How is it different from other murder mystery parties?

The format is much more creative, exciting and interactive than other murder mystery parties. Here are some key differences:

The most important element of a murder mystery party is for it to have characters that are wildly creative. We invite you to compare our characters to any of our competitors (that's why we've included a sampling of ours on this site.). Every guest has to be excited about their character if they are going to bring that character to life.
The murder takes place during (not before!!!) the party, so everyone is filled with anticipation, not knowing if they will be the victim or the murderer.
No one reads from a script or brochure. All conversations are creative and impulsive. Characters mix and interact spontaneously in a party atmosphere: there are no breaks where the party stops and everyone reads their parts.


To see why all of this is important, go to "What to look for in a murder mystery party" for more details

What to look for in a murder mystery party.

There are several murder mystery parties on the market, so here are some tips for making the best selection:
1. The murder must take place at the party. It creates an incredible amount of excitement if every one of your guests has the potential to be the victim or the murderer. If the murder occurs before the guests arrive--and the guests simply try to find a solution--it takes all of the excitement and anticipation out of the party. (What is even worse is when the murder victim isn't even present.)
2. Absolutely no reading at the party. At some murder mystery parties, everyone has to stop and read from a brochure so they know what to say or do. This robs the party of spontaneity and doesn't allow the guests to become creative participants. There should be no reading and no hovering around a computer to try to see what is supposed to happen next.
3. Detailed character descriptions are the key to a successful mystery party. One or two short paragraphs are not enough. Every guest should have an extensive character description with lots of suggestions for how they can participate. Some mystery parties have character descriptions that are too brief, too hard for anyone to relate to, or too dull for the guest to bring to life. Other character descriptions don't give enough information to keep the guest busy or make them interesting. Ask to see a couple of the character descriptions before you purchase a murder mystery party. It is the single most important element to a successful event.
4. Every guest should have the opportunity to play a character. People love dressing up, being creative and assuming an alter-ego for an evening. Some of the mystery parties on the market have a limited number of character parts. The rest of the guests are told to team up or pretend they are detectives or observe while the others have fun. Every guest should have the opportunity to play an active role.



An Invitation To Murder
takes all of these factors into account. The murder occurs during the party, there is no reading, the character descriptions are extensive, and every guest has the opportunity to participate.