There's good reason why British-born Agatha Christie is known as the Queen of Mystery. During her long and prolific career as a writer of short stories, novels and plays, she created works of fiction that are now considered masterpieces of the genre: Mousetrap, Murder on the Orient Express and Witness for the Prosecution.

Written in the early 1950s as a short story, and later adapted for the stage, Witness for the Prosecution is classic Christie, and the Chilliwack Players Guild brings the story to the stage.

The story revolves around a young man, Leonard Vole, who is accused of murdering an older woman, Miss Emily French, by bludgeoning her to death. Sir Wilfred Robarts, QC, agrees to take on the case.

When it is revealed that Miss French has left her considerable fortune to Leonard, his guilt seems assured, and Sir Wilfred is left scrambling to produce a witness who can corroborate his client's whereabouts on the night of the murder. Enter Christine Vole, the accused's wife, who offers an airtight alibi for her husband. But all is not as it seems. In a stunning turn of events, Christine becomes the star witness for the prosecution, testifying against her husband, and the defence must discredit her in order to prove Leonard's innocence.

Witness for the Prosecution is directed by Janet Carroll, whose most recent foray into directing for the Guild won best show at the 2007 Fraser Valley Zone Festival, and runner up for best show at the provincial level. As the Halloween season approaches, Carroll hopes audiences will take advantage of the spooky mystery. "For this time of the year when folks are heading indoors and looking for something to do on a long, cool, rainy fall evening, going to a really well done murder mystery seems like the perfect thing to do," she said.

? Don't miss this nail-biting, who-dunnit, Oct. 13 to 15 and Oct. 19 to 22 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. All show times are at 7: 30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and can be purchased by calling 604-391-7469, or through the Chilliwack Cultural Centre's website.