Welcome to The Reaper Reader!

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

Hello, Subscriber


Thanks for making February a record-setting month for Shot In The Dark Mystery Games!

March always sneaks up on me. Each year I vow that next year March will not get me, but the very next year, March jumps out from behind a tree and makes me drop my green tea latte all over my favourite black boots. Some of you know what I mean. Others are thinking, "What on earth is she talking about?" See *blush*, I kind of - er - forgot to ask my wonderful web designer Dawn to take DSI Case 1 off from its sale price. So, until she gets my email tomorrow morning (it's 1 am now...) and makes the changes, you can still get DSI Case 1: He Didn't Know What Hit Him for the bargain price of $24.99. But be quick about it, because Dawn is very efficient. That's a great price for a great game, so if you've been thinking about buying it, jump on the opportunity now, before I get my act together!

In addition to promoting Shot In The Dark Mystery Games, I am also getting ready for our second annual trip to Nicaragua! Last year myself, my sweet cousin, her fiance and Himself went to Guisilliapa for 4 days, but this year we are going for 2 weeks! We leave on March 15th, but thanks to the miracle of computer technology, you will still receive your mid-month issue of the Reaper Reader.

As Shot In The Dark Mystery Games is a newer company, I am interested in hearing where my faithful subscribers heard about The Reaper Reader, and Shot In The Dark Mystery Games. So, I'll make you a deal. If you send me an email (to mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com) and tell me how you heard of us, I'll enter you in a draw for a free pass to a live online event occuring in April. I can't wait to hear where y'all heard of us!
Sincerely,
Mystery Maiden

Did You Know? Trivia Bite


Arthur Conan Doyle named Inspector Lestrade, the Scotland Yard Detective in the Sherlock Holmes adventures, after a man he disliked at the University of Edinburgh.

Host Help Article: Why Party in March?


Here are some great excuses to throw a party in the month of March. If the day has been celebrated since 1908, does that mean we get to party harder? March 8th is International Women's Day, and even the UN commemorates women who have made a difference. Why not get together and throw a party to celebrate the women in your life?

Here's a great reason to get together. March 22nd is World Water Day, in honour of the 1993 UN Conference on Enviroment and Development. Conserve water that day - drink wine with your friends and family instead.

I can think of no better reason for mystery lovers to get together than to honour Sir Alfred Hitchcock - the master of mystery! March 12th is Alfred Hitchcock Day, so host a murder mystery game party, rent Psycho and for the entire day, beware of birds!

Go on, get your party on - you now have an excuse. Don’t forget to pick up your Shot In The Dark Mystery Game to spice up your gathering and take the pressure off of you – the host – to keep everyone entertained. This month we recommend The Wizard of Oz Mystery. Who conspired to kill the Wicked Witch of the West?

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! Did you think the last mini-mystery was too easy? to refresh your memory, here was the mystery: 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? Why, to hang himself he stood on a block of ice, of course, which melted! That was a freebie - here's a challenge for all of you super-sleuths! No groaning - you wanted it! Ray Whitcombe is found dead in his office at his desk. The police have narrowed the suspects down to three people: Mrs. Barbara Whitcombe, Ray's wife; Mr. Jason McCubbins, Ray's business partner; and Mr. Harold Nichols, Ray's best friend. All three visited Mr. Whitcombe the day of his murder, but all three provide the police with stories of explanation as to the reason for their visit. Police found Mr. Whitcombe with his wrist watch still on his right arm, a torn up picture of his wife lying on the floor beside the trash can, and an ink pen in his right hand. On the desk, the police found a name plate, a telephone that was off the hook, and a personal calendar turned to the July 5th page with 7B91011 written on it. After examining this evidence, the police knew their suspect. Who was it? 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 Slash, a well-known murderer, had been on death row for nearly 20 years. During that time, he had befriended the Warden. Now, the Warden still had a job to do, but that did stop him from treating Slash special from time to time. A week before Slash was to go to the electric chair, the Warden asked Slash if there was anything special he would like. Slash thought for a bit and said he would like the Warden to contact his wife and have her make baked beans for the rest of his life (which by this time, was short). Of course, the Warden complied and each day, Slash sat down and had a big feed of baked beans. The night before the big day, another prisoner was allowed to visit Slash and asked him. "Aren't you afraid of dying tomorrow?" Slash answered' "I ain't gonna die tomorrow." The other prisoner then said, "But tomorrow is Friday and we all know, that's the day they're sendin' you to the electric chair." "Don't matter," said Slash, "if these beans can't kill me, nothin' can." 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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