Mystery Clue
How Do I Host a Murder Mystery Game
How do I host a Murder Mystery game?
By: John Delaney
Copyright 2006 John Delaney
Murder Mystery party games are a very popular form of entertainment. They can provide a lively evening of sleuthing fun for a dinner party, a birthday party or any other party night. They can take place at home, at a venue such as a theatre or a castle or even on a train.
The most popular murder mystery parties are the parties held at home, often around a meal. Parties for home use fall in two types. The boxed murder mystery game has been around for many years and typically consist of the invitations, costume ideas, menus, player booklets, introductory cassette, clues and a solution.
Downloadable murder mystery party games are a much newer and a rapidly growing type of game. Games provided by some on-line retailers allow the host to set up the party details on-line and send the invitations by email (or on paper if they prefer). The game is then downloaded and printed out ready for the guests. Some games even have interactive CSI type fingerprint analysis.
When choosing which game you would like you firstly need to decide how many people to have as guests. The maximum number recommended for a dinner party game is fourteen, although twelve is a slightly easier number to cope with. The most popular number of players is eight with the majority of games designed for this number of guests. If it is your first party a group of eight players is probably the best option.
Once you have decided on the number of guests you need to choose a theme. There are many themes available, especially in the downloadable market. Some are themed around a particular holiday such as Halloween or St. Valentine’s Day. Other games are themed around Pirates, highwaymen, secret agents, tropical islands, or an Egyptian murder mystery.
Try to choose a theme to suit the occasion and your guests. For example if your guests are fun loving and enjoy dressing up then a pirate or vampire themed party can be a lot of fun.
Once you have chosen a theme then you need to send out invitations either by e-mail or on paper (try to allocate guests to characters they will be comfortable with).
Many murder mystery games include menu suggestions to help you plan the food for your party but these are only a guide and the choice of dinner, buffet or other alternatives should suit the occasion.
Some people decorate the party venue to suit the theme with Halloween a very popular time to do this especially for vampire or Haunted House murder mysteries.
Similarly with the characters the more effort that the guests go to the more fun they can have. The trick is to adapt the costume so the guests don’t have to hire costumes if they don’t wish to. For example an old white evening shirt with a few frills sewn on can be useful for a pirate or highwayman outfit. Just use your imagination and let your guests know that they can be flexible with their costumes.
On the night you may encounter a mix of players who take their sleuthing very seriously and others who just want to have fun. The art of organising a great murder mystery is to cater for all tastes. Make sure that the guests listen when one of the other players is reading their clues or asking questions but also let the ‘louder’ guests have their fun.
If you follow a few of these suggestions then you should have a great murder mystery party and you’ll find that boring parties are off the menu for ever.
For more information about murder mystery games visit www.playmurdermystery.com
About the Author
A murder mystery writer living in the UK.
The Dan Fielding Mystery - Another Clue
 |
 NEW The Chocolate Castle Clue A Chocoholic Mystery $3.65 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 11m Buy It Now for only: $3.65 Buy It Now |
 GET A CLUE MYSTERIES Story Jigsaw Puzzle THE MYSTERIOUS MANSION New 250 pc $7.00 Time Remaining: 10h 13m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now |
 NEW The Chocolate Castle Clue A Chocoholic Mystery $3.65 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 6m Buy It Now for only: $3.65 Buy It Now |
 CLUE MYSTERIES DECODING DETECTIVE GAME 2005 50 COMPELLING CASES TO SOLVE $14.00 Time Remaining: 12h 53m |
 1986 CLUE GAME THE CLASSIC CRIME MYSTERY GAME COMPLETE $9.00 Time Remaining: 10h 50m Buy It Now for only: $9.00 Buy It Now |
 Nancy Drew The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society Nintendo DS 2008 $4.95 Time Remaining: 1d 26m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 Buy It Now |
 NEW The Chocolate Castle Clue A Chocoholic Mystery $4.74 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 32m Buy It Now for only: $4.74 Buy It Now |
 A guide to the Mysteries of Ultima V 5 Paths of Destiny Hint Clue Book RARE $34.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 53m |
 19 Scooby Doo Chapter Book Lot Collect the Clues Scooby Doo Mysteries Scholastic $19.99 Time Remaining: 28d 10h 18m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 2008 Clue the Board Game Solve the Mystery Complete All Pieces Included $3.50 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 28m |
 The Clue In The Old Album Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Book 24 Good Books $8.74 Time Remaining: 29d 7h Buy It Now for only: $8.74 Buy It Now |
 Nancy Drew Mystery The Clue in the Diary 1932 Hard Cover Carolyn Keene $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 52m |
 Lot of 9 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories CAROLYN Keene Hardcover Books Clue Secret $16.95 Time Remaining: 20d 4h 2m Buy It Now for only: $16.95 Buy It Now |
 Ultima Underworld Hint Clue Book Mysteries of the Abyss RARE $19.99 Time Remaining: 1d 16h 1m |
 The Chocolate Castle Clue A Chocoholic Mystery $4.88 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 32m Buy It Now for only: $4.88 Buy It Now |
 Nancy Drew Mysteries PC Book 28 The Clue of the Black Key Bill Gillies Illus $3.99 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 26m |
 Nintendo DS Nancy Drew The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society New Sealed $14.99 Time Remaining: 26d 2h 52m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 Buy It Now |
 Dana Girls Mystery 18 The Clue of the Black Flower by Keene w illus $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 38m |
 Lot 9 CLUE Clue Jr YOU BE THE JURY Kids Solve the Mystery Books $12.50 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 55m Buy It Now for only: $12.50 Buy It Now |
 Vintage 1984 MYSTERY MANSION Board Game CLUE Milton Bradley EXCELLENT Moveable $25.00 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 10m Buy It Now for only: $28.99 Buy It Now |
 11 MYSTERY BOOKS CLUE+MYSTIC LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERIES+CAN YOU SOLVE THE MYSTERY $19.88 Time Remaining: 7d 23h 17m Buy It Now for only: $19.88 Buy It Now |
 Clue Mystery Puzzle Garden of Evil 500 Pc Jigsaw Puzzle $7.50 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 32m |
 Room With A Clue Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries by Kate Kingsbury $8.90 Time Remaining: 8d 4h 43m Buy It Now for only: $8.90 Buy It Now |
 Nancy Drew The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society Nintendo DS 2008 $4.99 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 8m |
 1933 Nancy Drew Mystery The Clue in the Diary by Carolyn Keene w 4 Glossies OEP $19.99 Time Remaining: 9h 42m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 THE CLUE IN THE DIARY NANCYS MYSTERIOUS LETTER Keene NANCY DREW GD FINE $5.00 Time Remaining: 2d 8h 25m |
 8 Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Series Book Lot Carolyn Keene Mystery Detective $19.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 3m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 1995 MYSTERY PUZZLE CLUE TO KILL A DYING MAN PARKER BROTHERS 500 PC JIGSAW $2.99 Time Remaining: 2d 11h 17m |
 NEW The Chocolate Castle Clue A Chocoholic Mystery $3.71 Time Remaining: 29d 20h 41m Buy It Now for only: $3.71 Buy It Now |
 Clue Mystery Puzzle Death Foretold 500 Pieces 13 7 8 x 19 7 8 1994 $7.99 Time Remaining: 2d 14h 8m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 Buy It Now |
 CLUE Classic Murder Mystery PC Game WinXP Vista NEW $5.89 Time Remaining: 9d 3h 4m Buy It Now for only: $5.89 Buy It Now |
 The Clue in the Jewel Box The Secret in the Old Attic Nancy Drew Mystery book $3.40 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 10m |
 You Dont Have a Clue Latino Mystery Stories for Teens Sarah Cortez $6.74 Time Remaining: 6d 2h Buy It Now for only: $6.74 Buy It Now |
 Clue VCR Mystery Game Hours of Murder Mystery Fun for VCR Use $14.99 Time Remaining: 2d 22h 59m |
 Nancy Drew The Mystery of the Clue Bender Society Nintendo DS Game $4.99 Time Remaining: 26d 12h 2m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now |
 Clue II Murder in Disguise A VCR Mystery Game $14.99 Time Remaining: 2d 23h |
 Lot 2 Hidden Mysteries White House Ancient Mystery find Object Game clues solve $4.48 Time Remaining: 12d 3h 15m Buy It Now for only: $4.48 Buy It Now |
 Nancy Drew Mystery 11 The Clue of the Broken Locket 1965 $5.99 Time Remaining: 3d 28m |
 Scooby Doo Mysterious Message Storybook Scooby Clues $10.05 Time Remaining: 24d 31m Buy It Now for only: $10.05 Buy It Now |
 Nancy Drew Mystery 2 stories Mystery of Brass Bound Trunk Clue in Old Album $5.99 Time Remaining: 3d 38m |
 Get a Clue 2 solve mystery puzzle book kids New fun $1.39 Time Remaining: 7d 8h 59m Buy It Now for only: $1.39 Buy It Now |
 1987 Clue II Murder in Disguise A VCR Mystery Game Parker Brothers $6.99 Time Remaining: 3d 48m |
 1991 Parker Brothers Clue The Great Museum Caper 3D Art Theft Mystery No 0021 $15.99 Time Remaining: 4d 4h 46m Buy It Now for only: $15.99 Buy It Now |
 The Clue of the Rusty Key Carolyn Keene Dana Girls Mystery Collectible $4.99 Time Remaining: 3d 1h 5m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now |
 GROUP OF 3 NANCY DREW MYSTERY BOOKS Mysterious Letter Haunted Bridge Clue $12.95 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 11m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 Buy It Now |
 Vintage Clue Detective Murder Mystery Game 1963 Edition Parker Brothers $11.99 Time Remaining: 3d 4h 7m |
 16 MYSTERY CARMEN SAN DIEGO books CLUE 1 2 5 8 10 12 13 16 CODEBUSTERS MYS2 $34.99 Time Remaining: 25d 4h 24m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 Buy It Now |
 7 PB Lot Clue Mystery Series Based on Board Game AE Parker Chapter Books $2.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3d 6h 43m |
 CLUE VCR Mystery Game VHS works 1985 Complete $3.95 Time Remaining: 26d 17h 55m Buy It Now for only: $3.95 Buy It Now |
 DANA GIRL MYSTERY STORY THE CLUE OF THE RUSTY KEY BY CAROLYN KEENE 1942 $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 57m |
 Scooby Doo! First Frights List Price: Sale Price: $12.99 You save: $7.00 (35%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionScooby-Doo! First Frights is a 3D action platformer and companion game to "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins," a live-action prequel to the original series which releases on DVD and on the Cartoon Network in Fall 2009...  |
 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors Sale Price: $34.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionJunpei, a fairly normal college student finds himself involved in a deadly conspiracy that he couldn’t have possibly imagined. He awakes aboard an old passenger ferry, dazed and confused he stumbles around the room trying to reclaim his memories... |
 Guilty Party Sale Price: $29.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionDisney Guilty Party is a fun and hilarious mystery party game, exclusively for Wii(TM). Friends and family play as the savvy sleuths of the world-famous Dickens Detective Agency to investigate a series of crimes and identify the guilty party... |
 Scooby Doo First Frights List Price: Sale Price: $14.99 You save: $5.00 (25%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionScooby-Doo! First Frights is a 3D action platformer and companion game to "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins," a live-action prequel to the original series which releases on DVD and on the Cartoon Network in Fall 2009... |
 Deadly Premonition List Price: Sale Price: $19.96 You save: $0.03 (%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionDeadly Premonition is a third-person survival-horror-action game that blends gritty crime investigation gameplay, with a topnotch story and classic melee and ranged combat. Set across an expansive and persistent open world game environment filled with more than 30 non-player characters (NPCs), side quests and multiple types of deadly supernatural enemies, Deadly Premonition offers a unique and haunting interactive gaming experience unlike any other... |
 Super Mario Sunshine Sale Price: $74.00 See Reviews For This Product DescriptionSix years. Six long years we’ve had to wait for a new Mario game, and finally it’s here. And even considering the ridiculously unfair expectations, Super Mario Sunshine is almost entirely as good as you’d hope and expect... |
 Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice List Price: Sale Price: $8.84 You save: $11.15 (56%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionThe stakes have never been higher as Nancy Drew joins an international undercover investigation to track down a phantom thief in Venice. The police have few leads and you might be the only one who can stop the thefts of historic artifacts Can you spy on suspects and collect clues before the crime syndicate catches up to you... |
 Mystery P.I. Portrait of a Thief List Price: Sale Price: $14.47 You save: $5.52 (28%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionMystery P.I. Portrait of a Thief is a single player puzzle game for Nintendo DS and DSi which mixes classic seek and find puzzle play with an engrossing crime theme in which players are tasked with exposing an artful thief... |
 Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED Sale Price: $19.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionPlay the Game that Started the Award-Winning Series! As a tribute to Nancy Drew's 80th Anniversary, Her Interactive is remastering the first game that launched the award-winning adventure series. With completely updated graphics and new puzzles, this special edition will appeal to old and new fans alike! Death, danger, and deception weren’t on the curriculum at a Florida school, but when Jake Rogers is murdered to protect a lie, everything changes... |
 Nancy Drew Ultimate Bundle List Price: Sale Price: $9.99 You save: $10.00 (50%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionNancy Drew Ultimate Dare brings four award-winning mystery game titles into one thriller packed bundle. Unravel the mystery of the phantom horse in The Secret of Shadow Ranch. Confront the myths and beasts that lurk in the Curse of Blackmoor Manor... |
|
|
The Adventures of Tintin in the Orient 1: Cigars of the Pharaoh (Hardcover) $16.31 A mysterious clue in an ancient Egyptian tomb leads the adventurous youth and his canine friend into an international search for drug smugglers and gangsters. |
|
|
The Secret Zoo (Hardcover) $11.43 After his sister Megan disappears, Noah and his friends follow a trail of mysterious clues that lead them to uncover a secret behind the walls of the Clarksville City Zoo--a secret that must be protected at all costs. 40,000 first printing. |
|
|
Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (Paperback) $9.89 In Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs, "Tempe" receives mysterious clues about a murder in Montreal, Tempe Brennan questions if the victim was a Jewish black market antiquities trader and undertakes a dangerous investigation in Israel. |
|
|
Quincunx (Paperback) $13.53 An extraordinary modern novel in the Victorian tradition, Charles Palliser has created something extraordinary--a plot within a plot within a plot of family secrets, mysterious clues, low-born birth, high-reaching immorality, and, always, always the fo... |
