It is April 1935. Moonstone Theatre Company have been performing their whodunit play “Final Curtain” at the Palace Theatre in Paignton.

The play ends just after the murderer is accidentally shot dead in a scuffle with the story’s detective Chief Inspector Turner. Unfortunately, at this afternoon’s matinee the actor playing the murderer in the play was actually shot during the scuffle and died on stage as the play concluded. Someone had switched the blanks in the gun for real bullets but who, and why?

Detective Chief Inspector Charles Appleby of the Devon Constabulary is in charge of the investigation which takes place on stage at the theatre shortly after the play “Final Curtain” has finished.