AboutMary Lee Ferrin Expertise I can answer any questions about hosting or participating in a murder mystery party.
Experience I have been hosting murder mystery parties for 9 years. I owned a murder mystery dinner theater for a year. 4 years ago I started writing my own murder mystery parties and began selling them on the web. Within weeks I had to choose between my dinner theater and my party kit site. I just could not do both. I love writing so I choose to continue this and I have never looked back. My site Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games is one of the largest most authorative web sites on the web relating to murder mystery parties. I have an extensive forum in which I answer murder mystery questions. I also write articles. http://www.dinnerandamurder.co
Organizations Better Business Bureau
Publications I was featured in the Tennessean & my articles are published on the web in numerous places.
Education/Credentials Numerous creative writing classes, art classes.
Awards and Honors I have won some cool site and game site awards in the past, but I no longer post these on my site.
Past/Present clients I have quite a few famous clients, but I would never reveal their identity to protect their privacy.
Expert: Mary Lee Ferrin Date: 8/17/2006 Subject: Hubby's 30th
Question I would love to host a murder mystery party as a surprise for my husband's 30th bday. Although I have no clue how to do it. If hosting doesn't work, could you give me info on participating in one. I'm hoping for an experience he'll never forget!
Answer Hello Kelly,
Hosting any kind of surprise party can very difficult, but well worth the effort if you pull it off. So just how secretive are your friends? They are usually the ones to give it away.
You can easily host a murder mystery party and keep it secret from hubby. Just make sure that everyone is in on the secret so they do not accidently let something slip to the birthday boy, or anyone who might tell the birthday boy.
The easiest way to host a murder mystery party is to purchase a murder mystery kit that will have everything you need to host your party. From experience I would suggest the interactive format, not the scripted. The interactive format is just like a party, where everyone moves around, mingles, talks and just a good time. The scripted ones put everyone at a table reading from cards in rounds. They play much like a board game. There really is no comparison between the 2 formats. The scripted boxed sets can be fine if you are just having a few friends over for the evening and want some entertainment, but for a real party go for interactive.
A couple web sites have the ability for you to handle a lot of the party aspects online. I own Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games and we have an RSVP system. With this online system you can create your party invitation, email invites, guests can rsvp and the system keeps track of this. You can also send messages through the system to all of your guests. This is really great for communicating in secret.
Our kits have hard copies of everything, but the rsvp system can be really great in the planning stages if you have the email addresses of your guests.
Now how to handle getting hubby there and dressed appropriately is another matter. It would probably be best to go with a theme that won't require a costume. Our 1920's Murder at the Four Deuces works well for surprise parties as you can just tell hubby to put on a suit. If you like you can have a gangster hat waiting for him. Pop that on his head just before coming to the party and he will be really confused:-)
You can see a full selection of murder mystery kits by several reputable companies here:
