Sleuth Night

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Masquerade Murder Mystery Party

A masquerade murder mystery is the easiest dress code there is: evening wear and a mask. Everyone arrives masked as a suspect, three rounds of questions and clues fill the evening, and the whole room unmasks together just before the killer is revealed.

Sleuth Night puts each character on a private link, so there is nothing to print. Every guest reads their character on their own phone, the clues come up on your TV, and the host plays too.

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

Recommended mystery

Murder at the Masquerade

Venice, 1888 · 6–14 players · about 2 hours

Murder at the Masquerade is built around the masks. The Count is killed during his own masked ball, two guests swapped masks before midnight, and the only rule of the night is that nobody unmasks until the killer is named. It plays 6 to 14, and the costume is just evening wear and a mask.

Read the full mystery page

What the night looks like

Venice, Shrove Tuesday 1888, the last night of Carnival. Count Alvise Corvino throws a masked ball at his palazzo on the Grand Canal, and at midnight he is to announce his daughter's engagement. At two minutes to midnight he is found dead in his study, stabbed with a dagger of Murano glass. The Contessa chains the water-gate: no one leaves and no one unmasks.

The rounds work through the half hour before midnight: who wore which mask, who went up the grand stair, who came down the servants' stair, and why the bridegroom's ring frightened the Count. Every phone gets new objectives each round, and the clues show on the TV.

Three rounds of 20 to 30 minutes, then everyone votes on their phone, takes off their mask, and the reveal plays on the screen. About two hours with food.

Tips for a masquerade murder mystery

Masks on until the vote

Make it the house rule on the invitation. The unmasking after the vote is the best photo of the night.

Spare masks by the door

A basket of cheap masks covers anyone who forgets. Nobody needs a costume beyond their smartest clothes.

Candles and a waltz

Low light, candles, and a playlist of Vivaldi and Verdi. The Party Pack has the playlist, a décor list and masquerade name tags.

Use it for New Year's Eve

Start Round 1 by 9:45 and open voting at about 11:45, so the room unmasks on the stroke of midnight.

Questions hosts ask

What is a masquerade murder mystery?

A murder mystery party where every guest wears a mask and plays a suspect at a masked ball. In ours, the masks are part of the plot: two guests swapped masks before midnight, and nobody unmasks until the killer is named.

How many guests can play?

Murder at the Masquerade takes 6 to 14. Six core characters carry the plot, and eight more join as your group grows. For more than 14, two guests can share a character.

What should guests wear?

Evening wear and a mask. A cloak, a hat or gloves if you have them. Any mask works, from a shop-bought half-mask to a Venetian one.

Do we need to print anything?

No. Everyone plays on their phone and the clues show on the TV. A print view with every character card is there once the mystery is unlocked.

How much does it cost?

Setting up is free. You pay $29 once, when you press Start Round 1. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read next

Other occasions: Halloween, Christmas, Birthday, Bachelorette, Team building, Zoom / virtual, Teens, Work Christmas, Dinner, Adults, New Year's Eve, Date night, Game night, Bridal shower or engagement, Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, Valentine's

Set up your masquerade party, free.

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

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