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One of the most fun things hubby and I did was to participate in a murder mystery party that took place on a train ride from Milwaukee to Chicago. (And as it turned out, I was the murderer). The murder mystery was set in the 1920's so we were dressed in flapper dresses, etc. We had a ball together even though none of us knew each other previously.
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However, planning a murder mystery party is one of the more difficult parties to throw. I found it beneficial to do a dry run to make sure everything works without a hitch.
invitations
I made a bifold card in my graphics program. The magnifying glass was a chipboard embellishment that I painted.
staging & Props
The first thing I needed was a crime scene.
A 2 piece photo backdrop, some of my DIY corrugated cartons and barrels, one of my hunting knives with red paint on it to simulate blood, a cardboard stand up of a cop.
Double backdrop, corrugated boxes and barrels from other parties, my hunting knife with red paint on it, one of my mannequins wearing my old cop uniform. For the footprints I took an old pair of shoes, dipped them in red paint, then made the trail of footprints. The crime scene tape I got from work.
For my second wall, I put up a crime investigation bulletin board, scattered some bullet casings on the end table, and put my CSI kit on the coffee table.
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It doesn't do any good to catch a murderer if you don't book them. So on my 3rd wall I made a booking station. I moved my desk, chair and desktop from the bedroom out to the living room, drew out a mugshot chart on white kraft paper, set up my camera on my tripod and hung my handcuffs on a desk knob.
The only thing I bought for my staging was the 2 photo backdrops, $20.​
Other budget friendly crime-related items you can use in staging:
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Buy yellow index cards and fold them lined side to the inside. With a black marker, number them to use as crime scene evidence markers.
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Buy an evidence rubber stamp and some brown lunch bags. Stamp them to display as evidence bags.
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Make a small pile of mystery books for display.
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If you have a Polaroid camera, as guests arrive take their photo and make a suspect wall.
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Give each of your guests a badge. More badges here
tablescape
I couldn't find a tablecloth I liked so I made my own from the fabric below.
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For each guest I made a detective's notebook. Your guests will want to take notes as they gather clues.
food/menu
First, you’ll need to decide on your presentation style. Here are the details on the two main options:
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- A self-serve buffet: This option can really give the host more time to play because they can get a lot of the legwork done beforehand. Plus, mingling around food always inspires impromptu conversation, and that can be the best way to sniff out the clues a murderer is trying to hide.
- Hearty appetizers and some sweet treats: If you are not wanting to serve a full meal, you can always add filling foods for your guests to graze on and fill their bellies with. This will allow the investigation to keep going while also filling up your guests.
It’s also helpful to plan the menu to match the timing of your murder mystery party. Think about a timeline such as this:
- Kick off the event with some light appetizers to help break the ice.
- Have a mystery-filled dinner or more hors d’oeuvres at an appropriate time during the story.
- Provide delectable desserts for everyone to enjoy when the case is closed, and the murderer’s identity gets revealed (whether or not the murderer deserves dessert is up to the host!).
I decided to make 1920's foods I could make the day before so I wasn't in the kitchen during the party.
I went with foods popular during the 1920's.
GREAT GATSBY HAM
GREAT GATSBY HAM Recipe here
Prohibition baked ham was generally made with whiskey or bourbon. One recipe involved boiling the ham until tender, then allowing it to cool while soaking in whiskey before adding cloves and breadcrumbs and baking. Another recipe involving bourbon called for brushing the ham with the liquor before baking.
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CODFISH CAKES Recipe here​
We have the people of Baltimore to thank for codfish cakes, or “coddies” as they were sometimes called. Codfish cakes were easy to make, and their ingredients included mashed potatoes, codfish, seasoning, and eggs, which were then molded into patties and fried.​
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SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS Recipe here​
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FRIED RAVIOLI Recipe here​
GERMAN POTATO SALAD Recipe here
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​BLACKENED PORK CAESAR SALAD Recipe here
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PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE Recipe here
I have my own method of making pineapple upside down cake - in a campfire. You'll need a cast iron dutch over with a lip on the lid.
Also:
Pineapple upside down cake mix + ingredients it calls for
1 can pineapple rings
Maraschino cherries
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Mix up the cake mix per the directions. Grease the bottom of the dutch oven.
Place the pineapple rings around the bottom of the dutch oven with a maraschino cherry on each pineapple ring. Add the pineapple juice from the can of pineapple into the mix and stir well.,
Pour the cake mix batter and pour it into the pan over the pineapple and cherries.
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Make a hole large enough to fit the dutch oven into when building your fire. Place the dutch oven down into the firepit hole. Put hot charcoal briquets around the top of the dutch oven.
Cook until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
Tip the dutch oven over, on a plate big enough to hold the cake. The cake should fall out of the dutch oven onto the plate.
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This makes a much tastier pineapple upside down cake than one baked in an oven.
activity
Your murder mystery is your party activity. An average murder mystery party lasts at least 2 hours.
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I've found the online vendor with the best murder mystery games, with a large variety is Masters of Mystery.
