In a culture where entertainment is becoming universally interactive, the average
Halloween party planner is often at a loss to offer fare fun enough to tempt tired, overbooked and overstressed friends out
of their homey havens from the rat race. One thing is for sure, the standard food, drink, and boring conversation of
the traditional costume party doesn’t seem to cut it anymore.
So how, in the age of fast-paced video games and virtual reality, does a Halloween party diva capture the title of undisputed
“Hostess with the Mostest” without taking out a mortgage or slaving at the stove for hours? She demonstrates
how plugged in she is to the hot European trend of the murder mystery party. And no, she will become the prima donna
of parties by inviting the crowd to guess if the board game murder was committed by Mrs. Peacock with a lead pipe in the study.
Instead the hip hostess will flaunt her taste for cutting edge fun by ordering some take out or potluck and rounding up the
usual suspects (her friends and family) for an evening of make-believe murder and made-up mayhem. And a packaged or
downloadable murder mystery game from one of the following makers lets you pull the caper off with minimal muss and fuss--and
the “crime scene” clean up will not resemble an episode of CSI.
Dinner and a Murder (www.dinnerandamurder.com)
Offers downloads and boxed murder mystery kits for
8-40+ players with gangster, 1950s, Halloween and kids’ themes.
Night of Mystery (www.nightofmystery.com)
Offers downloads of murder mysteries for 10-80 players
with beauty pageant, Las Vegas and class reunion themes.
Murder Made Merry (www.murdermademerry.com)
Offers downloads of murder mysteries for 5-13 players
with fashion magazine, 1970s and pharmaceutical corporation themes.
PlayMurderMystery.com (www.playmurdermystery.com)
Offers downloadable and boxed games for 8-14 players
with gangster, hospital, haunted house and Formula 1 themes.
It’s Murder! (www.itsmurder.com)
Offers boxed games for 8-18 players with Deep South,
horse racing and saloon themes.
For the lowdown on hosting and playing murder mystery
games, visit About: Entertaining (entertaining.about.com) and search for murder mystery parties.
A Few Quick Clues
Send e-mail invitations that come with the game at
least two weeks in advance.
Review the game’s materials ahead of time.
Packages will include instructions, menu suggestions, details about the crime, and clues for the players.
Assign roles that fit the personalities of your guests.
Introduce each guest--in character--and hand out
guidebooks as guests arrive.
Costumes and decorations are encouraged but not required.
Relax and go with the flow. Ad libs are always
welcome and often hilarious.
