In the quiet town of Christie’s Leigh, right next to the historic local church, sits Belladonna Manor. Having sat empty for years, Belladonna Manor is a mystery to the residents of Christie’s Leigh. Prickly, high garden walls keep prying eyes from learning its secrets – and Belladonna Manor has plenty of secrets!
Suddenly, select residents of the town of Christie’s Leigh and those beyond receive invitations to a garden party at Belladonna Manor. No one knows why they have been invited, but the chance to step within the walls of the garden at Belladonna Manor is too enticing to resist.
But when the local vicar, Vicar Demming, falls down dead during the garden party, the guests are faced with a wicked “murder game”, through which they must discover the identity of their mysterious host, and the reasons why this host felt the vicar needed to die. Which of the guests is the killer? How did Vicar Demming die? Will the guests escape with their own terrible secrets kept hidden?
So You’re Attending a Mystery Party…
Mystery parties are a lot of fun. If you have been invited to a mystery for the first time, you’re in for a real treat.
How to play a murder mystery game at a party
There has been a murder or a theft! (*gasp*!) But we all know that – that’s the reason we’re getting together, after all. The suspects, anywhere between 6 and 18, will quickly make themselves known. Perhaps you’re a suspect yourself, but you may just be an ‘investigator’ or ‘sleuth’, questioning the suspects, gathering intel and piecing together the puzzle in order to correctly cast your accusation at the end.
If you’re merely attending as an investigator, this sleuthing is the extent of your role. In preparation for the big event we recommend screening old episodes of Murder She Wrote and Agatha Christie movies. Plan out some questions in advance, like ‘where were you at the time of the murder?’ ‘can anyone verify your whereabouts?’ or ‘did you have anything against the deceased?’. From there as you ask the suspects questions, their answers will lead you to more questions. Regardless of your current experience or comfort level, you will quickly find yourself cross-interrogating suspects to identify holes in their stories.
What Are Angel Ratings?
Are you playing a suspect?
If you are attending the party as a suspect, your role is slightly more complicated – but not by much. Either before the party or as you arrive you’ll receive an information booklet, either printed or via a .PDF file on email.
This guide will tell you about your character and motives, instructions for how to play and more. All the information you will need at the party will be in your guide.
As the party begins you will be questioned by others. You will answer these questions based on the information in your guide. Feel free to bring your guide to the party to refer to. You don’t have to memorize your information – unless you want to, of course! While answering questions you will also be interrogating others.
Guess what! If you’re the killer, you won’t know it. There are a number of reasons for this that are explained further in your guide. Trust us, it’s waaaaaaay better this way.
Regardless of whether you are playing a suspect or attending a mystery party as a sleuth or investigator, you’re going to have a fantastic time, and you’ll be talking about this event for years to come. Just remember to relax and enjoy it! Have fun!
What Do I Wear?
Your host will decide the overall theme of the party if it is costume casual. If your party theme requires a costume of some kind, we have many pinterest boards here with some great ideas for you!
We RARELY specify that a character uses a specific style of dress to make things as easy as possible for you to dress within your comfort level and budget. You may find a vague reference to perhaps your character is known for the cane he uses to get around, or your character loved hats and always wore a different one, but these are few and far between and even then, very generic. We find this makes it easier for you, as a guest, to find a costume no matter where in the world you live, even if it’s from your own closet, and gives you the freedom to be as creative (or uncreative!) as you like!
A “pillar of the community”, Vicar Demming often referred to the town of Christie’s Leigh as “his town”. The vicar still took confession in the local church and some of the locals still made confessions, despite the warning written on the wall that read:
