Hemlock ParlorHemlock Parlor · Teen parties
Murder mystery party for teens
Teens do best with a mystery that is a real puzzle rather than a gory one, runs about 90 minutes, and gives everyone a secret to protect. Our free 6-player mystery is written that way: the crime happens offstage, and the clues are about keys, times and a photo booth strip.
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.
What makes a mystery fit a teen group
- No drinking in the story. Ours has punch and cake.
- Nothing graphic. The body is found offstage and described in one line.
- Secrets with stakes, like borrowed money or a rival shop, so every player has something to hide besides the murder.
- A fair puzzle. The clues point to one person, so the smartest table wins, not the loudest.
Running it at a sleepover or a birthday
Start the game after dinner, so the reveal lands before people drift off. A parent or older sibling can host and read the scenes, or one of the teens can take the host's part and still play a character. Pairs work too: with twelve friends, two share each role and decide together what to say.
Costumes from home
Each character in the free mystery needs one or two things most families own: a cardigan, an apron, a bow tie, a notebook, overalls. The invitations suggest them.
Questions
Is a murder mystery party appropriate for 13-year-olds?
Read the story first and decide for your group. Ours has no gore and no drinking, and the murder happens offstage. We write it for teens and adults.
Can the teens host it themselves?
Yes. The host's part is a short page of scenes to read aloud and three clue cards to put out. The solution is folded closed, so the host can play too.
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