As a devotee of such murder mystery shows as The Midsomer Murders and The Mousetrap, I am always cheered to see The Mill at Sonning's offerings in this genre.

The reason is because they always do such a good job.

Suspenseful and intriguing, Time to Kill is well up to the usual high standard.

Written by Leslie Darbon, the play has a nifty plot set in Henley, where an idyllic, genteel lifestyle masks a hotbed of middle-class intrigue and passion.

It is quite a tongue-in-cheek take on discreet suburban misbehaviour, murder and mayhem.

The outstanding comedic skills of Maxine Gregory as the daffy trophy-wife, Liz, ensures the evening sparkles with fun despite the plot revolving around such dark themes as marital disharmony, suicide, and betrayal.

There is definitely meat to be found, as well as laughs, in this fine evening of intrigue.

The story concerns a group of housewives (of the desperate sort, naturally), who use their coffee mornings for other than the usual good causes.

On this particular morning, hostess Maggie - played by Vicki Hopps - rigs up a kangaroo court of her and her pals to bring local lothario, Alan, to some sort of rough justice.

He is hilariously portrayed by Richard Calkin, who nearly steals the show from the ladies. They believe he is responsible for the suicide of their friend, with whom they suspect he was having an affair.

Like Pandora before them, the women of Riverside Park learn painfully what happens when you open a box of secrets, as the twists and turns of the plot end up wounding every one of them.

Expertly directed by Sally Hughes, this is a gripping piece - and all the better for the interleaving of suspense with some fine humour, all of which is very well presented by the ensemble cast.

It runs until November 25. This is a gripping piece - all the better for interleaving suspense with some fine humour'