Trailer Trash Tragedy

Host Party

Trailer Trash Tragedy

This annual party banquet takes place at Gonagen Trailer Trash Park, where the residents have gathered to guzzle beer and box wine and chomp down vittles while they celebrate nothing in particular “just a good ole time for all of us to get together,” says Big Hoss Beaver, the host. However, this year the event was dampened by the unforeseen murder of one of the residents! Who, at this totally unfashionable party, created this trailer trash tragedy? All guests will have fun playing out their individual characters and investigating this unpredictable event. Whodunit and why, are the mysteries the rest of the trailer folks are determined to solve before the murderer strikes again!

Characters

Darlene Rivers – Darlene is Elsie May’s sister and earns her living with psychotic readings for the local people in town. Definitely eccentric, she dances to a different beat than almost anyone. She is a free spirit who does whatever she feels like, regardless of what others think. There are people in town who disapprove of her unacceptable occupation and her erratic behavior. This only entices Darlene to go a bit overboard every chance she gets. She likes being the center of attention and will make sure that it stays that way. Darlene and Elsie May have a close bond and Darlene would do anything for her sister and likewise!

Elsie May Rivers – Elsie May is a dedicated Tarot reader and along with her sister Darlene, she operates a psychic reading business. Elsie is also a waitress at Johnson’s Diner, located at the edge of town. She is very sensible and works hard to make ends meet. She has lived in the trailer park for 10 years, ever since her husband was run over and killed in a hunting accident. Elsie loves her sister Darlene and is vey protective of her.

Lula Belle Larcen – Lula Belle has served a short period of time in jail for pilfering drugs and cosmetics from Walmart. This shapely young lady, who is currently on probation, works at Buddha’s Bar in town with Melanie Winters. She wears a lot of heavy makeup, skimpy clothes to show off her bodacious curves and cheap perfume. Men are always flocking around her and she claims it’s her southern charm and ribald sense of humor! Many a night she does not make it back to her trailer!

Big Hoss Beaver – Big Hoss owns the land which Gonagen Trailer Trash Park is situated and other similar lands around town. He lives in the park and his heart is as big as his rather large, out of shape body! Hoss grew up in the area and went to school with the Rivers sisters. Due to his problems with his wife, Hoss has been spending some evenings with Mitzi LaRoux. He is a kind and generous man and very well liked around the park as well as around town. Big Hoss walks with a limp, as a result of a gunshot wound many years ago.

Brenda Beaver – Brenda and Bonnie Sue are twin sisters who have never gotten along. Brenda is a very disagreeable, mean and unpleasant woman, who somehow charmed Big Hoss into marrying her. His status and his money have still not quelled her greed. No one in town likes or respects her because of her demeaning attitude toward them. Brenda is very materialistic… A tragic event to her would be losing her makeup or credit card for a week. She as selfish snob!

Bonnie Sue Montana – Bonnie Sue is the twin sister of the town snob, Brenda and dislikes her sister even more than the rest of the town does. Bonnie Sue is a talented and successful Tattoo artist. However, according to her sister and immediate family she not only married beneath herself, but also has an inappropriate career. Married to Billy Bob Montana, their open marriage has brought many different partners to their bed. Bonnie Sue is a true rebel who likes to shock people with her scandalous lifestyle and live life on the edge!

Billy Bob Montana – Billy Bob is a greasy mechanic at the local car dealership. He loves fast cars and fast women. Being such a sleazy person, he likes to chat up anything in a skirt or tight pants and high heels. Billy Bob is married to Bonnie Sue, who is a tattoo artist. Numerous times he has cheated on his wife, who dances to her own music. He is a man who always has an answer to everything and always seems to get what he wants.

Jamie Moon – Jamie was raised in a wealthy atmosphere, but wants no part of it anymore. He is a very big supporter of flower power, love and peace. Jamie is calm, cool and easy going, while his lifestyle consists of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. He has Marijuana growing out the window of his trailer! A natural charmer, Jamie has a lot to say, but he has so sincerity. He loves Lula Belle, but then so does everybody! His guitar, “Lokey” is his constant companion. Small bars in the area hire him to sing and entertain, while he is waiting for his opportunity to be recognized as a real talent.

Iris Orchid – Iris, who is a friend of Jamie Moon, came to Gonagen Trailer Trash Park with her live-in lover Simon Star. Not the smartest cookie in the jar, she likes to paint abstract pictures, but no one seems to appreciate her talent. Photography is her second love and when she is not painting, she is snapping away pictures of anything and everything! She is a people pleaser, who always wants to make everybody happy and thereby seek their approval of her.

Simon Star – Simon is a drifter who arrived at Gonagen Trailer Trash Park with Iris Orchid, his live-in lover. He got a job at Walmart but loves to hunt in his spare time. He is very suave and quite the charmer while dominating most of the conversations. Simon likes to control and therefore his job at Walmart is a bit of a challenge. Unbeknownst to most, he is a jealous guy and very much prone to violent and destructive mood swings, which happen without any warning!

Fanny Mason – Fanny is Wilbur’s mother and is known as the Trailer Trash Park busy body! She is always giving unwanted advice. Often Fanny eaves drops and passes on gossip and rumors about the other residents. She has been known to go inside her neighbors unlocked doors and rummage around their personal belongings. She is a super snoop!

Mel/Melanie Winters – Mel is a newcomer to Gonagen Trailer Trash Park and pretty much keeps a low profile. By day this new resident works for the local paper is known and respected as Mr. Mel Winters. Here he is a quiet and rather shy, hard working guy. By night, he is fondly known as Melanie Winters, flamboyant exotic dancer at Bubba’s Bar in town. This bisexual has a lot of excitement to his life and a lot of style.

Scoop Blackwood – Scoop was a big city reporter who has experienced some bad times lately. His newspaper laid him off because of drunken behavior on the job. He is living at the trailer park trying to get his life back in order, but his drinking is a real problem. Outgoing and intelligent, he can see through the lies and seems to be able to uncover the truth in most situations. Always hot on the trail for a story, he has little respect for authority and sees nothing wrong with bending the rules to get what he wants!

Wilbur Mason – Wilbur works at the local gas station and lives with his mother, Fanny, in the trailer park. He is a little slow and kind of shy, but always cheerful and ready to help a neighbor. When any of the residents have broken appliances, Wilbur will fix them and never charge for his services. Everybody loves him! This man, with a heart of gold, is sweet on Lula Belle!

Mitzi LaRoux (Victim) – Cheaply attractive and seductive are the words most often used to describe Mitzi. She is living with Lula Belle, after spending 18 months in the slammer. She was convicted of burning down her own trailer home, while her worthless cheatin’ boyfriend was screwing the piece of trash that live next door. Mitzi is hell-bent on getting her revenge on all men. She is a “lady of the evening” who takes her customers for all they are worth!

Shot in the Dark Mysteries - The Halloween Party Murder Mystery

Shot in the Dark Mysteries

New Mysteries

The Halloween Party Murder Mystery

It’s the night of Ben and Aria T ate’s annual Halloween party and they go all out to impress their guests. Then, the arrival of a video, which shows the gruesome slaying of one of the party guests, turns this innocent Halloween party into a murder investigation! Who killed Jules Parker? Why? What motive did they have to video the murder and address it to one of the party guests? The killer is among them, it’s up to the guests to find the murderer and uncover his or her psychopathic motives!

♡♡ Aria Tate – Hostess of the annual Halloween party, Aria is a Halloween enthusiast. The parties she throws with her husband, Ben, are legendary among their tight-knit group of friends, and Aria has gained a reputation not just for her Halloween party, but also among those in the neighborhood for her realistic Halloween yard “haunts.” Of course, the neighborhood kids love her because she hands out the most “good” candy. Aria insists everyone attend her parties in costume, whatever the costume may be.

♡♡ Nicole Wolf – Sister of Kieran Wolf, Nicole is fun-loving and outgoing, and these traits often get her into trouble. A thrill-seeker to the core, Nicole is a ball of energy, rarely sitting down for long enough. This fire-cracker of a woman wakes up at dawn, goes to bed late and is usually too busy climbing rock faces or racing motorcycles to answer her phone. Regardless of her adventures though, she never misses her weekly lunch date with her best friend, Africa Meadows.

♡♡ Africa Meadows – Born to eccentric parents, Africa’s name sounds far more glamorous than this down-to-earth woman feels she deserves. The kind woman of the group, she’s considered the “peace-keeper” and is quick to resolve any differences between members of this group of friends. Grounded and peaceful, Africa knows nothing but diplomacy and tact, and laughs when her friends tell her that she’s a saint. Africa is not a huge fan of Halloween, but is never one to pass up a chance to hang out with her friends.

♡♡ Leona Moonstar – A new face in the group, most have not met Leona before tonight, and her reasons for attending the party are a bit of a mystery in themselves. A soft-spoken woman, Leona has not revealed much about herself to the others, and has generally kept to herself instead of mingling. When others have spoken with her, she is polite but not forthcoming about herself or who else she knows at the party.

♡♡ Kayla Kingsley – Wife of Trevor Kingsley, Kayla is a new face for the group – most haven’t met her until the Halloween party. Still, Kayla is friendly and outgoing, and clearly loves having a good time. With a loud, infectious laugh and a smile that could knock someone off their feet, Kayla is new, but has quickly become a favorite to the other guests at the Halloween party.

♡♡ Nora Stone – A new face in this tight-knit group of friends, Nora is a bit of a mystery. Spirited and independent, Nora’s mere presence commands attention. This stranger’s class and style is apparent even as she is dressed in a classic costume, and while she doesn’t give much about herself away, she is quick to question others, and easily draws information out of anyone with whom she speaks. Nor is strong yet elegant, and clearly sticks out from the rest of the laid-back Halloween party guests.

♡♡ Gloria Rodriguez – Wife of Will Rodriguez, Gloria is a stranger to this group of friends, and is not very forthcoming about herself or her reasons for wanting to attend the Halloween party. A skittish woman with shifty eyes, she stays close by Will’s side and does not seem keen to make many friends at the Halloween party tonight. Regardless, she is a keen sleuth and quick to ask many questions of the others at the party, regardless of whether they are considered proper and polite or not.

♡♡ Maddy McBride – Maddy is attending the party alongside Dylan Webber. Fun-loving and lively, this young-at-heart woman still lives her life as though she’s a college student, partying every night and waking up at noon. Ben and Aria’s Halloween party is a detour from her usual evening out (and Dylan a detour from her usual date). Maddy has a tendency to gossip about others, and has been told on more than one occasion that she needs a “filter.”

♡♡ Paula Gleeson – Wife of Oscar Gleeson, Paula lives next door to party hosts Ben and Aria Tate. She is calm, patient and soft-spoken – and she ahs to be, living with Oscar as she does! While her husband is aggressive towards neighbors about following the rules, Paula likes to “kill them with kindness”, so to speak. Paula often stops over at the Tate’s with a casserole she has baked, and can always be relied on for a cup of sugar, whenever a neighbor is in need.

♡♡ Ben Tate – Husband of Aria Tate, Ben is co-host of the annual Halloween party, and his technical knowledge of machinery has translated perfectly to creating realistic front yard Halloween “haunts” that grow more and more elaborate each year. A Halloween enthusiast, Ben begins planning and building elements of the Tate’s yard display in March each year, and his creations have been featured on the news and in the newspaper for the past three years running. Ben wears an elaborate Halloween costume, and prides himself on having the best costume at the party.

♡♡ Kieran Wolf – The “player” of the group, Kieran is a serial dater – at least, he was until recently, when he met a woman named Jules Parker and swore off his playboy ways. Arguably the glue that holds this tight-knit group of friends together, it’s ultimately Kieran’s approval (or lack thereof) that decides the fate of “outsiders’ – whether they end up being accepted by the others. Good-looking, charismatic and aware of how much even strangers adore him, Kieran is also the brother of another guest, Nicole Wolf.

♡♡ Brett McKnight – Genuine nice guy Brett McKnight was the best friend of the victim, Jules Parker, and joined the group when Kieran Wolf began dating Jules Parker. While not much is known about him, he is generally kind, unassuming and usually the butt of most of the group’s jokes, owing to the fact that he was in the “friend zone” with the victim. Brett is unlucky in love, and come to mention it, career and life in general as well. Brett enjoys having fun, and Halloween is his favorite holiday.

♡♡ Blaine Higgins – Best friend of Kieran Wolf, Blaine prides himself on being a man about town. Single and loving it, Blaine spends his weekends picking up women in bars and drinking with his friends. Blaine is very opinionated, and loves to “explain the world” to those he believes are less intelligent then he is. He loves watching sports, UFC and playing X-Box, and brags about how, without a woman around, never has to fight over the remote.

♡♡ Trevor Kingsley – Husband of Kayla Kingsley, Trevor is a new face to the group, as most have never met him before the Halloween party. He keeps his wife and everyone else in the area, laughing with hilarious stories and jokes, and has even helped with keeping the guests drinks full. Trevor is not only a guest, but could be considered the life of the party.

♡♡ Chris Long – Long-time friends of Kieran Wolf, Chris makes up the trio of best friends. He is generally quiet when he does speak, it’s usually to tease his friends or crack jokes. With a sharp mind for statistics, Chris runs the groups sports pools each year, and has organized an on-going inter-group betting system, giving odds on when certain things will happen within this tight-knit group of friends (the announcement of Ben and Aria’s engagement won a few in the group a good chunk of money!) Chris goes with the flow of the social events, preferring to just show up and enjoy rather than be an organizing force. Easy-going and amiable, Chris’s presence is all that is needed to make any social event complete.

♡♡ Will Rodriguez – Husband of Gloria Rodriguez, Will is a friendly, yet serious man. Unknown to most at the party, he was invited by Aria personally, and is an old friend of hers. While they haven’t seen each other in years, Will was excited to attend the Halloween party, even if that meant he had to dress up. Will is a great conversationalist, and has quickly earned new friends tonight at the Halloween party.

♡♡ Dylan Webber – Dylan has been an acquaintance of Kieran’s for years – however while they played together in sports leagues (or, sometimes, on opposite teams), they have a love-hate friendship, and are very competitive with each other – not that it’s much of a competition, because Kieran has always beat Dylan in everything from sports to careers and even relationships; Dylan’s girlfriends have a tendency of leaving him for Kieran. Dylan has not been around the group lately, and many are surprised to see him at the party tonight.

♡♡ Oscar Gleeson – Gruff and abrasive, Oscar Gleeson is hard man who commands respect, even with those who don’t know him – and at this party, that’s much everyone. Neighbor of the hosts, the Tates, and self-proclaimed “Neighborhood Watch”, Oscar always has an eye on what is happening in the houses around his, and considers it his duty to ensure that everyone on the street is behaving, as well as living up to their duties in keeping the neighborhood safe, clean and attractive – for the sake of neighborhood property values, he insists.

A Vampire Murder from Shot in the Dark Mysteries

A Vampire Murder

The Suspects

Sophie – A newer vampire, Sophie began her undead life about fifty years ago, turned by Frederik Antonov, the victim, himself. While she is still a relatively new vampire, Sophie is vicious and can be ruthless at times – not a vampire to be trifled with! Sophie is excited about her immortality though, and has grown to enjoy being a vampire. A few years ago she met Pike, and has since allowed him to join the Antonov clan.

Alena – One of the oldest vampires known in the world, Alena is considered “Vampire Royalty”. Nothing important happens in the vampire world without the knowledge and permission of the royal family of vampires, including a change of the head of a coven. Alena lives in Romania, but has traveled to Casillero de la Sombra to meet with vampire clan leader Frederik Antonov about a private matter. She is immaculately beautiful but one of the most dangerous creatures to walk the earth.

Melise – A visitor to Casillero de la Sombra, Melise is a quiet traveler who tends to keep to herself. A mysterious vampire, Melise claims to come from New Orleans, and her reasons for passing through the area are not known. Vampire etiquette states that a vampire must extend refuge from the sunlight to another in need whenever necessary. Because of this, Melise has been invited to stay at Casillero de la Sombra. She arrived the day before yesterday, and planned to continue her travels tonight at sundown.

Camille – Camille is a coquette kitten to the max. Originally from France, she still speaks with a heavy accent and laves to dress the part! Her words are peppered with French expressions like “Je ne sais quoi”. She arrived at the castle with Cass months ago, as the two of them met on a boat from France. When they arrived in the area, they instantly sought out the famous Antonov clan to find companionship and the victim, Frederik Antonov, accepted them into the clan. Camille is light-hearted and enjoys laughing, finding hilarity in even the smallest amusement.

Claudette – A vampire almost as old as the victim and clan leader, Frederik Antonov, Claudette has been Frederik’s companion for over one hundred years. An elegant and stately woman, Claudette is graceful and stern, demanding a certain amount of order within the walls of Casillero de la Sombra. Over the years, Claudette has traveled the world, and is considered a confidante of the older members of the “vampire elite” – the royal family.

Gracie – A stranger in Casillero de la Sombra, no one in the Antonov Clan seems to know where Gracie came from or how she came to be here! Gracie is shy and introverted and seems quite nervous. She is reluctant to speak with anyone else, and when she does, she answers quite plainly. A true mystery herself, Gracie has everyone in the castle stupefied.

Renara – A long-standing member of the Antonov clan of vampires, Renara was turned by the victim and clan leader, Frederik Antonov, personally. While most members of the Antonov clan are not exactly cheerful, Renara is by far the most prickly of the clan, and she seems only truly happy when she’s hunting humans. Renara generally keeps to herself and prefers solace over spending time with the rest of the clan. When she does speak, it’s usually when spoken to, and her responses tend to be curt and unfriendly.

Sirena – A companion of Mikelo, Sirena is staying at Casillero de la Sombra, and has been for three days. While taking rest and refuge from the sunlight, Sirena has endeared herself to the clan with her soft voice and kind nature. In spite of this, she has also proven herself to be a vicious hunter, which has commanded the respect of those in the Antonov clan. Sirena is just as mysterious as her partner, Mikelo, and her knowing grin suggests she is a vampire who has been around for many centuries.

Glenna – Around 160 years old, Glenna was turned by the victim, Frederik Antonov, during the time he was turning all his victims into vampires to create the Antonov clan. While initially she wasn’t happy about being turned into a blood-thirsty monster, over the years she has come to terms with her afterlife as an undead. Glenna is unique from the other vampires in that she has even more heightened senses than the others, and can easily hear and smell approaching visitors, even other vampires, sometimes days before the other vampires can hear or smell them. Glenna is sophisticated and graceful in both her movements and speech.

Pike – Pike is an older vampire who has only recently joined the Antonov clan. In his human life he was charming and debonair, qualities that serve him well as a vampire, especially while hunting humans. A few years ago, while Pike was traveling without a coven, he met Sophie, a member of the Antonov clan, and she has since allowed him to join the family, much to the clan leader, Frederik Antonov’s chagrin.

Cirrus – A young vampire, Cirrus is erratic and unpredictable. With a piercing stare and startling good looks, he tends to remain silent unless he has something to say, and when he does, it’s usually scathing and relentless. While most new vampires tend to act this way as they are adjusting to their new undead life, Cirrus is taking langer than most to adjust. In spite of this, he is a born leader, and clan leader and victim Federik Antonov believed that with a good mentor, he would one day be a great clan leader.

Montrose – A traveler, Montrose arrived yesterday at Casillero de la Sombra and is staying here for the night as he passes through the area. As vampire etiquette dictates that a vampire must extend another hospitality, Montrose is staying at the castle to pass the daylight hours before continuing his journey at sundown tonight. Montrose is strong, fierce and slightly jumpy. There is something about his disposition that tells the vampires in the coven to keep their distance from this mysterious night walker.

Cass – Cass likes extravagance – everything for him must be the biggest and the best. While the others in the coven play down their wealthy and immortality, Cass chooses a life of blatant opulence. He has only recently joined the Antonov clan, and did so with Camille, a French vampire he met on the ship over from France. Cass is serious and no-nonsense, and speaks very eloquently, showing a human life of high-breeding.

Arnauld – Arnauld is a guest at the mansion, staying with the vampire coven as he passes through town, as it’s in the vampire code to extend hospitality to another vampire in need of shelter. He claims to be a sort of vampire historian, visiting the clans and documenting their history before moving on. He’s proper, well-mannered and very well-spoken, and is considered the authority on vampire lore, past and present. He is also a long friend of the victim and clan leader, Frederik Antonov.

Gabe – A member of the “vampire elite” – the Royal Family in Romania, Gabe has traveled to Casillero de la Sombra with his cousin, Alena, to meet with the victim and clan leader, Frederik Antonov. One of the oldest vampires in the world, Gabe is polished, well-spoken and charming. There is not much that happens in  the vampire community worldwide that the royal family does not know about, and Gabe is one of the most adamant advocates for maintaining the hierarchy, to ensure the safety and continuation of the vampire bloodline for eternity, and when speaking on these matters, he does so with zero levity.

Harrison – The only known non-vampire inside Casillero de la Sombra, Harrison is a part of the clan, and uses his magic solely for the clan leader and victim, Frederik Antonov’s benefit. Whenever the clan needs something done that requires magical intervention, Harrison is who they turn to, and he aids them without question. As such, he has earned both the trust of Frederik Antonov, as well as his own home on the castle grounds, though it’s unclear why, with his otherworldly powers, he remains loyal to a clan of vampires.

Mikelo – A newcomer to the area, Mikelo and his companion, Sirena, have been staying at Casillero de la Sombra for three days. Though his reasons for traveling are unknown, he has been welcomed by the Antonov clan, whose hospitality has included shelter from the sunlight, food and wine as well as a hunting companion. Mikelo is mysterious, and no one seems to know who he is or how he came to be at the castle. He is serious and stately – all indicative of an older vampire, although his movements are labored, indicating he has been through some sort of physical trauma that has not yet healed – a rarity, as usually vampires’ wounds heal immediately.

Fabrice – A member of the Antonov clan, Fabrice is 160 years old, and has spent all of his vampire life in Casillero de la Sombra. Originally turned by the victim, Frederik Antonov, Fabrice values the clan unit, and works hard to try to maintain peace and harmony inside the castle walls. An avid hunter, Fabrice specializes in finding lost humans in the forest on which to feed. He is cordial and amicable, and enjoys the peace that the forest surrounding Casillero de la Sombra affords.

The Balmy Bahamas Cruise - Standard Version for 12 females

MERRI MYSTERIES

“THE BALMY BAHAMAS CRUISE”

STANDARD VERSION FOR 12 FEMALES

THE SUSPECTS

Tilly Song (a megastar singer) has hired a luxury-plus cruiser to see the Bahamas and have a holiday. She has invited a variety of other famous people along to share the lobster. But just as the party was about to start, Karl Virgil, musician and mad-man troublemaker, has been found overboard as full of water as he was of his own self-importance. Was it one of the singers, actors, the tennis or basketball star, or one of the others? Although we have more comedians on-board than we do detectives, this is no laughing matter. We have to find out who did it. The people present on board are:

⚓ TILLY SONG – I’m a soulful singer/songwriter with a voice as pure as the Canadian air I breathed when young. My voice has brought me wealth and fame and I like to share my good fortune with my friends. DRESS SUGGESTIONS: Wear your hair flat, maybe slicked back. Dress in simple, but well-styled clothes. Carry a guitar (or guitar case)

⚓ GERRI NETMAN – Don’t let my orange hair and tattoos confuse you or I will have the ball in the basket before you’ve have time to say my name. DRESS SUGGESTIONS: Wear orange hair, fake tattoos, and basketball clothes. Carry a basketball.

⚓ MAGNOLIA LOLLIPOP – I’m a stand-up comedian. As my name indicates, I’m a cross between a perfume and a candy store. Don’t sniff too hard or you’ll eat me. DRESS SUGGESTIONS: Dress as a little girl complete with ribbons on your hair and a lollipop in your mouth.

⚓ Gillian Trueheart – I’m a comedy writer. I write very funny books. Some say I’m crass, outspoken, brutally honest and controversial – a loving force to be reckoned. And I have to agree. Dress Suggestions: Wear a dark haired wig. Dress in avant-garde clothes. Add a heart on your sleeve.

⚓ Cosi LuvLuvLuv – When I play tennis with you, don’t try and hit back. Just watch the ball zoom past – if you can see it! Some say I’m brilliant, honest and bold. I say – watch that ball! Dress Suggestions: Wear tennis clothes. Carry a racquet. Also add some flashy jewelry.

⚓ Estrella Martini – I’m from Argentina. In the past I sang duets with Tilly, but now I don’t need her help. My dark Latin looks and charms have won me my own fame. Dress Suggestions: Wear a clingy outfit.

⚓ Hertha Haywire – With my own TV talk show, what more could I want besides maybe a bit of peace and quiet? But I like to challenge people so I only have myself to blame for stirring up hornet’s nests. Dress Suggestions: Wear a suit (e.g. a pink one) with a black T-shirt underneath. You are definitely not slim, so you may need to add some padding.

⚓ Durga – As a child I saved my village from raiders. With my newfound sense of power, I went on to become a TV hero. Now I devote myself to fighting for the greater good. Dress Suggestions: Dress as a warrior. Carry a sword.

⚓ Angelica – After Durga saved me from being slain when I was a child, I pledged my life to roaming the world with her. I learned to fight and now I am her co-star on TV as a princess. Dress Suggestions: Dress as a princess, but carry a sword.

⚓ Twinkle-Fingers – Like Elvis I’m back for a visit from the other side complete with flamboyant outfits, glitter, gold and magic piano playing hands. I wasn’t invited. I am just ghosting around. Dress Suggestions: Wear a flamboyant outfit with lots of glitter and add gold chains and lots of rings. Add white powder as you are a ghost.

⚓ Shirley Frosty – I’m a serious actor/director/producer with a capital S. I’m also a classy lady. I have had lots of practice; having started in this career aged 3. I prefer to lead a very private life. Dress Suggestions: Wear a straight blonde/ brown wig. Dress in stylish clothes. Carry a video camera.

⚓ Claudine Shifty – I’m a world famous model. Men swoon at my feet and are in total adoration of my fabulous looks. When it comes to work, I can name my own price. Dress Suggestions: Dress like a beauty queen with a blonde wig, tight fitting dress, extra padding around your breasts (add some socks). Add lots of lipstick.

The following people shared cabins:

⚓ Durga and Angelica

⚓ Cosi and Gerri

⚓ Hertha and Magnolia

⚓ Gillian and Estrella

⚓ Twinkle-fingers and Karl Virgil

⚓ Shirley and Claudine

⚓ Tilly

The Captain had a cabin near the spa and the chef had a cabin near the gym. There were no other crew or staff on board.

THESE ARE THE CLUES FOR TILLY SONG

TILLY SONG – ACT ONE

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

⚓ I grew up in a small town on the northern prairies of Canada. Naturally, I started off singing country music.

⚓ I have broadened my style. I’m sort of moving towards an unstructured song type. I’m also toying with the idea of maybe doing a musical. I think that would be fun, as long as I’m the star.

⚓ Sometimes I do things that confuse people like writing a CD called “Hill-billy Hero” yet I can’t stand Hill-billy music and you won’t find any on my CD. I want to get people thinking – that’s all.

⚓ I didn’t meet Karl Virgil till I was on board. I certainly hadn’t invited him to be a guest on the cruise.

⚓ At first Karl Virgil seemed sweet. He wanted to tune my guitar for me. I don’t usually let anyone touch my guitar but he’s a musician so I thought it would be alright. Then he proceeded, deliberately I think, to break all of my guitar strings.

⚓ There were no signs of a physical struggle on Karl Virgil’s body.

TILLY SONG – ACT TWO

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

⚓ While we were on board, Karl Virgil sang a few of his new numbers. That’s when I realized that he had stolen some of my lyrics. He’d reversed them a bit and sang them differently, but they were definitely my lyrics.

⚓ I asked Karl Virgil who wrote his songs. He said that he helped to write some of them.

⚓ I sang the songs that he’d stolen the lyrics from. But Karl Virgil didn’t bat an eyelid.

⚓ I was fuming on the inside. But I pretended to be cool on the outside. We stars are used to this dichotomy of emotions. We can’t let the paparazzi, or other stars for that matter, see our real feelings.

⚓ I saw you Twinkle-fingers. You kept creeping up on Karl Virgil. I think you were trying to scare him to death because you couldn’t kill him any other way. As a ghost, your hands pass through anybody you try to touch.

TILLY SONG – ACT THREE

During this act you must reveal the following points:

⚓ When Karl Virgil went to sit next to me at dinner last night, I exploded. I was just sick of the sight of him. I told him to find another table and bother someone else for a change. I am normally a very polite person, so I found this very hard to do. I was amazed when he just stood there. He stood there for a full five minutes without saying anything.

⚓ As they said recently on TV “Karl Virgil enjoys playing the victim” – that’s why he even has a song called “I’m A Loser” which is all about rejection.

⚓ Frankly having seen how Karl Virgil behaves in public, I am not surprised that he has been rejected so many times. Sure he could have poured on the charm when he wanted to, but at other times he was terribly rude.

⚓ Karl has a song called “Do You Want Me To Go?” I often think of answering it with a loud “YES”. But much as I would have liked to kill him – that lyric thief – I didn’t.

⚓ I was having a spa at the time. Durga was also enjoying the bubbles with me. Shirley was there part of the time. The spa is diagonally across from Durga and Angelica’s room. I saw Karl knock on their cabin door and he was admitted.

⚓ (If someone asks you why you were coming out of the galley when you were supposed to be in the spa, say )I was getting myself a cold drink.

THESE ARE THE CLUES FOR: GERRI NETMAN

GERRI NETMAN – ACT ONE

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

✰ I am tall, so I play basketball. It is as simple as that. But beside my basketball skills, which are fantastic, I am also an actor. I starred in the movie “Action Traction.”

✰ I’m a writer as well. My book is called “Hitting Life Hard.” It’s selling well.

✰ I’m also a businesswoman with my own concreting company in Kansas.

✰ I met Karl Virgil going up the gangway. He got on board first and then tried to keep me from coming on board by pushing me back. But I am a pretty strong woman so he was no match for me. I wouldn’t have missed this cruise for anything.

✰ Later when Karl emerged from hiding on board, he said he’d only been fooling around with me. But I could see in his eyes that he really didn’t want me on board. Maybe didn’t like the color of my hair.

GERRI NETMAN – ACT TWO

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

✰ As the days went by, things got worse between Karl Virgil and me. He stopped bothering to be civil most of the time.

✰ If it weren’t for Karl Virgil, we would have been one big happy family. We all got on really well. But Karl Virgil kept picking fights with everyone except Tilly. He was nice to her because she was the host and he knew she could have put him off the ship.

✰ My niece back home loves Karl Virgil. She listens to all his music and has his poster above her bed. She will be jealous that I traveled with him.

✰ One time, I heard you Claudine. You were having what sounded like a lovers’ tiff with Karl Virgil. You said you’d push him overboard if he kissed you in public again. I left you both and went back upstairs.

✰ When Karl Virgil heard I’d acted in a movie, he suddenly changed his attitude towards me and was very nice. He asked me to get him a role in a movie. When I refused, he said he’d arrange for me to be left at the next island.

GERRI NETMAN – ACT THREE

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

✰ In the morning I overhead Karl Virgil having a mobile phone conversation with what sounded like a hired thug. He said he wanted a lady with orange hair removed from “The Goombay” Nassau.

✰ Hearing that Karl was plotting to remove me was the last straw. What right did he have to make me go home, when he was the one person who wasn’t even invited on the cruise?

✰ I told Tilly what I had heard. She was very upset about it and she said she would tell Karl Virgil that his uninvited stay was over and that he would have to leave the ship tomorrow morning when we docked at Nassau.

✰ When Tilly told Karl she was putting him off the ship tomorrow, he said that was fine because had friends in Nassau.

✰ I was up on the deck playing basketball with Cosi all afternoon. While I was playing I did notice Shirley climbing the communication tower. I thought she was pretty game to do that. When Cosi and I went to look at the captain’s pet monkey, to our horror, we found it was dead.

THESE ARE THE CLUES FOR TWINKLE-FINGERS

TWINKLE-FINGERS – ACT ONE

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

✰ I have passed beyond to the world of eternal glitter. But sometimes I come back to add a bit of razzle/dazzle to people’s lives back on earth.

✰ People say they hear beautiful piano melodies whenever I approach them. That’s truly divine music, isn’t it?

✰ Don’t believe them when they say you can’t take it with you. Look at me, I am covered in jewels. Aren’t they stunning?

✰ Karl Virgil said he didn’t believe in ghosts, but eventually he had to agree he could see me. Everyone on board the cruiser could see me. Luxury cruisers deserve high-class ghosts like me.

✰ Karl Virgil told people I could only play a handful of numbers on the piano. He thought I’d been a fake. I was hurt. It just isn’t true (sobbing). Why I worked these fingers to the bone practicing. That’s why I wear all these rings – just to hide my damaged fingers.

✰ Karl Virgil sees himself as a big-timer stirrer. The first time I saw him on board, he stole my toupee. I think it was all just a sign of his intense jealousy of me.

TWINKLE-FINGERS – ACT TWO

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

✰ Karl Virgil and I were sharing a cabin together. At first he thought had a cabin all to himself. That was until he admitted that I existed.

✰ Karl Virgil was annoyed he had to share a cabin. He wasn’t even invited. Neither was I but then I’m an asset to any gathering, aren’t I darlings? Karl was horrible to me. Whenever I spread out my cosmetics, like my life-saving wrinkle cream and so on, he pushed them off the bench. Very nasty, he was – nasty.

✰ Ghosts don’t snore, so he was lucky in that sense. We don’t snore because we don’t sleep. We’ve got insomnia big time. Seeing me sitting reading all night unnerved him a bit.

✰ After he made that nasty unfounded remark about my piano playing abilities, I must admit that I did make his life hell. In the middle of the night, I scraped my fingers down the mirror. He woke up, but he didn’t realize why.

✰ When I discovered that Tilly had brought an electric organ on board, I decided to prove to Karl Virgil that I can play. So I had the organ brought to our cabin and for 12 hours straight, I played him number of after number – all different and all perfect. I had him locked in our cabin. Eventually he yelled so loud that someone came to let him out.

TWINKLE-FINGERS – ACT THREE

During this act, you must reveal the following points:

✰ You would have thought Karl Virgil would apologize for his remark about my skills. But no, he just glared at me. I think he was angry because of the day he’d spent listening to my divine music.

✰ Karl did something that really upset me. He flushed my expensive anti-wrinkle cream down the you-know-what! He did it right in front of my eyes. I couldn’t believe it.

✰ I tried to hit him over the head with a pot plant but every time I snuck up on him, he moved. It was very frustrating.

✰ I wanted to kill him and bury him properly so that he goes to hell rather than floats around in purgatory with me. If only I had had a church funeral, maybe I wouldn’t be in this ghastly ghostly predicament.

✰ While I was wafting around the place before lunch, I saw Estrella and Claudine discussing something in earnest in the lounge. I heard them say something about how it must look like an accident.

The Auction

Murder Mystery Games

THE AUCTION

Following the suspicious death of Baroness Audry von Munchen, the fabulous von Munchen relics are to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. In the absence of a legal heir, it looks like all the proceeds will go to her favorite charity – unless a claimant comes forward at the last moment. What is the truth behind the Baroness’s death? There’s only one way to find out!

An auction as important as this one is bound to attract a wide range of guests. Apart from antique dealers and private collectors, you may also find prominent members of the Church, political activists, spies, assassins, and even the occasional drug dealer – as well as all of the Baroness’s “loyal” staff. Take nothing for granted, however: not everyone is who they appear to be…

Al those invited to this murder mystery are given a character in the plot. Although only one of them is the actual murderer, nearly everyone is a prime suspect. As guests arrive, they are greeted by the Baroness’s lawyer, Freddie Farr. They get the chance to view her splendid relics, investigate her murder, bid in the auction and do whatever wheeling and dealing is required to achieve their character’s other main objective: to end up the richest person in the room!

Murder isn’t the only crime guests are likely to encounter. Blackmail, bribery, theft, fraud and extortion also lurk not far beneath the surface. Why has the Brooch of Salaar gone missing? Whatever happened to the Baroness’s husband? And why are some guests so keen to bid for the Japanese sword? Come to the auction to find out…

WELCOME TO THE AUCTION

Thank you for taking the time to download this document. You could use it as a basis for writing your own murder mystery, but it is really designed to enable you to run our “Auction” plot.

Most of the information you need to put an Auction together is contained in the main document, for which you will have to pay. Before you do that, check that your software and hardware are compatible with ours by printing out this whole document.

♡ WHAT IS IN THIS SECTION?

❥ A summary of how our murder mystery works

❥ An invitation to send once you know who will be attending. (This tells everyone which character you want them to be.)

❥ A list of all the character parts

❥ A copy of the antique dealers’ magazine “Yesterday’s News”, which gives guests some background on the plot.

❥ A booking form

♡ WHAT IS INCLUDED WHEN YOU ACTUALLY BUY IT?

❥ Character sheets, one for each guest

❥ A chart which shows how to allocate the character parts

❥ A step-by-step guide on how to run the game

❥ Paper money

❥ All the other essential paper props: Wills, Birth Certificates, Pathologist’s Reports, etc.

❥ The solution!

♡ HOW DOES THE AUCTION WORK?

Designed for groups of 12-40 people, the Auction lasts from 2 to 4 hours and works particularly well over dinner. One person will need to act as coordinator, responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly and that guests receive all the information they need. Everyone is given a character in the plot, with the coordinator assuming the role of a lawyer. One of the guests will be the murderer. If people play the game well, they will have more than enough information to identify the murderer. Nothing is as it seems, however, and every character will also have objectives of their own to pursue. These will sidetrack them into making deals, bribing people, and getting involved in plenty of fun and games along the way.

As proceedings draw to a close, everyone will be given the opportunity to make their accusations, before the correct solution is revealed and the murderer is unmasked.

♡ WHO HAS TAKEN PART IN THE AUCTION BEFORE?

We have been running the Auction for ten years in the UK. Hundreds of companies have booked it, and a list of satisfied customers is provided on our sister company’s website. This is the first time it has become available in a form you can run, without us being there to help you. Please do not think, however, that you can just download the game and let it run itself. By getting it at a fraction of the price that we usually sell it for, your coordinator will obviously have to put in some work to make it a real success.

We make our living running games like these. If you want us to organize it all for you, please let us know and we will tell you what we charge.

You are cordially invited to take part in a murder mystery called “The Auction.”

Following the tragic death of Baroness Audry from Munchen, her famous artifacts are being sold to the highest bidder. We would welcome your presence at this auction and to the reading of her will. This will take place:

Please let me know if you are unable to come as your part may have to be reallocated.

GUEST LIST FOR THE AUCTION OF THE VON MUNCHEN RELICS

❥ F.F Farr: The Baroness’s lawyer, and also a personal friend for many years. Freddie will decide who inherits the money raised by the auction.

❥ Cardinal Bowden: Once the Baroness’s local priest, the Cardinal is here on behalf of the Vatican. Rumor suggests that he may be the next Pope.

❥ Glenda Goodheart: Still an assistant librarian at the age of thirty-four, Glenda must be here out of curiosity as she surely can’t afford to buy anything.

❥ John Dunn: President of CONS (Care of Newborns Society): a charity which looks after unwanted children from rich backgrounds. It seems CONS will inherit most of Audry’s fortune.

❥ Sir John Bates: A wealthy banker and good friend of the Baroness. Sir John is expected to bid highly in the auction.

❥ Jay da Silva: A rich South American, Jay often travels to Britain on business, and used to visit Audry von Munchen regularly.

❥ Simmie Shade: T.J.’s adopted child, Simmie used to be quite a tearaway but, at the age of thirty, has now settled into a promising career in home security.

❥ Inspector Clu d’Eau: The detective, who is investigating the death of the Baroness, has never get over the embarrassment of having such a silly name.

❥ Jeeves: The Baroness’s long-suffering butler, Jeeves will be attending the auction as a mark of respect for his late employer.

❥ Alison Williams: Alison owns a small shop in a neighboring village. She is unlikely to be able to afford anything here.

❥ Linda Lovelace: The Baroness’s maid for the past three years. She is out of a job now, as well as being heavily pregnant.

❥ Lionel Big: The owner of “Wartime Antiques”, Lionel has a most unpleasant manner. He is T.J. Shade’s main business rival.

❥ J.J. Sly: This surly, aggressive man is not known in the antiques trade, and no one can think of a reason why he should be at the auction.

❥ Ari Salom: A money-lender of a great repute. It is always wise to make repayments to Salom Enterprises on time…

❥ Pat Gaffney: This Irish property owner is in the money and is rumored to be the new owner of Audry’s estate. Pat’s strong accent and sense of humor add life to any party.

❥ Sterling Saunders: An entrepreneur from Soho whose millions were made from the proceeds of an unusual publication called “LOVE”…

❥ T.J. Shade: Shade runs the famous Shady Regalia Antiques shop in London, which specializes in military artifacts.

❥ Father O’Leary: Now the local priest, who took over from Cardinal Bowden twenty-five years ago. He conducted private services for the Baroness regularly.

❥ John Doe: After spending several years in South America John is now a journalist for Yesterday’s News, the magazine for antique dealers.

❥ Ginger Bloomfield: An antiques dealer from London, Ginger has an eye for a bargain, and is looking for one at the auction.

❥ Sue Bromley: A young and promising archaeologist who was on the expedition with the Baroness when the artifacts were discovered.

❥ Lady Miriam Bates: Sir John’s charming wife, Lady Miriam looks down on all those she believes lack her wealth and breeding.

❥ Sam Snoop: Wherever there’s money, you will also find the gutter press. Sam is the News of the People’s foremost “investigator journalist.”

❥ Kim Chapman: Chapman is here on behalf of Lloyds Insurance, which is offering a £20,000 reward for the return of the missing brooch.

❥ Ringwald Crump: Crump is a talented but struggling artist whose main role model is Vincent Van Gogh.

❥ A.B. Burns: Recruited by Freddie Farr to run the auction, A.B. has worked for the family firm of Burns, Burns & Burns for many years.

❥ Elsie Earnapenny: A keen member of her local girl guides group, Elsie is often seen raising money for good causes.

❥ Dan, the gardener: Dan has been Audry’s gardener for the last fifteen years. A cheerful old soul, he is very proud of his cabbages, raspberries and parsnips.

❥ Jeff Williamson: Jeff is a local lad whose mischievous nature frequently gets him into trouble with the police.

❥ Ann Smith: Ann guarded the relics for the Baroness when they were abroad. She is responsible for ensuring no one tries to steal or damage them at the auction.

❥ Jules Bond: Bond doesn’t talk much about work, except to say that it involves plenty of travel and meeting new people.

❥ Mrs. Muhammed: Here on behalf of the Turkish government, Mrs. Muhammed believes the relics are the property of her country and should not be auctioned at all.

❥ Solo Humarn: Solo works for a national newspaper in Israel and is here to do a follow-up, after reporting on the original discovery of the relics.

❥ Satsumo Mitsuyo: Despite a shaky grasp of language, Satsumo is keen to come away from the auction with at least one genuine artifact.

❥ Karla Herbflauer: A student who comes from Eastern Europe, Karla is here to see for herself the wonderful treasures Audry found on her expedition.

❥ Jack Chancer: An international businessman, Jack takes an interest in many different money-making schemes. It’s no surprise to see him where so much wealth is gathered.

❥ Feng Caratacas: Feng is a mercenary and political activist who offers a service “you would kill for.”

❥ Dennis Short: Nicknamed “Dodgy Den”, Mr. Short is never short of bargains to sell and unpleasant stories to spread.

❥ Arshaad Kaghi: The leader of an extremist religious sect, Arshaad objects strongly to the selling of “stolen holy relics.”

❥ G.D. Lettemov: An entrepreneur from the Central Asian Republic of Krackastan, famed for its exotic teas and dangerous roads.

YESTERDAY’S NEWS

BARONESS DEAD! POLICE SUSPECT FOUL PLAY

Baroness Audry von Munchen died in very peculiar circumstances last week. Police revealed today that the Baroness was found dead in her bed by her maid, Miss Linda Lovelace, at breakfast one morning. An enquiry into the death has been set up and is being led by Inspector Clu d’Eau – a bumbling idiot who, it has been suggested, could not organize a drinks party in a brewery. It is believed the Baroness did not die from natural causes, and the police are already describing the incident as a “suspicious death.”

AUCTION OF THE YEAR

Following the death of the Baroness Audry von Munchen, three glorious relics are to be auctioned.

A fourth relic, the “Brooch of Salaar”, was stolen on the night that she died. Her lawyer, Freddie Farr, has put up a reward of thirty thousand pounds for information leading to the arrest of the murderer. Additionally, the insurance brokers, Lloyds of London, are offering a twenty thousand pound reward for the return of the missing brooch. The auction is expected to attract interest from a wide variety of people, including at least one Cardinal and plenty of antique dealers.

The relics have recently been exhibited in the Middle and Far East. They date from the first Crusade of 1099, from a battle against Salaar, Sultan of the Turkish armies at that time. The Crusaders were victorious, and went on to sack Jerusalem, and found the Christian kingdom of Antioch.

The von Munchen Relics:

THE CROSS OF UNITY

The Cross was given to the Crusaders by Pope Urban II to bring them together under the banner of Christianity. Its value is not certain, but should prove to be in excess of one hundred thousand pounds.

Π THE JAPANESE SWORD

A magnificent find, there is a legend attached to this weapon. It once belonged to an aide to the Emperor of Japan. After a breach of Bushido, the Samurai code, the aide was banished from Japan. He then fought as a mercenary for the Crusaders.

Z THE CROWN OF SALAAR

Salaar, Sultan of the Seljuk Turks, died in battle, wearing this crown. It was unearthed at a dig on the battleground site.

Z THE BROOCH OF SALAAR

The Brooch is believed to have belonged to Salaar. As it has gone missing, it will only be sold at the auction if someone returns it.

OBITUARY: BARONESS AUDRY VON MUNCHEN

The Baroness died at the age of sixty-seven after leading a most extraordinary life. She moved to England from Germany in the 1940s, and soon became known as an accomplished historian and archaeologist. Her fame in the antiques world was accentuated last year after her extremely successful expedition to the Middle East, where she discovered and excavated the site of the most famous battle of the First Crusade in 1099 A.D.

The Baroness did once marry, but it is believed her husband died very soon after her marriage. She rarely talked about him. There are no known heirs to her fortune, and it is believed that all the money raised by the sale of her relics will go to her favorite charity, CONS (the Care of Newborns Society).

On behalf of us all at Yesterday’s News, may I say that she will bee sorely missed.

By John Doe