Murder mystery dinner

What it is

A dinner party where everyone plays a character in a crime story. Each guest gets a role, a costume suggestion and secrets. Over the courses, clues are revealed and everyone questions each other until the murderer is revealed. Boxed kits make it easy to run - you just follow the script.

Plan ahead

• Three weeks before: buy a murder mystery kit for your exact number of guests (kits come for 6, 8, 10 or more). Choose a setting: 1920s mansion, Hollywood, a cruise ship.
• Two weeks before: send each guest their character booklet and costume ideas. Ask them not to share their secrets.
• Two days before: plan a menu that can be mostly prepared in advance so you can play too.

Set the scene

Dim lighting and candles. Place cards with character names. Theme the room to the setting: feathers, pearls and jazz music for 1920s; red carpet and gold stars for Hollywood. Leave the “body” (a chalk outline in tape on the floor) by the door.

How to run it

1. Character introductions: as starters are served, each guest introduces their character in one or two sentences.
2. Clue rounds: at each course, guests read new information from their booklet. Some clues are public, some are secret.
3. Questioning: guests can ask anyone anything. Everyone must tell the truth except the murderer, who can lie.
4. Accusations: at dessert, everyone writes down who they think did it and why.
5. The reveal: read the solution and award a prize to the best detective and best costume.

Food and drink

• Make-ahead courses: a soup or salad starter, a slow-cooked casserole or lasagne, and a cold dessert like tiramisu or chocolate pots
• Themed cocktails: “Poisoned Punch” (red berry punch) or classic Martinis for a 1920s night
• Non-alcoholic options for drivers

Tips

• Choose a kit that matches your guests’ willingness to act. Some are scripted, others are improvised.
• Have a backup character for a guest who drops out last-minute.
• For Halloween, choose a spooky setting like a haunted manor.