INTERNATIONAL best-selling crime thriller novelist Peter James – who has sold over 15 million books of his Roy Grace series and been published in 36 languages – has had his work adapted for the stage for the very first time.

Ian Talbot directs The Perfect Murder, which spent 15 weeks at No.1 in the book charts, has been adapted by Lord of the Rings the musical writer Shaun McKenna and will come to the Mayflower Theatre next week.

It stars Les Dennis, direct from playing King Arthur in the West End version of Spamalot and the grand final of Celebrity Masterchef and Claire Goose, who starred in the BBC hit series Waking the Dead and Casualty.

Victor Smiley and his wife Joan have been married for a long time. But Victor secretly loathes Joan and is getting attention elsewhere.

And Joan is bored stiff by Victor, whose irritating ways are driving her mad. The marriage has reached a crisis point and Victor decides there is only one way to go!

Peter James told Your Entertainment: “I dreamed of one day having a play of my own work produced. This is now truly a dream come true and I don’t think we could have a more perfect, murderously wonderful cast!”

n The Perfect Murder runs Tuesday to Saturday.

n Lorelei Reddin’s full interview with author Peter James, in which they talk stalkers and revenge, appears in tomorrow’s Seven Days magazine, free with the Daily Echo.