Suddenly the lights go out and you are startled by the sound of a gunshot. The lights come back on and you see a dead man lying next to you! As you look around the room you notice some very shady characters. One of them must be the murderer, but which one is it?

This may sound like a movie, but it isn't. You are in fact participating in an exciting murder mystery party game.

Murder Mystery Parties are becoming a very popular entertainment choice for Party Hostesses looking for something unique. Party planners want their event to be talked about in excited conversations for weeks afterwards. Your run of the mill food, music and social gathering just doesn't garner real excitement. Hostesses are now looking for other ways to get their guest excited about attending. Many are tying Theme Parties, which can be fun. Even more fun is a murder mystery theme party.

Murder mystery games have been around a very long time and have been very popular in the UK for about 15 years. The last 2 years has seen a huge growth of interest in the USA as more people are becoming exposed to them. The first murder mystery games featured actors who portrayed characters using scripted roles. They would mingle with the guests dropping clues. These are still performed today at large fund raising events and murder mystery dinner theaters.

The next generation of games let the guests themselves play the characters but the parts were still scripted. Later boxed sets were introduced which were scripted and played out in rounds, much like a board game. While these could be enjoyable they lacked spontaneity or the ability to be creative. Everything went exactly as scripted.

Today a new genre of Murder Mystery Games is emerging. In the older versions solving the murder was the sole point of the game. Some of the new murder mystery games have many subplots. Guests will have their own nefarious agendas. Parts are no longer scripted. Instead characters receive detailed backgrounds which details their fictional relationships with other characters at the party. They also have secrets of their own which may have nothing to do with the murder that occurs. Participants take on their characters persona.

After the murder they learn certain details of the crime through evidence, eavesdropping and questioning other characters. Some games include play money, which can be used for buying information, blackmailing and other nefarious schemes. All of this leads to extensive social interaction, which is the real point of a party, isn't it?

How many boring parties have you been to where there were small groups of people gathered together into clusters? Or even more horrifying to the host/ess are people standing around not conversing at all. This just doesn't happen at a well-written murder mystery party. With a good game the guests get so caught up in their own schemes that they sometimes forget to even investigate the murder! Each murder mystery game usually takes place in exotic locations and timelines. These can include gangsters in Chicago during the roaring twenties or sock hops in the fifties. You might even be taken to fictional settings. These settings allow participants to don great costumes, which allow them to more fully experience the ambience of the game.

When you decide to host a murder mystery party there are some things you should look for:

• First and foremost is to stay away from scripted games. These allow no imagination or spontaneity and play more like a board game. For true enjoyment your guests need to feel immersed in the world your chosen game has created.

• Look for a theme that you think your guests would enjoy. My bestseller is Murder at the Four Deuces, which takes place in 1920's Chicago. The reason this game is so successful is very simple and something many people don't think about. Men are usually the first to balk at participating in this type of event. When told that they will be playing a gangster they become excited about the idea. They get to play powerful characters. It also allows them and the other guests to be bad, without actually being bad. It is exciting to be able to unleash our normally suppressed tendencies without suffering any guilt. Something we don't want to do in real life, but relish doing in a make believe way. So whatever game you do decide on it is a good idea to choose one with good strong characters for the men.

• Look for a game that is easy to host. Most of the good games are purchased and downloaded from the Internet. There is too much to them to include in a box. This does not mean that they have to be hard to host. I operated a murder mystery theater before I developed the Dinner and a Murder game system. I knew how important it is to be able to have easy to follow instructions. The night of the party the last thing a host/ess needs is to have to scramble around trying to run the game, while making sure all the guests are happy, food is served, cleaning up. You get my point. A good game will have very few hosting duties associated with the game allowing the host to participate as a character also. If the host guide reads like a technical manual move on.

• Do not purchase a game that does not have an introductory file that you can read before purchasing. All games are not created equal. There are good ones and bad ones out there. You do not want to take a chance on harming your reputation by hosting a bad murder mystery party. If a site cannot give you a partial glimpse of the actual game then they are very likely hiding something. This introduction should contain the host guide and other details about the game that will give you a good feel for how it will work.

• While you are at the web site also look for customer comments. Of course we all know that they are not going to post negative comments on the site and could in fact make up comments. If you only see one or two line comments be leery. Customer comments can also give you great ideas for throwing your own party. I am constantly amazed by my customers creativity.

• Murder Mystery Game Kit Contents: A good kit will have everything you need to play the game. You should not have to go out and purchase elaborate props. It should have invitations, host guide, characters & evidence at the least. Game money is a plus that adds a whole new dimension to the game experience.

• Either the kit or the web site should also give you party theme ideas. Everything from menu, decorations, hairstyles, music & costumes can give a host very good ideas for their party.

• If your kit does not contain certificates you can design some yourself. It is always nice to be rewarded in the game for solving the murder, best costume, best actor etc... Certificate paper can be purchased at an office supply store and is very inexpensive.

Next I will give you some tips on planning and hosting a murder mystery party:

• Try to plan your event at least 2 weeks in advance. You can throw a last minute party, but things will be much less stressful with careful planning.

• Before sending out the Invitations it is a very good idea to call or email your guests. Tell them about your party including theme, date & time. Inform them that due to the nature of murder mystery games you need a definite R.S.V.P. before assigning characters. Let your guests know that when they confirm you are counting on them to attend.

• When it comes to food easier is better. I have thrown murder mystery parties where I did all of the cooking and it made for a very stressful day and party. Unless you can have your party catered, the easiest menu is done potluck. The first time I decided to do this I worried about what my guests would think, but to my surprise they loved the idea. It gives them a chance to contribute to the party and show off their culinary skills. Just about everyone has a special dish that they excel at. If not there are always needed items that don't require cooking skills. Drinks, ice, cups etc...

• After the solution has been read it is always fun to go around the room and let each character reveal their secrets. Your guests will be amazed at what they didn't know was going on under their noses.

• This tip isn't necessary but I have found it adds a fun element to a murder mystery party. If your party utilizes game money I ask guests to also bring a small inexpensive item. I also cruise the dollar store and spend about $30 on small, unique items. For my last party I bought butterfly houses, wind chimes, scented candles unique picture frames and other items. After the party ended we held an auction with all the items. Guests used their play money winnings to bid and purchase items. Everyone left with a small remembrance in addition to a smile on his or her face.

Using this advice your next party is sure to be one people will talk about for weeks. So be brave. Plan a party your guests will be DYING to attend!

Written by Mary Lee Ferrin owner and writer of Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games. Visit our web site at http://www.dinnerandamurder.com to learn more.