Engaging 1960s Murder Party with Intriguing Characters and Scripts -Free

By dorcas pennyfather on Aug 31, 2024

I've been hosting murder mystery dinner parties for 40 years. Back in the day I bought a box which held the scripts, clues and directions for the host. I was often left feeling dissatisfied, mainly because no one was entirely sure of what they should do or even who they were.

Now I can host one without any fear of it going flat. I write my own scripts which can be adapted to the number of guests and location. The one I'm offering for free is set in the early 1960s, in Cardiff but you can easily adapt it to make it local to you. There are 6 suspects and one detective/host. Please contact me if you'd like a copy. Your enquiry won't generate an automatic response but I'll send you a zip file.

The key is preparation by the organiser and here are some guidelines for you but full instructions are included in the download.

Decide who you wish to invite. I suggest you take the role of the detective. I've been a suspect myself but what with serving the food, making sure everyone stays on track etc. I've not found it a good experience. This is why I nominate myself as Agatha Marple - a male could be Perry Hercules or a neutral first name such as Christie can be substituted.

It's imperative that your guests are fully committed and not likely to drop out at the last minute. The evening won't work if there isn't a full cohort.

As the host read through all the information given in the download. Allocate the suspects to suit the characters of your guest. This game has 2 males, 3 females and 1 who could be played by either. Scarlet Lake (f), Ronny Crayfish (m), Angel Jolly (f), Isadora Palova (f), Doug Kirklas (m) & Charlie Canniston. Each character has a motive and a shady past.

The game isn't suitable for under 18s as there are low level references to drinking, gambling, drug misuse, shoplifting, fraud as well as the grizzly method of murder!

You'll need to print the instructions and source some clues but all is explained in the download.

Once you've decided on a date send out the invites about 2 to 3 weeks beforehand. This will give your guests time to look for a costume (suggestions are provided) and read a little about their character. Here's the start of the invite I send out to Isadora Pavola

We are in the early 1960s and you are invited to celebrate the halfway point of filming Breakfast at Hayes Island by the director Bert Timton.

Here is an introduction to your character. Please don't discuss it with anyone else.

In this mystery, you're a glamorous dancer, you've choreographed all the dances in the film. You dress eccentrically with lots of floaty scarves.

This game has some scripts to be read but most of the time the suspects have to improvise and expand on the information they are given at the start of each round.

You won't know who the murderer is as they are chosen at random at the end of the evening. Once I had a guest who read he was the murderer at the start of the evening (this was a boxed game) then promptly told everyone else …….. Game over before it started! This way you will be as clueless as your guests and you can play the game several times more at later dates with different guests. However, there is the option to appoint one particular person as the murderer.

Here's how the game starts

Agatha Marple

Thank you all for coming but I've a terrible announcement to make. I arrived here early so went to see Bert in his office to say hello. It was awful, he was slumped over his desk, dead. He was still warm so couldn't have been there for long. I've phoned the police.

Was it a gunshot wound, poisoning, a stabbing, a heart attack brought on by shock, strangulation, electrocution or was he hit over the head ? We will have to wait for the report of the pathologist.

In the meantime the police have asked me to keep everyone here to find the murderer. You are all under suspicion.

For the record I need to make a note of everyone's name so let's go around the table & introduce ourselves.

As you know, I'm Agatha Marple, the famous crime solver both on film and in real life. I need say no more. Scarlet, will you please continue?

Full instructions will be sent to you although you will have to tweak them to fit your individual needs. Once you've done that you'll need to print the pages and gather the props.

If you'd like a copy of this murder party game please contact me and I'll send it to you. Even though I've put many hours of work into it it's free. I've held this scenario several times and my friends & I are ready for a new setting.