A murder mystery invitation has to do one thing a normal invitation does not: convince people to show up in costume having read a paragraph. That takes a specific structure. Here it is, with wording you can copy.
The five lines every invitation needs
- The hook. It is a murder mystery, and someone at the table is a killer.
- The world. Where and when the story is set. One line.
- The logistics. Real date, time, address.
- The dress code. Two items, not a theme name.
- The RSVP deadline, with a reason. “By the 4th so we can cast you.”
Add a password at the door if you want. People love a password.
Templates by theme
1920s speakeasy
You are invited to The Velvet Hour. Chicago, 1927. The best speakeasy in the city, until tonight. Saturday 18 October, 7pm, at ours. It's a murder mystery. You'll get a character two days before. Someone at the bar is a killer. Dress: 1920s. A hat and something that sparkles is enough. Password at the door: Swordfish. RSVP by the 4th so we can cast you.
Halloween gothic manor
A séance at Blackwood Manor. New England, Halloween, 1989. The family has gathered to settle the will. The storm has closed the road. Friday 31 October, 7:30pm, at ours. It's a murder mystery. Your character arrives by text two days before. One of you is lying. Dress: black tie, or black anything. RSVP by the 20th so we can cast you.
Christmas lodge
Christmas Eve at Hollybrook Lodge. Vermont. Snowed in. One family, one fortune, one Santa too many. Saturday 20 December, 6pm, at ours. It's a murder mystery over dinner. Characters sent two days before. Sweaters count as costumes. Secret Santa: bring a wrapped gift under $15. It's part of the story. RSVP by the 6th so we can cast you.
Those three match our mysteries Death at the Speakeasy, Murder at Blackwood Manor and Silent Night, Deadly Night, but the structure works for any kit.
What not to put on the invitation
- The rules. Nobody reads rules on an invitation. A good kit tells guests what to do round by round.
- The full character list. Guests start negotiating for characters. Cast them yourself after RSVPs.
- “Dress to impress.” Meaningless. Say the two items.
- A long backstory. One line of world is enough; the character they get later has the rest.
Timing
| When | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks before | Invitation with RSVP deadline | You need firm numbers to pick the player count |
| RSVP deadline | Chase the stragglers once | Then cast with the numbers you have |
| 2 days before | Character: name, bio, secret, costume hint | Long enough to find a hat, short enough to remember |
| Day of | One reminder with the start time and the password | Starts the night on time |
In Sleuth Night the “character” step is a link per guest that you copy from the dashboard and send however you like. Guests tap it and read their bio, secret and costume note. Nothing to install.
Paper, text or email
Text gets the fastest replies and is fine for friends.
Email is better for a group that includes colleagues or parents, and it keeps the RSVP thread in one place.
Paper is the nicest and the slowest. If you want it, print the invitation on card and hand-deliver or post two and a half weeks out. Our Party Pack (a $9 add-on to any mystery) includes printable invitations four to a page, themed to the mystery, with the password and dress code already on them.
Follow-ups that fill the room
The RSVP chase is one message, the day after the deadline: “Casting tomorrow, in or out?” Then stop. People who have not replied by then are not coming, and the player count works without them.
Two days before, with the characters: “Here's who you are. Read it once; it takes five minutes. See you Saturday at 7.”
Day of: “7pm. Password is Swordfish. Hats on.”
Next: murder mystery party themes if you have not picked one, costume ideas for the dress-code line, and how to host a murder mystery party for everything after the invitation.