geoff Gilder provides an excellent 1970s set, split into two locations – the living room of Campbell’s flat and the drawing-room of Ryder’s house. Clever lighting changes by Keith Tuttle help director David Janson ensure the action switches smoothly from one to the other.

Durbridge, the creator of legendary detective Paul Temple, redeems himself with some unexpected twists.

Three stars