I’ve loved Agatha Christie ever since I picked up my first Miss Marple as a young teenager, bored one winter school holiday afternoon at my grandparents’ house.

Fast forward a couple of decades and I think it’s fair to say that the books I’ve yet to read could probably be counted on one hand, although I ever in live in hope of a charity shop gem still to be discovered.

The exception to this has always been her famous play The Mousetrap – so beloved that it could even give mustachioed Monsieur Poirot and his little grey cells a run for their money. Mon Dieu!

Happily, on Tuesday I was able to tick this one off the list also, after the touring anniversary production came to Truro’s Hall for Cornwall at the start of the week, running until Saturday.

Originally written by Christie as a radio play in 1947 for Queen Mary’s 80th birthday, called Three Blind Mice, extensive reworking turned it into The Mousetrap, with it first coming to stage in 1952.

Despite its fame, I knew nothing of the storyline and certainly not ‘whodunnit’ – not bad for something that is 70 years old this year.

This, no doubt, is in no small part down to the fact that at the end of each performance the cast hush the cheering audience to say that each person gathered there was now part of the secret, and the conclusion of the show must not be revealed.

I’m not about to start breaking any such confidentiality, so rest assured this review will remain spoiler-free.

Of course it’s not giving anything away to say that at one point or another almost every character on stage comes under suspicion, such is the merry dance that Christie likes to lead readers – and audience members – on.

This is wonderfully characterised right from the very start of the play, when a radio broadcast tells of a murder that has taken place in London, with the suspect wearing a dark overcoat, scarf and light felt hat.

Naturally, almost everyone arriving at Monkswell Manor is wearing such clothing and it’s not lost on the audience that these are the very items collected up one by one, very purposefully, by the lady owner of the guest house, Mollie Ralston (played by Rachel Dawson), to great comedic effect, on more than one occasion.

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It is the opening day of the new guest house run by Mollie and her husband Giles (played by Michael Lyle, who the eagle-eyed may recognise as appearing in one episode of EastEnders in April this year, as the councillor that Amy Mitchell sees along with Jack Branning and Denise Fox).

It proves an eventful beginning, with a heavy snow storm, unexpected visitors and – essential to any Agatha Christie – murder.

Among those gathered are the idiosyncratic, almost childlike Christopher Wren, played to great effect by Shan McCourt, along with the modern, trouser-wearing Miss Casewell (Leigh Lothian).

They are joined by Major Metcalf and Mrs Boyle – played by two well known faces for many audience members. Actor Todd Carty, best known for his role as Tucker in Grange Hill and later Mark Fowler in EastEnders and PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill, is transformed into the gruff, retired army major, while Catherine Shipton, who was Duffy in Casualty for more than 30 years, helps breathe new life into this classic murder mystery by breaking out of her scrubs and into a tweed skirt suit to play the wonderfully snooty, hard-to-please Mrs Boyle.

Finally, foreigner Mr Paravicini (Steven Elliott) adds some colour to proceedings when he arrives without a booking.

Then an unexpected phone call leads to the arrival of Detective Sergeant Trotter (Garyn Williams) and the situation quickly begins to unravel.

As confusion and suspicion grows between the characters, the lights slowly dim until it is almost dark on stage, mirroring the lack of trust each person feels.

Plenty of secrets are revealed as the play leads up to its dramatic conclusion.

If you’re a fan of a whodunnit without the desire for jumps and scares, this is the play for you. It’s a gentle production that is even suitable for older children, depending on their disposition – and a number were there on the night I attended.

The Mousetrap runs each evening until Saturday, with additional 2.30pm matinees today (Thursday) and Saturday; there is very limited ticket availability across all days, so act fast!