IT is a much-read book, a Peter Jackson film and now a world-premiered stage play – 'Lovely Bones' reaches a whole new audience with each and every heart-felt re-telling.

Susie Salmon (Charlotte Beaumont) is an ordinary, likeable Pennsylvania school girl back in 1973, sparkling like her charm bracelet.

Ms Salmon has a crush on a boy from school ... she has dreams.

Shockingly, there's a catch. Our caring heroine was raped and murdered - she is dead.

From heaven, she can now only observe life as she once knew it, while her family cope with their individual and collective grief.

There are so many dramatic pulses in this well-paced, 100 minute production as it conveys grief and redemption over a 12-year period.

There is no interval so the momentum is never lost.

Her father, Jack (Jack Sandle) is obsessed with identifying the creepy killer Mr Harvey (Keith Dunphy).

Her mother, Abigail (Emily Beavan) needs to get away from the emotional maze.

And Susie's sister, Lindsay (Ayoola Smart) is discovering the opposite sex with experiences that she will never know.

It is a coming-of-age tale with humour and music skilfully brought to the stage for the first time with inspired story telling techniques.

Director Melly Still, designer Ana Ines Jabares-Pita, lighting designer Matt Haksins and a versatile cast of ten create a visually stunning production.

There’s atmospheric music by Dave Price and songs from the period including: Talking Heads, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Tears for Fears and Simon and Garfunkel.

An on-stage tilted mirror is like a glass sky where we can all reflect on Susie's re-awakening.

Inventive puppetry and mime make this an outstanding piece of theatre that demands your attention from the electrifying opening to the very satisfying, unforgettable closure.

Chilling, thrilling, and scintillating - four stars

'Lovely Bones' is at the Everyman until October 6.

Tickets from the box office on 0151 709 4776