In this Issue:
1. Note from the Mystery Maiden
2. Did You Know? Trivia Bite
3. Host Help Article - Dinner and a Murder: Integrating a murder mystery game into your dinner party
4. Last Month's Mini-Mystery Winner!
5. Mini-Mystery of the Month
6. Sleuth Joke of the Month
Note From The Mystery Maiden
Hello, Subscriber
Well, the holidays are over and it's time to get back to work. 2007 is going to be an exciting year for Shot In The Dark Mystery Games, with great new mysteries for adults and kids, forensic mysteries and a new genre of mystery never-before-seen (or attempted) type of mystery game! But more on that to come.
December was an exciting month for me. As you may remember, last month I mentioned Shot In the Dark Mystery Games was receiving a face-lift. Well, the new site has launched and I couldn't be happier with the results! Dawn at Dagain Designs (www.dagaindesigns.com) not only created Shot In The Dark Mystery Games as I had always imagined, but also created The Dark Community - a forum for hosts of any kind to meet and swap ideas about hosting murder mystery games! Swing by and say hello, post your own tips and questions, and help me get this community rocking! Visit http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/index.html
Dawn has also created some mini-reapers for me to give to you as a gift. New Reaper Reader subscribers are receiving mini-reapers when they confirm their subscription to proudly display on their website. This omimous little reaper is perfect for a blog or website, and will help spread the word about Shot In The Dark Mysteries! As you are already a subscriber, I would like to give you a mini-reaper to say thank you for helping make the website such a success thus far. Visit http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/minireaper.html for the HTML code OR Download the flash file by visiting http://208.106.145.33/minireaper.zip
Here's to an intriguing and mysterious 2007! Cheers!
Sincerely,
Mystery Maiden
Trivia
Did You Know? Trivia Bite
Near the beginning of the movie Charade (Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant), Cary Grant had to have the back of his ears covered with masking tape during because the intense background lighting made his ears look red.
Host Help
Host Help Article: Dinner and a Murder: Integrating a murder mystery game into your dinner party
Many people throw dinner parties to catch up with old friends and get acquainted with new friends. A murder mystery game is an easy way to spice up the old dinner party routine. Everyone loves a great dinner party, and a dinner party with the intrigue of a murder mystery game is a way to give even your toughest guests a thrill.
Hosting a murder mystery game is relatively easy (to see just how easy it is, visit http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/hosthelp/howdoiplay.html). But just how does a humble host facilitate the game around a divine meal? Follow these easy instructions to host a dinner party murder mystery game your guests will never forget.
DOWNLOAD, PRINT, CUT, PLAY
First, follow the four Shot In The Dark Mystery Games steps: Download, Print, Cut, Play. Do this one week before your party so if a last minute dinner crisis arises, your murder mystery game will be ready – one less thing to worry about. Also, with the murder mystery game clues sorted ahead of time, no matter what kind of kitchen catastrophe you encounter, your guests will be so intrigued with sharing the initial clues they won’t notice the crashing noises coming from the kitchen.
COORDINATE THE GAME CHAPTERS WITH YOUR MEAL COURSES
Shot In The Dark Murder Mystery Games contain between four and six “chapters”. Each chapter is played independently of the previous chapter, which makes the murder mystery game ideal for a dinner situation. Chapter one clues can be distributed over cocktails once everyone has arrived. If your guests aren’t well acquainted, this will help break the tension and get your guests talking with minimal effort on you, the host.
APPETIZERS
Now that everyone has mingled a bit, shared their clues and received some secret information, chapter two begins. This is a great time to serve appetizers. We suggest delivering the clues before the appetizers are served and then having each person read their “share” clue either while they are eating or after the appetizers are finished.
THE MAIN COURSE
Chapter three offers more intrigue over your main course. The clues can be shared and conversation about the murder encouraged as people eat or after the main course has finished.
DESSERT AND COFFEE
Chapter four is usually the final chapter before the murderer is revealed. Chapter four is great to play over dessert and coffee or over a third course (if you are particularly ambitious in your cooking endeavors).
THE MURDERER IS REVEALED
The final chapter where the murderer is revealed is best played over a second cup of coffee or after-dinner drinks. Before you deliver the final clues or read the final dialogue, we recommend each guest write down their accusation on a piece of paper. Because of this, it’s best to have your table mostly cleared to give each person room to write. Then, as sugar is stirred into cappuccino, each guest announces their accusation and explains to the other players why he or she is accusing that particular suspect. Expect even more lively conversation – keep whipped cream to a minimum lest you must scrape it off the walls the following day.
AFTER THE MEAL
Finish your murder mystery game dinner party with a bit more mingling, allowing each guest time to approach you when you’re free of your cooking duties to rave about the fun they’ve had.
A murder mystery game is a great way to spice up your dinner party. Follow the steps above for fantastic results, giving you and your guests a night they will never forget! For more easy tips for hosting your murder mystery game party, visit http://208.106.145.33/community/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=adfa83b616b3df82ba6f69d0d7022bf3. If you have tips for other hosts or questions about how to make your party unforgettable, visit the brand new Shot In The Dark Mystery Games Dark Community at http://208.106.145.33/community/index.php where you can cyber-mingle with other hosts!
Mystery Maiden writes and facilitates murder mystery, general mystery, forensics and custom mystery games for Shot In The Dark Mystery Games. For more party host tips, quizzes and more, visit www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com. The Mystery Maiden can also be reached via email at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com.
Murder Mystery Game Alert!
THE WIZARD OF OZ MYSTERY
Somewhere over the rainbow muder was afoot ...
It was awfully convenient that the tornado picked up Dorothy and the house and deposited her directly upon the Wicked Witch of the East, without anyone else getting hurt. Was it a coincidence or pre-meditated murder? Based more on L. Frank Baum's original book than the Hollywood movie, The Wizard of Oz Mystery reveals the truth - the slippers were made of silver, the flowers that knocked everyone out were actually poppies and Dorothy was not as innocent as she pretended. Everyone has a motive, and it's up to the suspects to figure out who killed the Wicked Witch of the East!
http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/mystery/oz/index.html
Mini-Mystery of the Month
There was an incredible response to last month's mini-mystery, and every one of you was correct! The maid killed the rich woman's husband. How did they know? Because the maid claimed she was retrieving the mail at the time of the murder - she was lying, because there is no mail delivery on Sunday!
Thanks to everyone who submitted their guess. This month's winner is Brett G., who has won the murder mystery game of his choice! Congratulations, Brett!
January's Mini-Mystery is:
A family was driving in their big blue SUV down a busy road when a dog ran into the street and the driver, the father, was forced to swerve. To his horror, in swerving to miss the dog the SUV collided with a large black car in driving in the lane to the right. Everyone in the SUV was fine - they did not even receive scratches. One passenger in the black car, however, was dead. The folks in the big blue SUV were allowed to leave the scene without being charged with manslaughter. Why were they allowed to leave?
Email your reply to mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com for a chance to win a free Shot In The Dark Mystery Game of your choice! Everyone who guesses, regardless of their answer, is entered in the draw!
Murder Mystery Game Alert!
NIGHTMARE IN THE NEWSROOM
Murder is always front page news
It's The Chronicle's 25th anniversary, but that's not all they are celebrating. Editor-in-Chief Barty Barker is retiring from his 25-year career, handing the reins over to Milton Muckler, an outspoken editorialist in the prime of his career. But when Milton Muckler is found dead in the basement production room, those celebrating his success turn into murder suspects. Who killed Milton Muckler, and why are the police taking so long to arrive?
http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/mystery/newsroom/index.html
Sleuth Joke of the Month>
January's Sleuth Joke
A civilian asks a man in uniform, "Are you a policeman?"
"No, I am an undercover detective."
"So why are you in uniform?"
"Today is my day off."
Have a sleuth joke? Email it to me at mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com for an entry into our monthly draw! You could win the Shot In The Dark Mystery Game of your choice!
Information & Credits
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