Murder mystery parties are a great way to pull together your friends for an evening of mystery, intrigue and fun. A murder mystery game is a way to shake up your entertaining and leave your guests with memories they will never forget! Whether you choose a theme that allows for costumes or something with a more casual dress code, there is something about stepping out of ourselves for a few hours and into the role and backstory of someone else that is tantalizing and fun. So, just how do you go about hosting a murder mystery evening?
There are generally two types of murder mystery party formats – an “interactive” murder mystery investigation (we call them “Mingle Mysteries”) and a more formal sit-down dinner party mystery game. You can choose either way with a Shot In The Dark Mysteries murder mystery kit! Although they are formatted for an interactive mystery investigation, you can turn any of our packages into a mystery dinner! Beware though, the sit-down dinner party murder mystery requires more stealth and cunning, to keep everyone else at the table from catching onto your theories about whodunit!
How To Host A Murder Mystery Party
- Select your theme
- Invite your guests – get invitations pre-purchase on our website here
- Gather RSVPs – set a deadline
- Purchase your murder mystery party package
- Download the package and unzip (decompress) the .zip file – some computers Download the package and unzip (decompress) the .zip file – some computers will automatically do this for you
- Assign the suspects to your guests
- Email out the suspect guides (which include instructions for your guests)
- Come together in person at the venue of your choice
- Play or read the Announcement of Murder
- Investigate, questioning each other to find who had the motive, means and opportunity
- Have everyone cast accusations
- Share accusations (optional)
- Play or read the Big Reveal to find out whodunit!
How To Host A Murder Mystery Dinner
The process for a murder mystery dinner party is similar to the interactive version, only with a few tweaks!
- Select your theme
- Invite your guests
- Gather RSVPs – set a deadline
- Purchase your murder mystery party package
- Download the package and unzip (decompress) the .zip file – some computers will automatically do this for you
- Assign the suspects to your guests
- Email out the suspect guides (which include instructions for your guests)
- Come together in your home or even a restaurant with a private group function area
- Cocktails! Suspect Introductions and General Mingling
- Play or Read the Announcement of Murder
- Appetizers! Suspect Initial questioning over appetisers
- Break for individual, one-on-one questioning as you turn over courses from appetisers to prepare for the entrees
- Entrees! Reconvene around the table for entrees and further questioning – this is where you and your guests must really be clever, to formulate questions for the suspects with everyone else listening WITHOUT giving away your theories to the other sleuths and suspects!
- Break for final one-on-one questions before the accusations are cast
- Dessert! Cast accusations and discuss as a group who you accuse of the murder or theft and why
- Play the big reveal over coffee and dessert to find out the solution to the mystery
Regardless of whether you use the cocktail party style interactive format or choose to instead break up the mystery party game around a dinner party over a three course meal, rest assured that you, and your guests, are in for an event that no one will ever forget!
Murder mystery party tip!
Get the package that fits your CONFIRMED guests, not the “maybes” and “on-the-fencers”. We live this hosting life, and know that not everyone can firm up an RSVP (and let’s face it, some are just flaky… yup, we are just dropping truth today…). The packages are designed to have everyone, even if they aren’t a suspect themselves, be fully involved with the mystery, so don’t worry about anyone feeling like they aren’t involved. Trust us – most times the Sleuths have more fun than the Suspects.
Try this Hosting Hack when planning your next party, and let us know how it goes!
