Hemlock ParlorHemlock Parlor · The basics
How does a murder mystery party work?
Every guest plays a suspect. You get a character sheet with what your character saw, a secret and a goal. The host reads the opening, someone is found dead, and over two rounds the clues and secrets come out. At the end everyone accuses someone, and the host reads the solution. One of the guests did it, and only they know until the end.
Free to print
Murder at Winterbourne's Toys: a mystery for 6 players, about 90 minutes. Invitations, character sheets, three clues and the solution in one PDF.
The evening, step by step
- Arrive and read your sheetRead only your own character sheet. It tells you what you saw and what to keep quiet.
- Round 1: mingleTalk in character. Share what your character saw, ask the others where they were.
- The bodyThe host reads the discovery and puts out the first clue.
- Round 2: secretsSecrets start coming out. Two more clues narrow the suspects.
- Accuse and revealEveryone names a suspect. The murderer may confess, then the host reads the solution.
Does the murderer know?
Yes, from their own sheet, and nobody else does. The murderer may lie about what they did, but not about what the clue cards say. Everyone else has a secret too, so the murderer isn't the only guest dodging questions.
How long it lasts
Most at-home mysteries run 90 minutes to two and a half hours. Our free 6-player game takes about 90 minutes; the 8-to-12-player holiday editions about two hours.
What it costs
Free games exist, usually for small groups; ours is free for 6 players. Games for bigger groups are usually paid printable kits, like our Halloween and Christmas editions for 8 to 12. Add food, and whatever costume pieces your guests don't already own.
Questions
Do I have to act?
No. You talk in your own words, using what your character sheet tells you. Some guests ham it up; others just answer questions.
Can the host play?
Yes, in most games. In ours, the solution is on its own folded page, so the host can play a character and find out with everyone else.
What if nobody guesses right?
That happens. The host reads the solution, which walks through each clue, and the table usually sees it at once.
Keep reading
Ready to host?
Our free mystery has invitations, six character sheets, three clues and the solution in one PDF.
Download the free mystery