Harriet Godwin (Rebecca Charles) has devised a murder mystery game to entertain her guests.  She is a serious looking woman married to Forbes Masson whose charms are always lost on me. He is probably a very good actor!  Her four guests are Rebus and his lady lawyer, a casino owning business man in bespoke tweed suit, Jack Fleming (Billy Hartman) a widower in his 60s, and his squeeze is a provocatively dressed young woman in a low cut, very short red dress.  She is Candida Jones (Emily Noakes) and describes herself as a social influencer.  Candida is from a completely different milieu to the other hosts and guests but she makes a living reporting on the rich and celebrated.  She and Jack make an incongruous couple. 

In speeches to the audience which frame the action, John Rebus will explain how he “reads the room”, studying it, noticing certain truths staring you in the face. John Michie is such a impressive fit for John Rebus with his sharp intellect and dry wit. Michie’s Rebus has the air of unconventionality, hinting at Rebus’s attractively rebellious nature.  Despite the shallow fashion of her social media career, Candida is very bright and maybe we have a new wingman here for Rebus. Rebus is happy to use Candida’s excellent internet research skills.  There is some history between Rebus and Jack Fleming, and Fleming shows his dislike of policemen by recalling a mutual acquaintance.