Murder mystery for Xmas dinner?

[ARainyNightInSoho]

All the adults in our family and extended family work in the NHS so it’s always been difficult to choose a day to celebrate Christmas together. Most years we pick a date which the majority can do and we include an activity like a quiz as we usually don’t have the usual Christmas rituals to follow like King’s speech. We also don’t exchange presents at this extended family gathering. This year it’s going to be December 22nd and the vote has been for a murder mystery hosted by us.

I am happy with the idea. I have looked at some murder mystery kits and there are some Christmas themed ones so it should be ok. But, I’ve never done one before and not sure how they work and if it will work for Christmas. Can anyone answer these questions? I appreciate that it might depend on the kit you use.

The kit seems to include ‘scripts’ . Do the characters have to follow the script? If you don’t follow it does that stop the mystery unfolding as it should?

BIL is in early stages of dementia. He is quite happy to play along and will be able to read the character info but may well forget the clues. Could that spoil the game?

I am going to be quite busy preparing the food and getting it to table. Is this difficult to combine with being a character and remembering what’s going on?

Is the whole idea bonkers for a family Christmas?

It's a good idea. I would only start the game after you've eaten so you are all in the room and more relaxed. If you are popping in and out and turn out to be the murderer (because you don't know at the start) you could screw it up for everyone!

You do need to follow the script to ensure all the clues are shared at the right time but you can embellish a bit. Maybe allow your DBil to have pen and paper to help him keep track?

That’s really helpful info. thanks. I didn’t think I could handle it on top of remembering whether I had warmed the gravy jug. After dinner makes sense. Do people tend to actually read aloud from the script?

You do need to read aloud from the script yes, you usually only get your bit, so need to read aloud to share the info with everyone

Ah, that will be fun!

I've done one with some very drunk people , who definitely weren't remembering much 😁 we muddled through.. ( shut up, you're dead now etc 😆)

I do think the couple of people trying to get tea on the table at the same time we're a bit stressed and less involved

The one we did gave key lines " but you were in X with me at that time, darling " etc

But also ques " countess lavinia flirts with father Smith to distracted him from.questionning , etc, so a bit of ad libbing too

Will you be dressing up too?
And check what equipment you need - we used one out of a charity shop and had great fun trying to locate- I think - a cassette player , maybe it was a cd player.... or something.

Remember I mention those people who had had a bit to drink.. ? 😁

Hope you have fun!

The ones I've done usually give you various pieces of information to drop into the conversation eg "You saw Lady Pamela pick up Rev Chasuble's glass during cocktails". Some do have little set scripts that need to be acted and some will have recordings of a detective summing up things at various stages.
The murderer usually knows from the start that they are It. It might be better if your BiL isn't the murderer as he may accidentally let it slip, but difficult to do that without spoiling the game for whoever checks.
I've really enjoyed these when we've done them.

I am quite concerned about everyone having had too much to drink if we do it after dinner. Several drinks and a participant with dementia might equal a lot of confusion. I guess that’s part of the fun

You could try an online escape room..

You need to use a laptop but could get it on a big TV and work out the clues.

They’re quite good and we’re going to try one .

I’ve got another question. I just looked at the themes of the Christmas murder mystery and there are some ‘mildly sexual’ ones eg. a couple of the characters are having an affair with one another and cheating on others. It looks like there’s quite a bit of suggestive remarks. I’m not a prude at all but I think it might be weird for me to Eg. be pretending to have an affair with BIL. In fact it wouldn’t work with any of the family members.

Can anyone recommend a family friendly one?

We did one on Christmas Eve years ago. We had enough people so dh and I played extras - butler and maid so it didn’t interfere with serving the food etc.
it was so much fun and everyone did get blind drunk.
Good luck.

We have done parties using this one, no script needed and you don’t have to look at all the clues in order.
They have a few other ones too

https://amzn.eu/d/2NhaIJO

Often they will say they are for X+2 people, with a couple of spare characters which you know aren't the murderer. You can give one of those to BIL and maybe one for yourself to make it easier. You don't have to tell them they are the spares.

It's more fun if everyone has an outrageous accent. As many different ones as possible!

Op what a brilliant idea! I'm following now as I would also want a family friendly one.

@ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO

A lot of the Murder Mysteries look really fun but are designed for adults at a dinner party rather than a family Christmas. I really don’t want to have to play a vamp at our Christmas dinner (happy to do so on other occasions 😄). I have found these ones which are family friendly Christmas mysteries. The only thing is, and maybe I am very picky, they are quite American ‘holiday season’ type games, set on the Polar Express etc.

mastersofmystery.com/collections/christmas-murder-mystery-games