How to Host a Murder Mystery for Large Groups

Before the Game Begins

• 1

  Purchase or download a murder mystery kit or, if you're feeling particularly brave, write your own. Do this well in advance of the party date--at least a month--so that you have time to send out invitations and make any other necessary preparations.

• 2

  Send out personalized invitations; these may come with the kit you purchased or you may need to create your own. Make sure to mention the theme of the evening in the invitation and the role each person is being invited to play. Set the RSVP date well in advance of the party so that you have plenty of time to reassign essential roles if some guests do not respond or are not able to attend.

• 3

  Recruit at least one "runner" to help you organize and deliver clues throughout the evening; this person may find it fun to assume the character of a butler or maid to facilitate the role. Depending on the size of your group, you may need several runners. Don't forget to put some thought into which character you will play. Playing another maid or butler, the owner of the house, or perhaps even the chief of police or a mob boss can help in your role as organizer.

• 4

  Decorate the site of the party to help encourage your guests to get into the theme. This doesn't have to be overly elaborate; consider scattering simple props throughout the home, putting on period music and serving food suggestive of the theme (if possible and appropriate). Dressing up, having your helpers dress up, and encouraging guests to come in costume as well will help set the theme.

• 5

  Prepare the clues well in advance, unless they came ready in your game kit. Type or write out each clue and slip it into a plain card or envelope. Write the name of the character to receive it, and the round in which the clue is to be delivered on the outside. Keep the clues in a central, safe location where both you and your runner can easily access them but the other guests are unlikely to stumble across them by mistake.

• 6

  Write or type up, then copy or print, a sheet of guest instructions for each player. These will include any ground rules such as whether alcohol or smoking is permitted, not stepping out of character, staying away from certain areas of the home or game site that might be off-limits, and how to handle clues (some of which are meant to be revealed, while others should be kept secret unless directly queried or confronted).

During the Game

• 7

  Greet each arriving guest in character. Give each guest a nametag or other identifying object, a sheet of guest instructions, and his first clue.

• 8

  Gather the entire group together--or in several small groups, if there are too many people for one gathering--once everyone has arrived. Brief them on the game rules as a group, if necessary, and announce what time the party (and thus the game) will end. Give them a chance to introduce themselves in character. One easy way of doing this is to have one or several guests pose as police inspectors and request statements about each guest's relationship to the deceased.

• 9

  Encourage your guests to mingle by giving them group tasks or challenging each of them to come up with the most plausible case against someone else to prove their own innocence.

• 10

  Deliver the clues at regular intervals, with the help of your designated runners or by enlisting other characters as appropriate. For example, you might place clues at assigned dinner seatings. It's also convenient to deliver with coffee, tea or dessert, or while handing out party favors or doing gift swaps. You can also give clues to the entire group, or portions of it, at once through the form of announcements or acting out scenes with the help of other players during the party.

• 11

  Gather the group together at the predetermined end time for the game and give each person--or group, depending on the size of the party--a chance to present their theory on who committed the crime, how, and why. Reveal the actual solution yourself or have the appropriate character do so. If appropriate, award a prize to any individual or group that correctly solved the mystery.