Welcome to The Reaper Reader!

In this Issue:
1. Note from the Mystery Maiden
2. Did You Know? Trivia Bite
3. Host Help Article - Super-Host! Remain Involved In Your Party
4. Last Issue's Mini-Mystery Winner!
5. Mini-Mystery
6. Sleuth Joke

Hello, Subscriber


It's been a great couple of weeks for adventure! Your faithful Mystery Maiden did something on the spur of the moment that was not planned - something rash and crazy and absolutely hilarious. Something - well, something I swore I'd never do.

I tried out for Canadian Idol.

Yes, that's right! I went simply to offer support to a very good friend who is incredibly talented (and also happens to be my forensics technical advisor). But as we stood in line, they announced that only competitors could stand on the "cool" side of the tape, and I did not want to be left out. After a bit of prodding from my good friend and some strangers we met in line, I decided to do it. It was so much fun, but totally stressful, even for someone like me who wasn't actually expecting to get anywhere. They put the competitors through so much!

In other mysterious news, I am currently working on a set of bachelor/bachelorette murder mystery games. The deceased - THE STRIPPER! I'm having a lot of fun with it, and can't wait to debut the games when they are ready.

Don't forget to purchase DSI: Death Scene Investigation Case 1 - He Didn't Know What Hit Him now, while it's on sale! It's a great deal, and a great game. Visit http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/ for the details! I hope you enjoy this issue of The Reaper Reader, and keep the comments coming - I love receiving emails from you guys (and gals)!

Sincerely,

Mystery Maiden

Did You Know? Trivia Bite


Agatha Christie's first story, The Mysterious Affair At Styles, was rumoured to be based on a true unsolved murder. Rudyard Kipling found the story intriguing, and wrote to Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle, who mentioned it to Christie, and the story began!

Host Help Article: Super-Host! Remain Involved In Your Party


When we host parties, we wear two very important party hats. The first hat we wear is the “host” hat, under which we serve food, drinks, even facilitate a murder mystery game. The second very important party hat we wear is the “social” hat, under which we ensure our guests mingle and have a good time. Wearing both party hats can be wearing, leaving a host or hostess exhausted! Aside from hiring an assistant or recruiting a grumbling loved one’s help, how can we keep the social and host party hats equally balanced atop our heads? Here are a few fun tips to keep both hats from falling off.

1. Stagger your guest’s arrival time

To make sure your host duties don’t overshadow your social scene, have your guests arrive at different times. Invite one couple over at 7:00 and another over at 7:15. This will give you time to catch up with the first guest before the next group arrives. When your 7:15 guests arrive, take time to visit with them and make sure you properly introduce the present guests so conversation can continue without you. At 7:30, another set of guests arrives, and you repeat the same steps. By the time your 7:45 guests arrive, you’ve had the chance to socialize with everyone! If you have many friends attending, begin the arrivals earlier, but keep the distance between arrivals at fifteen minute intervals.


2. Stagger your cooking

If you are preparing food for your party, you should stagger your cooking. That way, while one dish is cooking, simmering or setting, you can sit down and enjoy the company of your guests rather than racing to juggle pots in the kitchen.


3. Keep your venue to one room

Having guests in the living room, back yard and dining room will guarantee blistered feet by the end of the night. Keep the venue to one room if possible. This will allow you to be seen and socialize for the majority of the time, only having to pop out to complete your host duties once in a while. Another suggestion – make your party room the biggest and most comfortable room in your home.


4. Leave the washing up for tomorrow

I know, I know… who likes to wake up to a messy house and a sink full of dishes? As a result, many hosts try to do the washing up and tidying while their guests are still there. Instead, use the time after dinner or your murder mystery game to socialize and chat with your guests, and leave the cleaning for tomorrow. It may make for a big job when you wake up the next day, but at least you’ll get to spend time with your guests, and not one of them will feel as though you’re being an ungracious host.


5. Host a Super Secrets murder mystery game - *warning* shameless plug for Shot In The Dark Mysteries!

Try a game with Super Secrets (signified by the Super Secrets diamond at the bottom of the game information). Super Secrets give your guests specific people with which to share gossip, secrets and other fun information. This takes the pressure off you, the host, to ensure everyone is mingling, giving you the time you need to pop into the kitchen and refill the punch bowl. For more information on Shot In The Dark Mystery Games Super Secrets, visit http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/hosthelp/supersecrets.html


Mystery Maiden writes and facilitates murder mystery, general mystery, forensics and custom mystery games for Shot In The Dark Mysteries. 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

More issues of the Reaper Reader means more mini-mysteries! Yes, the mini-mysteries will be in every single issue, so submit your guess twice a month from here forward and double your chance to win the Shot In The Dark Mystery Game of your choice! The winner from the last issue is..... *drumroll* Simple Simon! Stand up and take a bow, Simon! Simon, and many others, had it right - to refresh your memory, here's the mystery again: Leigh shoots her husband, Stu. Then, she holds him under water for five minutes. As if that wasn't enough, then she hangs him! Five minutes later, Leigh and Stu go out to have dinner and see a movie. How can this be? The answer: You guessed it - Leigh is a photographer! I must state for the record that Leigh would never shoot Stu, except to take his picture because he's one good-lookin' man. I'm getting you all warmed up here, I think. Here's a classic: Two police offers arrive at the scene of a mysterious death. Inside a locked room with no windows, a man hung by a rope from the ceiling. There was no furniture in the room - the only thing in the room other than the man and the rope was a small puddle of water. How did the man die? 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>

Sleuth Joke The local sheriff was looking for a deputy, so Bobby decided to apply for the job. "First question Bobby," the sheriff said, "what is 1 and 1?" "11" Bobby replied. "That's not what I meant," The sheriff muttered, "but it's correct.... Next question: what two days of the week start with the letter 'T'?" "Today and tomorrow," Bobby replied, scoffing at the simplicity of the questions. "Okay..." The sheriff hesitated, and said, "Final question: Who killed Abraham Lincoln?" Bobby's eyes widened and he said, "I-I don't know." "Well, why don't you go home and work on that one for a while?" Bobby went home, where his family eagerly waited to find out how it all went. Bobby, thrilled, exclaimed, "It went great! First day on the job and I'm already working on a murder case!" 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

The Reaper Reader is published by Shot In The Dark Mystery Games. Visit us at http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com. Subscription information This issue was sent to email@domain.com. To leave us, follow this link: http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86646&0&