His niece, a detective story writer, has to put her theories into practice by solving a real-life murder mystery.

The film was shot at the Kensington Studios in London with sets were designed by the art director Bernard Robinson.

With the exception of one brief location shot, the action is confined to interior sets (which gives the film rather the look of a television production) ; there is over-much talk and the plot, though stereotyped, seems unnecessarily involved.

"[5] Three Steps in the Dark appears to have been a programmer closely following the standard whodunit template, with Today's Cinema offering the analysis: "The film has a measure of well tried appeal in the matter of 'spotting the killer' and in anticipating the surprise revelation of his identity in the climax.

"[citation needed] There is no indication that the film was ever shown publicly again in cinemas or on television following its initial run.