How do you host a murder mistery evening dinner party?

[tasja]

can anyone help me? I want to do this murder mistery evening but don't know how it works? any hints?

Yes, my friends do one each New Year (poor dh hates them). We write our own because it's funnier that way but you can just get one out of a box for about £10.
It's dead easy - you just follow the instructions in the box.
You allocate everyone a part in advance and they get an invite giving them costume suggestions.
On the night everyone gets a booklet with a scripts for their character for the different scenes and secret information about their character which they have to divulge if challenged.
At the beginning of each scene you read the scripted bit then carry on the conversation in character, following the instructions in the box about what they need to find out about the other characters. At the end you all go round and say your guesses as to who you think the murderer is.

The one I went to was done round the dinner table. The host served a course and we'd then do a scene, then the next course and so on.

It was a brilliant evening but the murderer was so drunk by the end of the night he forgot it was him "whodunnit".

I was a bit worried about knowing what to do, but it was really easy as the booklets led you through it. You just need people who are prepared to really get into it and act within character all night.

the scenes generally follow the courses of the meal, and the box usually includes suggestions as to what to cook.

x-posts Surfermum!

That reminds me, I've got a "Murder at the Summer Bay Surf Club" upstairs. I must get round to organising it.

Thank you so much for your ideas! Noted-don't give guests to much to drink I'll have a look on ebay at some boxes. Any suggestions which box to look for? or are they all the same?

We did a Thai one which was pretty rubbish.
Maybe look on Amazon and see if there are any reviews?

Tasja - hope you don't mind me correcting this but it's mYstery - just in case you're wondering why you can't find anything on eBay!

I love doing them BUT you do need a lot to drink to get everyone into the spirit of things particularly people who aren't naturally into acting a different role. And as a result, I can never remember who the murderer is (which saves money because we can play the same game over and over again)

No, I don't mind you correcting me! As English is my second language. Why the capital Y?

I'm always seeing them in charity shops. Worth a look?

Thanks FourJays I'll have a look.

we had a chinese murder night ,and it was great fun ,we did everything they said even down to getting the red tablecloth and poppies for the table ,we had to have classical music playing and had to wear the correct clothes !! you need to give your guests a few weeks to trawl around the charity shops for their outfits.i think the game was more like £20 than ten ,but was great night,oh we also had to decorate our lounge with chinese lanterns.hope you enjoy your night.

They are great fun, but I think that you get out of it what you put in in terms of effort. So insist that everyone dresses up and gets into the spirit of things. I think you all need to drink a fair amount but agree with those who say that they can never remember who did it because by the end they are a little the worse for wear!

I think 90% of the fun is getting dressed up and silly gadgets etc, as I can never follow the clues anyway (note to self, drink less G&T)