Sleuth Night

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Birthday Murder Mystery Party

A birthday murder mystery gives the night a shape. Instead of a dinner that peters out, you get three rounds of accusations, a vote, and a reveal that somebody will still be arguing about at the next birthday.

The birthday person can play or be the victim in spirit. Most hosts give them the flashiest character and let the room fight over who poisoned the whisky.

Set up this party, freePay $29 once, when you press Start. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Recommended mystery

Death at the Speakeasy

1920s · 6–16 players · about 2 hours

Death at the Speakeasy is our most flexible mystery: 6 to 16 players, a 1920s costume brief that everyone can manage, and a bar setting that suits a party where drinks are already the plan.

Read the full mystery page

What the night looks like

Chicago, 1927. The Velvet Hour is the best speakeasy in the city, and its owner has just been found dead behind the bar. The singer, the bootlegger, the cop on the take, the rival club owner: everyone in the room had a reason.

Guests get their character link before the party and read their bio and secret. On the night you press Start, run three rounds from your phone, reveal clues on the TV, and let the room vote.

Two hours with food. Sixteen characters, six core, so it scales from a small dinner to a big one.

Tips for a birthday murder mystery

Give the birthday person a choice

Show them the character list and let them pick. The jazz singer and the bootlegger are the crowd favourites.

Costume brief: 1920s, or a hat

Feathers, pearls, braces, a fedora. Keep a bowl of props by the door for the people who forgot. Nobody needs to buy anything.

Cake after the reveal

The reveal is the peak of the night. Bring the cake out straight after, while everyone is still shouting at the killer.

Order the rounds around the food

Starter, round one. Main, round two. Clear the plates, round three, vote, reveal, cake.

Questions hosts ask

How many people can play?

Death at the Speakeasy works for 6 to 16 players. The other mysteries take 6 to 14.

Is it good for a 30th or 40th?

That is exactly who plays it. The stories are written for adults: a bit of drinking, a lot of lying, no gore.

Can the birthday person host and play?

Yes. The host is a normal character. Advancing a round is one tap. Or make a friend the host and let the birthday person just play.

What if numbers change?

Change the player count on the dashboard right up to the moment you press Start.

Read next

Other occasions: Halloween, Christmas, Bachelorette, Team building, Zoom / virtual, Teens, Work Christmas, Dinner, Adults

Set up your birthday party, free.

Two minutes to set up. Pay $29 once, when you press Start.

Set up a party, free