Free · 4–5 players · about an hour
A free murder mystery game for four or five players.
The overnight sleeper from Edinburgh is stopped by snow outside Carlisle, and Julian Ashcombe, art dealer, is found dead in his compartment. Four passengers and one attendant knew him. Every one of them wanted something from him. A one-hour mystery for four or five players, free.
The story
1934. Found in compartment 4 at 11:40 pm, struck once on the back of the head with the silver head of his own walking cane. His briefcase was open on the bunk. A folder labelled VANCE is missing from it.
The police cannot reach the train before morning. Until then, the passengers in this carriage are the only suspects, and one of them did it.
The suspects
- Dr. Eleanor Vance, the art restorer
- Margaret "Peggy" Ashcombe, the estranged wife
- Captain Hugh Pelham, the retired officer
- Thomas Reid, the sleeping-car attendant
- Iris Kettle, the "secretary" (fifth player)
How it plays
- Set it up below. Add four or five names.
- Send each player their link. They read their character, their secret and a costume hint in two minutes.
- On the night, press Start. Three rounds of 15 minutes; two clues per round on your TV or read aloud.
- Everyone votes on their phone. The reveal, and a personal epilogue for every character, plays on the screen.
The host plays a character too. Advancing a round is one tap.
Set up
Set up Dead Stop.
Pick the player count, add your email, and your party is ready. Free, now and on the night.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Dead Stop costs nothing to set up and nothing to start. You give us an email so you can get back to your party. That is the whole deal.
Why give away a mystery?
Because the best way to decide whether a phone-based murder mystery is for your group is to play one. If your table likes the one-hour version, the full mysteries for 6 to 16 players work the same way.
How many players?
Four or five. Dr. Vance, Mrs Ashcombe, Captain Pelham and the attendant Reid are always in; Iris Kettle joins as the fifth. Fewer than four does not work; for six or more, see the full mysteries.
How long does it take?
About an hour: three rounds of 15 minutes, a vote, and the reveal. It fits after dinner.
Do we need to print anything?
No. Each player opens a private link on their phone. The host runs the rounds from theirs and can put the clues on a TV. A print view is included if you want paper.
Got more than five people?
The full mysteries work the same way with 6 to 16 players, three rounds of 20 minutes and a cast three times the size. Free to set up; $29 once, when you press Start.
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First time hosting? Read how to host a murder mystery party.