A Halloween murder mystery party your friends will talk about all year

Why a murder mystery beats a regular Halloween party

A costume party can stall once everyone has admired each other's outfits. A murder mystery gives every guest a character, a secret and a reason to talk to everyone else. Quiet guests get lines to deliver. Loud guests get to accuse people. And the costume question answers itself: every character comes with a costume idea.

The story

Every year, the perfumer Vesper Hollowmoor throws the most talked-about Halloween masquerade in the county. This year, every guest received a black envelope with a handwritten note: "I know what you did. Come to the masquerade and find out what I intend to do about it." By half past ten, Vesper is dead in the glass conservatory, and every guest had a reason to want the midnight announcement silenced.

Masquerade theme ideas

• Dress code: "Masquerade, gothic, or dressed to kill." Every character in Hollowmoor wears a mask, so a mask is all anyone needs.
• Decor: candles, black roses, dried flowers, and a sign pointing to "The Night Garden." Put a teacup on a side table as the crime scene.
• Drinks: a dark berry punch called Belladonna (blackberry, cranberry and ginger ale), and valerian-free "Vesper's Tea" iced with honey.
• Music: gothic classical or a vintage jazz playlist, turned down low.
• Prizes: Best Detective, Best Liar and Best Costume. A cheap trophy spray-painted gold is perfect.

Timing for a Halloween night

Invite guests for 7:30 and start the opening at 8:00. Three acts take about 80 minutes, so accusations land close to 9:30 and the reveal gives you a natural second wind for the rest of the party.

How it works

You enter your guests' names and send each person a private link. Their link shows their character and costume idea. On the night, you announce a password for each act, and new secrets and clues unlock on every phone. At the end, you break the seal on the solution and read it aloud. It is free for 6 to 8 players.