Murder by the Book

Authors

Alvin Community College

Files

Description

Set in London, "Murder by the Book" is a lighthearted inventive play filled with twists, dark humor, and playful deception. A thriller writer indulges in vitriolic word duels with his estranged wife until she shoots him. An amateur detective from the next flat attempts to solve the murder before calling the police. More deadly games are in store when the corpse rises and the tables are turned more than once for the victim and the killers.

Publication Date

Winter 1992

Document Type

Playbill

Publisher

Alvin Community College

City

Alvin

Keywords

Theater, play, comedy, dark humor, thriller

Disciplines

Theatre and Performance Studies

Comments

The story centers on a self-important mystery writer who is locked in bitter arguments with his estranged wife. Their conflict escalates dramatically when she appears to shoot and kill him. Before the police are called, a curious amateur detective from the neighboring apartment steps in to solve the case, but things quickly become far more complicated than they seem. As the plot unfolds, the “murder” proves anything but straightforward. The supposedly dead writer reappears, alliances shift, and multiple characters reveal hidden motives. With each twist, the play blurs the line between victim and culprit, turning the situation into a clever game of manipulation and misdirection. Overall, it’s a witty, fast-paced stage mystery that mixes suspense with comedy, keeping audiences guessing as the story repeatedly turns expectations upside down.

Recommended Citation

Alvin Community College, "Murder by the Book" (1992). Season 1992-1993. 2.
https://archives.alvincollege.edu/productions_1992-1993/2