How to Host a Vampire Themed Murder Mystery Party

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Recently, and I think it might be the dark, moody weather talking (summer, where did you go? Come back!), I've started to crave a really over-the-top, thunder and lightning, cobweb-bestrewn murder-mystery party.

When I was little I was obsessed with ghost stories. My best friend and I used to have sleepovers involving chocolate (usually sneaked into the house underneath our knitted jumpers) and freaking each other out late into the night with scary, highly improbable, tales. I am not a brave girl; I usually got so involved in the story I was telling that I scared myself, and had to stop.

My favourite kind involved vampires, which I used to research obsessively. I was armed with a battery of vampire-repellent knowledge. Most of this I have forgotten, but the one thing I have not is that a vampire can only get into your home if you actually invite them in. Needless to say, you should never invite a vampire into your home. Erm, unless you are hosting a vampire themed murder-mystery party that is.

The most important thing to do before you have a vampire themed murder-mystery party is to get in the mood, properly in the mood, by watching something spooky, turning all the lights out and surrounding yourself with candles... you need to be scared enough to be inspired, and also, more importantly, to stay awake and thus not burn the house down. The best, I'd say, is the 1992 Dracula, a fantastic and slightly mad cacophony of thunder, lightening, absinthe, lace and weird sex scenes you wouldn't want to watch with your mother.

Five things you will definitely need if you decide to host a vampire themed murder mystery:

1 Candles (you cannot have too many of these, they need to be everywhere), preferably the fat, church alter kind as they don't burn down so quickly as the tapered ones.

2 Dark red rose petals (again, these should be everywhere, you should be picking them out of your hair by the end of the evening)

3 Faux-cobweb spray (magic in a can)

4 Lots of black or red fabric (preferably velvet or lace) to drape over your table/chairs/self, if your best Transylvanian accent is failing you

5 Red wine and/or (depending on the strength of your constitution) Bloody Mary in large quantities.


For a few vampire make-up and costume ideas click here. To check out my vampire themed murder-mystery game click here.

Jessica xxx

The Dressing-up Box: #1 The Roaring '20s

A dressing-up box

When finding your costume for a murder-mystery party, there a few issues with buying your outfit entirely from a fancy dress shop. Such 'fancy dress' is usually made of highly synthetic fabric and looks like it was designed to feature in a bad porno. Not really a good look, unless, of course, you want to get cast in a bad porno (not what this blog is about, in case you were wondering).

I recommend instead a dressing-up box, so you can gradually collect bits and pieces and then fit them together for each murder-mystery party. I say this so casually; of course, I don't have a box myself so much as a collection cotton bags under the bed. But when I grow up I hope to have a massive oak trunk to keep my costumes in... and a big house by the sea, french doors leading onto a rambling garden, shabby velvet armchairs etc. (None of the latter are looking terribly likely but I live in hope that the box, at least, will be mine.)

This week I seem to want 1920s-style things, and I've found them all over the place (the 1920s, apparently, are having a second wind) but mostly on my nemesis Asos (vortex of wasted time and money) and Etsy (much better as it supports small, independent sellers).

If you decide to do a '20s murder mystery, think decadence and glamour. Also think drinking too much and at least one guest accidentally incinerating your curtains with a cigarette in a long holder. Good times will be had by all.

Below are the main characteristics of 1920s fashion.

1920s fashion

* Drop-waisted dresses, just-below-the-knee in length. (If that looks as bad on you as it does on me, you can skirt around this issue - excuse the pun - by getting something with '20s fringing, sequins or feathers but of a shorter length.)

* Close-fitting hats or sequined caps or turbans. (Headbands, although popularly associated with the 1920s, in fact had their heyday in the early 1900s, and are more associated with art nouveau than deco.)

* Shoes with a smallish heel and gently rounded point, and often T-bar or with an ankle strap.

* Pearls, art deco jewellery.

* Lots of exotic beading, feathers and fur

* Clothes and jewellery inspired by ancient Egypt. (Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in 1922 and piqued public interest.)

  

Some great 1920s-style bits and pieces around at the moment (January 2012): Sass and Bide ‘Winding Road’ feather and Battenburg dress, SOS; Detail of beautiful beading, vintage 1920s bag, Etsy; 1920s replica ‘Ritz’ shoe; Revival Retro; Faux fox fur stole, Wrap Me In Couture, Etsy; Black metallic turban, ASOS

 

1920s-themed murder-mystery games

A First Class Murder, Paul Lamond Games

Murder at the Four Deuces, Dinner and a Murder

The Chicago Caper, How to Host a Murder

My Deadly Valentine, Whodunnit Dinners

Pyramids of Giza, Paul Lamond Games

I hope you enjoy being a flapper for the night, if you need a few tips on hosting a 1920s dinner party, click here. And if you want to check out my fun downloadable murder mystery dinner party games, click here.

Jessica xxx

Murder is Easy: 5 tips for simple, budget murder mystery meals

When hosting a murder mystery party there is one thing you want to avoid above all and that it stress. There are good reasons for this:

A) Stressing yourself out trying to make the perfect meal will mean that by the time your guests arrive you will look wired and possibly angry, and definitely not like someone it's safe to spend the evening with, let alone preferable.

B) To counteract the stress you will probably drink too much and, as we all know, stressed drunk people are LOUD and break things.

Also, if you don't have the deadly sharp organisational skills of the SS, this kind of thing may happen. For one party I decided to make vegetable soup and stuffed pancakes. As usual, I was running late and upstairs wrestling with a costume when my guests arrived; I eventually came downstairs to find them eating the raw vegetables for the soup. I guess they thought it was the '90s and they were crudities. Also, cooking, flipping and stuffing pancakes while everyone else tries to get on with the game does not a good party make, however good they taste.

Here are my murder mystery party food tips:

#1 However organised you are, you will not have time to cook three courses on the day of the party itself. Be content with making one and buying two. Alternatively make and freeze at least one course beforehand (soup is always cheap and easy, if potentially a little boring).

#2 If you don't want to cook, forget structuring your party around three courses. This way there is less interruption to the game and you save a tonne of money. Recently, for a French-themed game, my friends bought lots of interesting French cheeses, grapes and baguettes. This approach can be applied to most themed games: for Spanish buy spicy chorizo, olives, manchego; for English, apples, cheddar, ham, mustard etc.

#3 Most guests worth inviting again will want to bring something to the party. Get them to bring a bottle of something each, as buying enough wine/beer to stock a murder mystery party is surprisingly expensive. If you have a really good, reliable friend coming, ask them to bring one of the three courses, as this will really take the pressure off you on the day.

#4 If you are determined to cook three courses single-handed, good on you. It helps to look up recipes well ahead of time. A practise run or two will take pressure off the day itself - and make you very popular at home. Avoid risotto (too much stirring), pancakes (what was I thinking) and anything that can't just be shoved in the oven or left to bubble on the stove while you get into costume.

#5 A box of chocolates with coffee (with cream instead of milk) makes a suitably decadent desert.

I hope this is of some help. I'd love to hear murder mystery budget food ideas and recipes from you. If you want to check out my first murder mystery game, complete with tips and pointers for playing, you can do so here.