AND Then There Were None was first published as a novel in 1939, but took a further four years to come to the stage.
Almost 70 years on, the story is Agatha Christie's most popular by a mile - selling well over 100 million copies.
And seeing The Agatha Christie Theatre Company's adaptation at the Connaught, it's not difficult to see why.
Despite the interveni
ng years, the story has weathered remarkably well and is perfectly capable of keeping a modern-day audience riveted.
Eight disparate guests are invited to an island off the coast of Devon in mysterious circumstances, all bemused by their invitation from a total stranger.
It soon emerges that each individual has a "guilty" past, and it takes only a couple of deaths before it's realised they mirror a rhyme, "Ten Little Soldier Boys", hanging on the wall, that predicts their murders.
Missing figurines from the mantlepiece, as each person is killed, add a chilling twist.
Gerald Harper - can it really be 40 years since TV's Adam Adamant? - gives a remarkably measured performance as Sir Lawrence Wargrave, conveying just the right air of authority expected from a retired judge.
Mark Wynter - as Dr Edward Armstrong - and Ray Lonnen - William Blore - give notable support. Georgina Bouzova (Casualty), Jennifer Wilson (The Brothers) and Bruce Montague (Butterflies) add plenty of interest for "What were they in?" TV spotters.
However, there is the odd discordant voice that almost borders on parody (one too many "Wizard show" for comfort) and it's a shame so many lines have to be shouted - making some of them more or less unintelligible.
Over the years, various productions have tinkered with the plot, characters - and even, absurdly, the ending.
Thankfully, though, this performance is faithful to the spirit of Christie's original.
A low body count before the interval leads to a wonderfully pacey second half, as the killings escalate, heralded by an excellent thunderous musical introduction as the curtain re-opens.
As each successive body is discovered, suspicion spreads, which makes for some splendid dialogue.
And Then There Were None runs until Saturday, November 22.
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