Shot in the Dark Murder Mystery Party Tips Page 2

How to Decide the Theme of your Party

Some people hear the words “theme” and “party” and immediately envision togas or ugly sweaters. And while these certainly are types of many themes, the truth is that every party, regardless of how big, small, casual or formal, has a theme.

There is a stark difference between a Theme Party and the Theme of a Party. A theme is just a way to convey to everyone involved what they can expect at your party, as well as how to dress and act. For example, if you specify a “Cocktail Party” them, it conveys a certain idea of what a guest can expect, as well as how to dress and how they will behave. Conversely, a “Kegger” or a Superbowl Party will give a completely different idea of what one can expect. So, while every party may not be a “theme party”, every party has a theme.

Identifying your party’s theme from the start will make the rest of the party planning process easier. Your theme can affect everything from the design of your invitations to the centerpiece at your table, to the food you serve to the activities you plan. It will guide you in every decision you make about your party, help you to set your budget, determine the food you need to have available, the cocktails you will serve, and the guests you will invite.

At theme can be an occasion, like a Christmas Party, Cinco De Mayo Party or Valentines’ Party. You could take your guests back in time with a bygone era, like The Roaring 20’s or Vintage Hollywood. A theme could be a major life event, like a Baby Shower, Engagement Party or Bachelorette Party. Your theme could be about a favorite book, TV show or location, like a 50 Shades of Grey party or a Walking Dead Zombie party or Hawaiian party. And finally, your theme could be an activity, like a Murder Mystery (which we HIGHLY recommend!), Dinner Party, Karaoke or an Ugly Sweater Contest.

Of course, the reason for your gathering could just be to pull together friends and loved ones in one place to connect. If this is the case and your theme isn’t obvious, you can still select a “theme” to guide you with your decoration, music, food, etc. Pick one or two colors that resonate with you, and keep that theme as you purchase your decorations, table settings, invitations and party favors.

While not all parties are “theme parties” all parties have a theme. Identify yours to make light work of your party planning and throw a party your guests will love!

Here are our top murder mystery themes for your party:

Masquerade Murder

The Masquerade Murder Mystery Party Game – Gateway

The Da Vinci Code of murder mystery parties! Set in St. Mark’s Library in Venice and available in co-ed or all-female versions, determine why the librarian was murdered, what it has to do with the real-life Antikythera Mechanism, and whether the “key” to decoding the device is just a myth!

Synopsis: It’s a night of glamour, mystery and intrigue as the hottest socialites from around the world dress up in their best for a masquerade unlike any other. The location: stunning Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice, Italy. But when an esteemed librarian is found dead in Sansovino’s Library, just steps away from where the masquerade is in full swing, the shadow of suspicion is cast on the esteemed masquerade guests. It’s up to the guests of the masquerade to unravel the clues and crack the codes to determine the identity of the killer, but also decipher the reason WHY this seemingly innocent man was killed!

Roaring 20’s/Flapper

A Flapper Murder at the 1920’s Speakeasy! Murder Mystery Party Game – Gateway

Take a trip back in time to the Roaring 20’s – a time of flappers, gangsters, prohibition and speakeasies. Solve the mystery of who killed Fanny Birchwood in either the co-ed or all-female version of our best-selling murder mystery party game!

Synopsis: The Roaring 20’s are in full swing, giving birth to the rise of jazz music, flappers and, with the end of the war, a renewed feeling of hope and joviality. It’s the era of prohibition, and organized crime is at an all-time high. The Half Moon Club is one of the just two Speakeasys in town, fighting prohibition by serving alcohol illegally and offering patrons the type of fun that can’t be had when the sun is up. Despite the constant threat of a raid, business at The Half Moon Club is lucrative, as men and women stream through the doors each night. When a flapper is found shot to death outside the club, the management and loyal patrons of The Half Moon Club scramble to identify the killer before the police catch wind of the killing and shut down the juice joint for good!

Le chat Noir Mini Mystery Game

This unique mini mystery features a theft, not a murder, and is set in 1920’s Paris at a Cabaret. Family-friendly and interactive, Le Chat Noir will have everyone sleuthing to find out who stole the mysterious (and horribly ugly) black cat!

Synopsis: The year is 1921 and it’s a night like any other at Tir Dans Le Noir en gay Paris – that is to say, an evening filled with cabaret acts to satisfy any artistic appetite. The club is renowned the world over to carry some of the hottest acts and attract the upper crust – socialites, royalty and top celebrities. It’s THE place to be if you want to be seen. It’s the place legends are made, and the setting for the stories those legends tell for decades after. Prestige is assured, and a good time almost guaranteed. Yes, this stunning venue has seen some wild nights, but little do patrons know Tir Dans Lei Noir know that this night is one that will go down in the history books, thanks to the Le Chat Noir! A relic has gone missing – something seemingly inconsequential and hideously ugly. Everyone in the club is detained until Le Chat Noir is located and the perpetrator revealed!

Edwardian/Georgian Murder Mystery –Welcome to the gateway for the mysterious affair at Stirling Hall Edwardian/Victorian/Regency Era Instant Download Murder Mystery Party Game! Please Select from the options below!

Synopsis: In old day Britain, propriety is the real ruler. Welcome to Stirling Hall, home of Lord and Lady Westby, their family and servants, who are all bound by social expectation to play their “role”. As if the day-to-day running of the estate us not enough, Lord Westby has no so, and the grand house and all titles are set to be inherited by Ambrose Haines, a very distant relative. The family thought their problems were at an end upon the engagement of the Westby’s eldest daughter, Lady Lila Westby to the estate heir, Ambrose Haines. But when a woman is found dead in the estate, they quickly realize their problems are just beginning. Who is the mysterious woman? What was she doing in Stirling Hall? How was she killed? And most importantly who is her killer? Scandal must be avoided at all cost and it’s up to the Westbys and all those who reside in Stirling Hall to find the killer and preserve their good name!

High Society/Mansion Murder Mystery

The Mysterious Affair at Stirling Hall Murder Mystery Party – Gateway

Jane Austen and Downtown Abbey have nothing on Stirling Hall! A murder mystery set in old Britain, perfect for a Victorian, Regency/Georgian or Edwardian-themed party!

Synopsis: In old day Britain, propriety is the real ruler. Welcome to Stirling Hall, home of Lord and Lady Westby, their family and servants, who are all bound by social expectation to play their “role.” As if the day-to-day running of the estate is not enough, Lord Westby has no son, and the grand house all titles are set to be inherited by Ambrose Haines, a very distant relative. The family thought their problems were at an end upon the engagement of the Westby’s eldest daughter, Lady Lila Westby to the estate heir, Ambrose Haines. But when a woman is found dead in the estate, they quickly realize their problems are just beginning. Who is the mysterious woman? What was she doing in Stirling Hall? How was she killed? And most importantly, who is her killer? Scandal must be avoided at all cost and it’s up to the Westbys and all those who reside in Stirling Hall to find the killer and preserve their good name!

Murder at the Bourbon Club 1950’s Hollywood Murder Mystery Party Game Gateway!

A Vintage Hollywood murder mystery party set in a smoky jazz club. Classic Hollywood-type characters are the suspects – but which one is the murderer?

Synopsis: The year is 1950 and it’s a night like any other Bourbon Jazz Club, the hottest of hot spots for the local glitterati, the biggest celebrities and those who want to join them. The guest list is exclusive and the patrons happy. In short, it’s the place to be, and is renowned the world over as one of the world’s premier lounge clubs. People are dying to get in – one man quite literally! Mitzi, the club’s headliner, takes the stage and has just begun her first song when a scream rings out. A man has been found murdered! The doors are quickly locked and everyone is contained, and will remain within the doors of the club until the murderer is discovered!

The Phantom of the Auction House – Gateway!

The perfect mystery for any party! Two mysteries to solve – the identity of the killer and the mystery of the enigmatic Phantom!

Synopsis: Leanne Walsh, owner of Walsh’s Auction, is throwing her annual party. Her friends and clients gather for a night of fun and socializing, but something sinister lurks in the back of the minds of everyone attending; the old house-turned auction site is rumored to be haunted, and even the owner herself won’t remain there alone after dark! Suddenly, a scream rings out and a man is found, dressed as a Phantom and lying in a pool of blood. As the crowd tends to this mystery man, Leanne Walsh is murdered! Moments later, the Phantom, disappears, leaving only a disguise to prove he was there in the first place. Who killed Leanne Walsh and why? Is the Phantom human, or supernatural? It’s up to the guests to question the suspects and piece together the clues to determine who had the motive, means and opportunity to kill Leanne Walsh. Was it a human, or was she killed by the Phantom of the Auction House?

The Getty Affair Murder Mystery Party Game Gateway!

A mansion… a millionaire with a stash of uncut diamonds somewhere in his house… a controversial will and a house full of people who want him dead… it was only a matter of time, really before Getty got murdered. The perfect mystery party for any occasion!

Synopsis: He’s one of the world’s richest men and he seems to have it all. But on the night of a dinner party at the Getty Estate, billionaire Samson Getty is found strangled in his study! The entire household, plus a few uninvited guests are quickly named suspects. Why would anyone want to kill Samson Getty? Was it his philandering, his stash of uncut diamonds, his controversial will? Only one thing is for certain: secrets long-buried will be revealed, and not everyone is what, or who, they seem.

The Masquerade Murder Mystery Party Game – Gateway!

The Da Vinci Code of murder mystery parties! Set in St. Mark’s Library in Venice and available in co-ed or all-female versions, determine why the librarian was murdered, what it has to do with the real-life Antikythera Mechanism, and whether the “key” to decoding the device is just a myth!

Synopsis: It’s the night of glamour, mystery and intrigue as the hottest socialites from around the world dress up in their best for a masquerade unlike any other. The location: stunning Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice, Italy. But when an esteemed librarian is found dead in Sansovino’s Library, just steps away from where the masquerade is in full swing, the shadow of suspicion is cast on the esteemed masquerade guests. It’s up to the guests of the masquerade to unravel the clues and crack the codes to determine the identity of the killer, but also decipher the reason WHY this seemingly innocent man was killed!

1950’s Vintage Hollywood

Murder at the Bourbon Club 1950’s Hollywood Murder Mystery Party Game Gateway!

Synopsis:  The year is 1950 and it’s a night like any other at Bourbon Jazz Club, the hottest of hot spots for the local glitterati, the biggest celebrities and those who want to join them. The guest list is exclusive and the patrons happy. In short, it’s the place to be, and is renowned the world over as one of the world’s premier lounge clubs. People are dying to get in – one man quite literally! Mitzi, the club’s headliner, takes the stage and has just begun her first song when a scream rings out. A man has been found murdered! The doors are quickly locked and everyone is contained, and will remain within the doors of the club until the murderer is discovered!

1960’s Advertising Boom Era

The Ad Man Mystery Party Game Gateway!

Synopsis: It’s the 1960’s and the worldwide advertising scene is in its glory days. Ad men seem to walk on water and enjoy perks and luxuries that no other profession can match. Within the top companies, deceit and betrayal run rampant as the men play a real life chess game to advance their positions – both in-house and with competing companies. The annual AdAge advertising convention is in town, drawing the best of the industry from all over the world for one week. Every hotel is sold out, as most advertising reps have brought their secretaries along for the week. But shortly after the convention wraps up on the first day, a horrific discovery is made at The Jury’s Inn Hotel: one of the top Ad Men in the world has been found murdered in his penthouse suite! Who killed him, why and how?

Pirates

The Pirates Revenge Murder Mystery Party – Gateway!

Synopsis: The year is 1719 and pirates scour the sea like sharks, attacking even the most prominent of ships. Welcome aboard the pirate ship Revenge, the most feared ship on the water – and she is yar! Grisly Meed, the Captain of the Revenge was, until recently, the longest serving captain at her helm. This night, his reign has been stolen from him with a slash of a blade – his own blade – his prized treasure, the Sword of Steggan. Captain Meed has been found dead in his quarters and his murderer could have only been a member of the crew! Now everyone aboard is a suspect in his murder, and the mutineer must be discovered and face his judgment by Davy Jones himself.

Bachelorette Party Murder Mystery

The Bachelorette Party Murder Mystery Game Gateway!

Synopsis: It’s Carmen Phillips’ last hurrah. Next week, she’s walking down the aisle to become Carmen Gore, marrying her dream man in a shotgun marriage following a whirlwind five month romance. Her best girlfriends gather to throw her a bachelorette party she’ll never forget. Against the bride’s wishes, a stripper is arranged, but before he can take the “stage” he’s found murdered! The bride and her friends are about to learn that there’s a lot more to this “stripper” than first assumed. Who killed him, why, and more importantly, who is he?

Spa Party Murder Mystery

Murder at the Spa Mystery Party Game Gateway

Synopsis: It’s a day of relaxation, of peace and tranquility as Vivian LeSage has invited her closest girl friends out for a day of pampering at The Floating Flower Oasis Spa. But when one of the guests is found murdered in the Zen Garden, it’s up to everyone to determine who had the motive, means and opportunity to commit murder –while still enjoying their pampering treatments, of course!

Christmas Party Murder Mystery

The Company Christmas Party Murder – Gateway!

A murder mystery suitable for any company Christmas or Holiday party –“clean” (no sex, no drugs) and designed to fit into any party scenario!

Synopsis: It’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time of snow falling, twinkling lights and the excitement of Santa’s big arrival on Christmas day. It’s also the time for entertaining, and everyone in the company has gathered to celebrate the season. The festivities begin with a bang – the announcement of a murder! David Reese, a freelance consultant for the company, is found dead in the hallway! The celebration quickly turns into an interrogation as suspects are identified. Amidst eggnog and festive cheer, it’s up to everyone in the company to learn who killed David Reese and why!

The Christmas Party Murder Mystery Game – Gateway!

Spreading festive cheer has never been more mysterious. Set at a Christmas Party with no specified host or venue, this mystery is flexible enough to fit into any Christmas or Holiday party scenario!

Synopsis: It’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time of snow falling, twinkling lights and the excitement of Santa’s big arrival on Christmas day. It’s also the time for entertaining and friends and family have gathered to celebrate the season. The festivities begin with a bang – the announcement of a murder! David Reese, a guest at the party, is found dead in the hallway! The celebration quickly turns into an interrogation as the suspects are identified. Amidst eggnog and Christmas carols, it’s up to the party guests to learn who killed David Reese and why!

The Christmas Party Prankster

Tis the season – to prank your friends? It’s the night of Brittany Smythe’s yearly Christmas party and everyone is excited for a night of gifts, carols and festive cheer. But before the festivities can even begin, it’s discovered there is a prankster in attendance! Who could have the motive, means an opportunity to pull off these pranks, and most importantly, why? Everyone there quickly turns from guest to suspect in the craziest investigation to ever hit the holiday season. No one is leaving until the identity of the Christmas Party Prankster is revealed and their motives exposed!

The Santa Strangling Gateway

An adult-themed murder mystery party game set at a Christmas Party. Adaptable to any Christmas party theme or venue, with a variety of variations available to suit your unique party!

Synopsis: With the January Mayoral election looming, long time mayor Ed Hanson is about to make his last public appearance of the year, dressed as Santa Claus at Eva Alpha’s Christmas party. But when the mayor, in full Saint Nick outfit, is found strangled with a length of Christmas lights, it’s quickly realize that the guest list is packed with the mayor’s enemies! Everyone is a suspect in this yule-tide murder mystery party game!

Birthday Party Murder Mystery

Synopsis: It’s a day of celebration and a good crowd has turned out for the birthday party! The event is in full swing and everyone is having a good time. Everyone, that is, except Lucy Wiper, who is found strangled to death in the washroom. Why was she murdered at such a happy event, and more importantly, who among you is her killer?