WHY are there only 2 optional suspects per mystery?!

With the popularity of our new “2 Optional Suspect Expansion Packs”, some people have been confused as to why they can’t just put “12″ in the “add to cart” section of the “buy now” area for the optional characters and not just get 24 optional suspects. In the interest of differentiating ourselves from your parents (who no doubt said “because I said so, that’s why” as many times as our parents did during childhood), we like to... 

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Arrrrggg! Pirate speak to help you talk like buccaneer!

Pirate speak is a language in itself, and one of the best parts of throwing or participating in a pirate-themed party. To help you sneer like a true buccaneer, here’s a large list of pirate terms and their definitions. Select a few you’ll use at your pirate party or on International Talk Like a Pirate Day! And don’t forget to check out The Pirates Revenge Pirate-Themed  Murder Mystery Party Game with a version to suit your party, no matter the size!    A Acts of Pardon/Acts... 

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Seared Scallops

When our guests are mingling, we want them to be able to be able to enjoy each other’s company with uncomplicated food. But some hosts still think that “uncomplicated” means cocktail weiners on toothpicks. No more! Scallops are a delicious addition to your buffet table that will please the palate and allow your guests to keep mingling. These portions are for 12 full (uncut) scallops. Please adjust based on the number of guests attending your party. 12 large sea scallops 4 tbsp... 

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Don’t forget the non-drinkers at your party! Non-alcoholic drink ideas

Whether it’s because of moral or health issues, chances are you’ll have a guest or two at your party who will not be drinking. Sure, some can get by with soda or water, but don’t we want ALL of our guests to have a fantastic time, whether they are drinking or not? Here are some great non-alcoholic drink ideas for your health-conscious, recovering addict or pregnant guests – after all, a great party is made great by the host’s attention to small details. 1. Sparkling... 

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The Story Behind Friday the 13th

It’s Friday the 13th, a date that carries massive superstition across the globe. The basis of these superstitions vary as widely as the superstitions themselves, and the date is now synonymous with bad luck and slasher films. Hell, there’s even an official “phobia” name for it: friggatriskaidekaphobia (yes, we can pronounce that. No, not five times quickly). But one event seems to rise above the rest as the true beginning of the curse of Friday the 13th, and the reason we as a society... 

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Jazz FM Donors Get A Special Discount!

For many years Shot In The Dark Mysteries’ founder, Leigh Clements, has listened to and supported Jazz FM 91. This campaign, Shot In The Dark Mysteries as a company has the honour of being a prize sponsor, and we couldn’t be more excited. Jazz FM is Canada’s only premiere Jazz station, and has a huge involvement in the Jazz community, both by promoting Jazz artists and Jazz music as a whole. Unlike most radio stations though, Jazz FM is listener-sponsored, meaning that they rely... 

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25 Earth Hour Activity Ideas!

Earth Hour 2011 is nearly here (Saturday the 26th from 8:30-9:30pm)! It’s amazing that, with our technology-driven lives, filling an entire hour without the use of television, internet, vehicles, microwaves etc, can be such a daunting task. Without the constant Twitter stream or Facebook status updates, what are we to do with a FULL HOUR?! While the purpose of Earth Hour is to benefit the environment and bring awareness to our individual consumption, this question is a valuable side effect.... 

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Saint Valentine – a man with SERIOUS style.

On February 14th we celebrate love, eat chocolate, buy lingerie and are inundated with images of a small flying baby in a diaper shooting people with arrows. Stop looking at my butt, a#*hole! But in the midst of our cinnamon-heart-induced sugar highs, what most people fail to realize is that February 14th is a holiday that marks a death – the death of Valentine. Around 278 AD, Valentine lived as a priest in Rome. One of the major parts of his job description was to marry people. Enter Claudius... 

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So You’re Attending a Mystery Party…

Mystery parties are a lot of fun. If you have been invited to a mystery for the first time, you’re in for a real treat. How to play a murder mystery game at a party There has been a murder or a theft! (*gasp*!) But we all know that – that’s the reason we’re getting together, after all. The suspects, anywhere between 5 and 20, will quickly make themselves known. Perhaps you’re a suspect yourself, but you may just be an ‘investigator’ or ‘sleuth’,... 

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1920s Slang Terms and Definitions

The Roaring 20′s gave birth to a number of new phrases – some of which are distinct to that era, and some of which are still used today. Here’s a large list of 1920′s slang. Pick a few words and phrases to use at your 1920′s-themed murder mystery party! And don’t forget to check out A Flapper Murder at the 1920′s Speakeasy Theme Murder Mystery Party Game! A Ab-so-lute-ly: Affirmative – Definitely All wet: Wrong And How!: I strongly agree! Ankle:... 

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Types of Do-It-Yourself Mystery Games Cont…

So now that you know about the difference between murder and non-murder mystery parties, kids’ parties and family-friendly games, the next item you need to know about is the FORM of game. There are only three types of mystery games, although they come in many formats depending on the game and the company providing the mystery party. Mingle Mysteries Mingle mystery games are very interactive (and can also be referred to as “interactive” mysteries). This type of mystery game is perfect... 

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Mystery Party Game Testers!

Shot In The Dark Mysteries has recently put a call out for people to help test our games. In exchange for a free mystery party, all our testers have to do is complete a short questionnaire letting us know about their party experience or a particular feature we’re introducing. How it works Anyone can be a game tester from anywhere in the world. Because our mystery game kits are instantly downloaded via the internet, we serve clients worldwide. Naturally, we want our game testers to be as diverse... 

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Types of Do-It-Yourself Mystery Games

There are a number of different types of mystery party games, and the categories vary greatly depending on the company, which can be a bit confusing for someone just starting out with mystery party games. Here we will talk a bit about some of the most common types of mystery party games and what the classifications mean. MURDER and NON-MURDER The most popular type of mystery game is a “murder” mystery game, but mystery games can also be found free of murder. “Murder” mystery... 

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A Unique Way for Guys To Propose – a Valentine’s contest from Shot In The Dark Mysteries!

Guys, want to propose to that special someone? Want to make it something she will never forget but have no idea what to do? Shot In The Dark Mysteries is rolling out a very special contest to celebrate the Valentine’s Day season. One lucky guy will win a customized murder or non-murder mystery party game kit, completely designed from scratch to end with a proposal to his significant other! To enter, all one has to do is write a few paragraphs about their significant other, their relationship... 

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Happy Birthday, Sherlock Holmes!

January 6th marks the birthday of one of my all-time favourite fictional characters – Sherlock Holmes. Aside from myself, Sherlock’s avid fans have included Roosevelt and Harry Truman, who were both members of The Baker Street Irregulars, the most famous Sherlockian society (not to mention exclusive…. one can only join by receiving an invitation. BSIs, think of your friendly Mystery Maiden when next handing out shillings, please!) Sherlock first came to light in Arthur Conan Doyle’s... 

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How to Host a Murder Mystery Party

Welcome to the How to Host a Murder Mystery Party tutorial – also known as Mystery Party 101! Follow the links to learn about exactly what a mystery party game is, how you can host an instant-download mystery party yourself and just how easy it really is to throw a hilariously fun party that no one will ever forget! The first question most people have is: What exactly is a mystery party game? Mystery games are downloadable party game kits that come in either a murder mystery or a non-murder... 

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Top Mystery Party Game Picks for your Last Minute New Years Party!

A show of hands… how many people got caught up planning Christmas and let New Year’s Eve fall by the wayside? It’s okay, you can admit it. Around the holidays it’s easy to get focused on the tree, presents and egg nog and forget about December 31st. But then, after the garland has lost its shimmer, we face New Years Eve wishing we had planned something memorable. Don’t fret, there’s still time to throw a fantastic party with one of our instant-download mystery... 

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Last-Minute Christmas Parties – The Decorations

Let’s start by talking about decorating for your Christmas party at the last minute. At this festive time of year, Wouldn’t we all love to be a super host?  You know the ones – their Christmas parties have   been planned since  April, the house is decirated right out of Martha Stewart Living and  their dining table looks like the Lord Jesus has RSVP’d ‘attending’.  Yes, they really seem to have it all together, which can be  intimidating to the rest of us,... 

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Poison – the uncommon modern-day murder method

I’ll never forget the first time I saw Arsenic and Old Lace. We were about to study the story in my grade 7 Language Arts class and the play was, serendipitously, showing in Calgary. My English teacher jumped at the chance to take those from her class, and I immediately signed up – not because I was interested – I had no idea what it was about but the prospect of getting away from the runny-nosed guy with a crush on me who kept borrowing my eraser and returning it slick with nasal... 

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The Truth About Santa Claus

So, we’ve all heard of Santa Claus, but has anyone – ANYONE out there heard of Thomas Nast? If so, congratulations – you’re a total nerd. If not, here’s why he’s important. Born in 1840, this German’s mustache puts our Mysterious Mo Bros to shame. It’s rumoured he killed a man from 20 feet with that thing, but there’s no substantiating evidence to back that up (it’s believed the rumour started today in a Starbucks by me). You be the judge… Safety... 

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Sorcerer’s Apprentice-Themed Scavenger Hunt Game

It was Caleb’s 10th birthday party so I used he and his friends as guinea pigs for a custom kid’s scavenger hunt mystery format I’ve been wanting to try.  The game came with a video introduction and conclusion, three locations and 6 mysteries to solve, all based around his favourite movie, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. They were so quick! I forgot how fast boys can run when they have the right motivation. I think we had more fun with the props than they did solving the mystery!... 

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How To Remember: Imagine and Say Thank You

When I was a kid in elementary school sitting in our Remembrance Day ceremony, I used to wonder how I could  remember something I had  never experienced.  I often felt I was stupid, as though there was  something I  should know that I didn’t, and I was too afraid to ask.  How could I remember something I didn’t experience? I spent time traveling – not to resorts, cruises and all-inclusives, but to actual places with museums, bunkers and monuments and was shocked at how far... 

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I’ll admit it – I can’t wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 comes out next week, and I couldn’t be more excited. I have to admit, when I first read the Harry Potter books, it was for a custom mystery I was creating for a very special little boy’s birthday party. I never imagined I’d get so addicted to the story. Every Christmas I read them again – for some reason, the Harry Potter series means Christmas to me. How addicted? I confess, I stayed in a Chapters until midnight to get my copy of... 

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Movember – The Mysterious Mos!

This November, Shot In The Dark Mysteries has put together a team for Movember – the month-long moustache-growing event to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer research, as well as other men’s health issues. Our team is totally kick-ass, and I’m so happy to have all of them aboard. Check them out in the video below,  and then follow the link beneath to donate to our team! Every dollar helps the cause, plus it makes us look good before all of the other teams worldwide that... 

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More Halloween Costume Ideas – The “Sexy” Phenomenon

“Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” – Mean Girls Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always loved the spooky side of Halloween. More than once my husband has said to me, “No, Leigh, we’re not stopping at another old cemetary today!” In my early days in the murder mystery game industry, the entire site was dark, and I facilitated all the events I attended in a grim reaper outfit. I... 

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Halloween Costume Suggestions from Shot In The Dark Mysteries!

Today marks 2-weeks until the big day! Halloween is just around the corner. For true enthusiasts, costumes and haunts have been in production since November 1st of last year. For those who are less “devoted”, the costume dilemma is number three on the “ah crap, why did I wait so long?” list, trailing only behind “buying Christmas presents at the 24-hour gas station” and “birthday flowers at Mac’s under the pretense of picking up Milk”. Why do... 

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16 Days Until Halloween – Are You Afraid?

There are only 16 days left until Halloween weekend… what type of reaction do you have to that? Excitement? Stress? Are you a ball of nerves? I can tell you for sure, based on a number of conversations I’ve had with potential clients via our live chat in the past few days, there are definitely hosts out there feeling nervous about their parties! If this strikes fear into the depths of your soul, read on! Halloween parties  can be tough sometimes, and many hosts shy away from the idea... 

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A special sneak peek at “Ghost Hunters”

Here at Shot In The Dark Mysteries we’ve decided to play chicken with Halloween and sneak in one more Halloween-themed mystery party game into our Halloween mysteries line-up before the big day. Hall-o-ween! Hall-o-ween! Hall-o-ween! This game has been in the works for a while, but only recently have we had the technology and expertise to pull it off right with an exclusive video feature. Meet “Ghost Hunters”, a family-friendly game series with an open format (similar to interactive... 

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Murder Mystery Halloween Parties – Collecting Ideas

For most Halloween-haunt and house-decorating enthusiasts, collecting and plotting out ideas is the best part of decorating for Halloween. For a Halloween murder mystery party, it’s no different. In our previous blog posts we’ve discussed choosing your game and setting your budget, so if you have missed those tutorials you may want to go back and read them before, or after, you read this discussion. Of course, you’re not going to be able to decorate for your party and add in all... 

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Sherlock on Showcase – my new fave show?

*Warning – Spoilers! If you read on and I blow a surprise, don’t come email-crying to me, you’ve been warned!* Since my 18-month-old’s napping schedule is unpredictable at best, I always like to have a line up of great wind-down shows on my PVR that I can dial up when I need a mental (and physical!) break from it all. I just happened to see it as I was browsing through the digital guide last week – a 2 hour show called “Sherlock” on Showcase. Assuming it... 

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Murder Mystery Halloween Parties – Set Your Budget

Hello Halloween planners! Can you believe there is only 6 weeks until Halloween? Crazy! Time is flying by so quickly. Savvy Halloween hosts are already preparing for the big event, designing their costumes, planning their haunts, creating or buying decorations… and there are some people out there (like the junkies at HalloweenForum.com and myself) who have been planning Halloween 2010 since November 1, 2009. Scenes like this give me the warm fuzzies That’s why this week we’re looking... 

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Murder Mystery Halloween Parties – Choose your game

Fall is the time for entertaining. The weather is turning colder, our holidays are over and we again turn our focus to spending time with our loved ones.  Plus, the minute most of us see leaves beginning to change our thoughts turn to gourds, candy and Halloween costumes. Does this mean "Pumpkin Carving" to anyone else? Each of us knows that one person who always throws the party, and it’s always fantastic. But really, anyone can throw a fantastic Halloween party, they just need... 

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Free! Evidence Tags and Arson Evidence Tags

Sometimes while I’m working on downloadable murder mystery games for public release or private custom mysteries for clients, I create something I think might help others who are designers or those who want to add a little something extra into their murder mystery party. These evidence tags are free, just right click on the image and click “save image as” or “copy image”, depending on what you’re going to be doing with it. For those who are throwing a mystery party,... 

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Why I love September 1st

It’s September first! Woohoo! Every year on September 1st, I feel as excited as if it were my birthday (if not more, the older I get). This has nothing to do with the fact that’s it’s actually my favourite cousin/sister/godmother to my son/best friend’s birthday, but we’ll pause for a second to say FELIZ CUMPLEANOS to her on her special day. The day she DIDN'T crash the plane and she and I both lived to tell the tale. Then again, there wasn't a time she DID crash... 

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Vampires and Werewolves Badges and Buttons

For those who have been keeping up with the Shot In The Dark Mysteries blog for a while, you might remember last year when a tragic techno-accident caused me to lose all of my files dating back to 2006. That was EVERY game and design file in the history of my company. It was very difficult, because I had a number of games in the works, and I’ve had to start all over again on a few of them. One of those was Vampires vs. Werewolves. The game was finished and I was waiting for the audio files... 

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A secret deal on Murder On The Mound!

Hey guys, Just a heads up on a special deal exclusively for subscribers to our ezine and those who “like” our Facebook page (if you don’t yet, it’s facebook.com/shotinthedarkmysteries). On Monday, Murder On The Mound (the full version) relaunches with a new look, visually stunning print materials and audio files. This game is PERFECT for any kind of party, especially a World Series party at the end of October! The new game is ready to go and I was just upping the price when... 

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Halloween mystery games are getting revamped – which one should be first?

QuestionsView Results To view these games visit us at www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com  Read More →

Red Hot Riding Hood (or "Grandma, Control Yourself!")

I’m in the early days of a new project, and was doing a bit of research today when I stumbled across this video. I’m a huge fan of twisted fairy tales, and aside from being a die-hard fan of Jasper Fforde, I have also dabbled in my own, writing The Wizard of Oz Murder Mystery Game as one of the very first games I ever independently launched. I LOVE this video! It’s from 1943, and was originally taken off the air because of the beastiality connection (I’ll be honest, my curiosity... 

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Christmas In July Is OVER! Woot!

Okay, I’ll admit that Christmas in July isn’t such a good idea. I only just moved to this neighbourhood and already my neighbours think I’m a wack-job! In fact, I received nothing but strange looks as I balanced Rudolph and Santa’s Sleigh on my roof, and the lighted candy canes on my lawn only received attention from the neighbourhood dogs, who each took turns claiming them as their “territory”. But it’s all coming to an end, and that means Halloween in August!... 

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Sanity Saving Ice Cream!

What’s a great activity to share with the kids this summer that is exciting, fun, delicious and easy all at the same time? Make your own ice cream! It’s easier than you think, and the anticipation of the event is an activity in itself, not to mention getting the ingredients, making it, shaking it and eating it! Here’s how to make your own ice cream: 1. Collect your ingredients Ice Cubes 1 tbsp regular sugar 1/2 cup of half and half milk 6 tbsp rock salt 1/4-1/2 tsp vanilla 1 tbsp... 

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The Santa Strangling re-launches with a New Look and Attitude!

As part of our Christmas in July theme, we have been focusing on revamping our old Christmas games and re-launching them to be in line with our new, visually stunning game materials format. The Santa Strangling was the first game to re-launch during Christmas in July, and it made its grand re-appearnce yesterday! So, what’s so different about the new Santa Strangling murder mystery game? Many things, actually. First, it comes fully designed with stunning theme pictures. The clues are fun and... 

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Backyard Sleuths

Backyard Sleuths is a fun, free children’s activity game designed to give kids a fun activity to do during the summer that focuses on shapes, colours, textures and more! Challenge your child or children to become a Backyard “Sleuth” and find the 10 items on their list. Have them work together to find all ten items and then reward them with a fun activity, prize or treat to encourage positive feelings and teamwork. DOWNLOAD BACKYARD SLEUTHS IN .PDF FOR FREE HERE!  Read More →

Bachelor Parties

One of my favourite custom games to write are for bachelor parties. Though not as popular as the bachelorette party games, bachelor party mysteries and murder mysteries are definitely an exciting way to include a fun activity before heading off to the pub, club, strippers, etc. That is, if you’re heading to the stripper. These days, a lot of guys don’t WANT the traditional bachelor party. They want some time with their friends before their wedding, something far away from the usual night... 

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Bachelorette Parties

In the past we have done a number of custom mystery games for bachelorette parties, and they have been wildly successful. As I was booking up my summer for custom mystery games in the spring, I realized that bachelorette party mysteries are something I look forward to every year. I get to be a part of creating a magical evening for a bride-to-be, get swept up in the excitement and work in all the intimate details of the bride, guests and sometimes even the groom! But each year I’m left wondering…... 

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Shot In The Dark Mysteries sponsors The Campaign to Save Parents' Summer Sanity!

Shot In The Dark Mysteries is pleased to announce it will be sponsoring The Campaign to Save Parent’s Summer Sanity this year on Facebook.  The campain, aimed at providing parents with physical activities to keep their kids engaged through the summer months, is a lighthearted approach to a very real frustration. “Many parents feel as though they spend the summer months trying (and often failing) to amuse their children,” says Shot In The Dark Mysteries owner Leigh Clements. “The... 

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Christmas! Yeah, I went there…

Christmas! *Shudder* How many of you cringed when you read that subject line? Did you inadvertantly double check your calendar to make sure it was June and not December? Sorry to scare you! BUT the fear I just instilled is for a reason – Christmas in July! Now, I like Christmas… I guess. But with the stress and financial drain, over the years I have begun to like it less and less. Now that I have my son though, I see the magic through his eyes, and get inspired. But that’s not enough... 

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Sneak peek of the new cover art for The Santa Strangling

Hey all, here’s a fun sneak peek of the new cover art for The Santa Strangling, a 9-10 suspect murder mystery game for adults that features our exclusive SUPER SECRETS. The Santa Strangling is re-launching just in time for Christmas in July, with a brand new look that fits in with our visually stunning party game materials, accusation forms, audio files and more! And just for fun, I’m putting my Santa Chalk Outline out there in the public domain. I’m only asking that if you use... 

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Pirate Name Tags

You’re a pirate. There are many pirates you don’t know. How can you find out who they are? Simple! The Pirate Name Tag! “Aye” made it, and now I want to share it with the pirate community. Perfect for networking events, pirate speed dating and other such social situations. AAAARRRRRGGGGG! If you’re going to use it on your site, please be kind enough to link back to us. Otherwise, copy it, save it to your computer and make some bonny nametags for your pirate-themed party! VIEW... 

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Arrrrg! Why is there nay pirate speak, ye saucy wench?

Before we go any further, I would like to state for the record that I am a saucy wench. I love pirate speak. But I’d like to tell you a story. It has a little to do with piracy, and a little to do with literacy. What’s the connection? No, I’m not going to go attacking ships on Lake Simcoe and stealing their reading materials. I’m not flying a Jolly Roger with the words “Read More” as I sail around Kempenfelt Bay (although that could be a fun publicity stunt). The... 

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We're Green!

I’ll never forget adopting a whale with my favourite cousin Krystal when we were 12 and 13. We did up my crawlspace clubhouse with sponge paint and rainforest wallpaper, and spent hours leafing through eco-pamphlets, discussing how we were going to save the earth.  I vowed to save all of the ocean animals, and she planned to take on the domestic pets, starting a giant farm where all the shelter animals could come instead of being put down. We turned our back on companies that tested on animals... 

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Tips for Hosting a Mystery Party

Hosting a mystery party? Great idea! It will be something your guests will rave about for YEARS to come. A Shot In The Dark Mysteries murder mystery or family-friendly mystery game is an easy way to spice up any get together, and all of our games are designed to make your life easier. But for those who have never hosted  a mystery party before, it can seem overwhelming. Trust us, you’ll have a tougher time with the chips-and-dip than you will with your game. All you need to do is print and... 

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Mysterious Motivation in the Most Unlikely Place

Recently, while checking out Halloween tweeps on Twitter (it’s NEVER too early to start planning for Halloween!) I followed the links to a blog that completely floored me. Of course, being who I am, the blog post that drew my attention was entitled “The Mystery of the Thomas Graves”. Intrigued, I watched the video, expecting to learn about mysterious deaths. What I found shocked me. Corin White, AKA @gravestomper, writes the blog “Adventures of a Grave Stomper”. His... 

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Production Pictures from Le Chat Noir Mini-Mystery Party Game!

Here’s some great production pictures from our upcoming family-friendly mystery party game, Le Chat Noir, a non-murder mystery designed to be played in an hour! It takes place in a Parisian cabaret in 1921 and launches Friday, June 4th!  Read More →

Our Mystery Party Affiliate Program!

Do you have a website? Are you a vendor of party-related items, offer people party ideas or profile others’ events? Why not join our affiliate program and make some extra money? Shot In The Dark Mysteries is a leader in affiliate marketing, offering our affiliate members top commission and cookie duration. How top? 20% and 190 days, which is one of the highest ratios in ANY affiliate member program. Best of all, it’s free to join and pays via Paypal, the safest and most convenient payment... 

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LOST – Why Was It Such A Phenomenon?

Last night was the finale of LOST, and for someone like me, it was bittersweet. I got caught up in the series when a friend lent me season 1 and 2, and was quickly captivated with the show. I forced my husband to watch it with me, and ever since the two of us have been die-hard LOST fans, the geeks of all geeks with our own theoretical debates. In fact, one of my theories (that I fine-tuned in The Kensington Pub in Calgary one evening after a few pints with my now-husband) was turned into a murder... 

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Shot In The Dark Mystery Parties in the news!

CRAVE Toronto  – The Urban Girl’s Manifesto Book launched May 5, 2010 Check it out here! Watch the video from the launch party here! Request a FREE press copy by emailing mysterymaiden@shotinthedarkmysteries.com or calling (647) 330-4678 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The Villager March 25, 2010 Earth Hour Murder Mystery Game and Tree Planting Initiative Read the article here! ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Inside... 

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A Friday Mystery Joke!

It’s a beautiful Friday and I’m in the mood for a mystery joke: My husband told me this joke the night we met (after visiting a number of pubs…) Sherlock Holmes and Watson are camping. They spend the night talking around the campfire, talking, roasting marshmallows and enjoying themselves. Finally, the opium kicks in and they crawl into the tent for a good night’s sleep. Sometime during the night, Holmes wakes Watson and says, “Watson, what do you see?” Watson... 

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Video from the CRAVE Toronto Launch Party!

Here’s a fantastic video from Chelsea Video Vibe from the CRAVE Toronto launch party, and we’re honoured to have made a quick appearance! swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/OW_ok4_mKOI&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-1385-youtube-1", "425", "344", "10", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes);  Read More →

Announcing the winners from the CRAVE launch party and free, online murder mystery!

Thank you EVERYONE for your patience in waiting for the announcement of the winners from the CRAVE Toronto launch party (get your copy of CRAVE Toronto from us HERE for just $15 CAD!) as well as the Teeny Weeny Free Online Murder Mystery. We have closed the contest and are announcing here the winners not only from the CRAVE Launch Party, but also the Shot In The Dark Mysteries site and Tweetswin. Thanks to everyone for your participation – it was a true pleasure to read your accusations and... 

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It's just a teeny-weeny murder mystery and you could win!

Here’s an excerpt from our weekly ezine for the blog today. Sign up in the top right corner – we’ll have the Teeny Weeny mysteries coming soon, direct to your inbox! Today I’m sending you a very quick email on the fly – just like you we’re screaming busy with springtime, business, life and the urgency of putting work aside for weekend fun! I hope you have some great things planned for yours – me, I’m going to tackle the weed bed that is my yard! That’s... 

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Star Wars Darth Vader Tom Tom Ad – Behind The Scenes

Hey all, came across this and almost died from laughter – Darth Vader is a new voice for Tom Tom. Roundabound! swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/2ljFfL-mL70&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-1364-youtube-1", "425", "344", "10", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes);  Read More →

Take a "Stab" at our free, online teeny-weeny murder mystery game!

On Wednesday, May 5th at the CRAVE Toronto launch party, Shot In The Dark Mysteries tried out a new format of mystery game. While we already have our winners from the event, (to be announced on Wednesday) we wanted to open it up to the general public, to try to solve the mystery. We have prizes too – copies of CRAVE and free murder mystery games (or free family-friendly mystery games, it’s your choice!) So, here’s the set-up and 5 clues. Read through, determine the killer, cast... 

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CRAVE Toronto Book Pre-order from Shot In the Dark Mysteries!

Hello All! Wednesday is the big launch party, and the day when CRAVE Toronto will hit the shelves of bookstores and virtual sites officially. We have a small stock of the books ourselves, and will be selling them for $15 CAD – what a deal! That’s 25% off the cover price and what you’ll get it for anywhere else. The Urban Girl's Manifesto - CRAVE Toronto What is CRAVE Toronto? CRAVE: The Urban Girl’s Manifesto is the most unique and stylish guidebook for entreprenesses that... 

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Le Chat Noir Interactive Mini-Mystery Game Production Preview!

Hey Party People! In the wake of the giant file-related disaster, we have found a number of the files we needed and after a brief delay, are on track to launch Le Chat Noir, our newest non-murder interactive mini-mystery this weekend. But, since all the files disappeared, I have to do the artwork again, and took the opportunity to really get into the true character of THE CAT. While we’ll talk more next week about the actually story behind Le Chat Noir itself, here are some production pictures... 

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iPhone + Chocolate = the way to my heart

Reposting from my fave Domestic Sluts – visit them here! Domestic Sluttery I HAVE an iPhone and I still want these chocolates! haha. The new iPhone chocolate box distracts us iPhone owners from our iPhones just long enough to eat some chocolate, and then return to our iPhones. It’s a tough life. - Mystery Maiden Next Generation Confectionary – introducing the ‘ichocolate’ Being the kind of girl who loves shiny things which make loud noises, I really want an iPhone.... 

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The CRAVE Toronto Launch Party Suspects are final!

This Wednesday, May 5th, is the launch party for CRAVE Toronto, a book that features “the most unique and stylish guidebook for city living. It is a celebration of women entreprenesses that showcases some of the most creative, interesting, and gutsy proprietors throughout our city” (from the CRAVE Toronto site). The Urban Girl's Manifesto - CRAVE Toronto During the launch party, we volunteered to put on a very small murder mystery game, which would not only highlight what we do (just... 

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Shot In The Dark Mysteries brings live murder mystery to CRAVE launch party

For Immediate Release Tuesday, April 27, 2010 Shot In The Dark Mysteries brings live murder mystery to CRAVE launch party Toronto, ON — Toronto-based Shot In The Dark Mysteries will be spicing up the CRAVE Toronto book launch party with a small, (dare we say ‘teeny-weeny’…), interactive murder mystery. The CRAVE Toronto official launch party, taking place Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 at BerBer Resto.Bar.Lounge, celebrates the launch of CRAVE Toronto, a guide featuring local women entrepreneurs... 

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The 5 Minute Chocolate Cake in a Mug!

Five Minute Chocolate Cake In A Mug Okay, I saw this and I just HAD to share. All you hosts on the run out there are going to DIE when you try this. Why? Because: - it’s cake - it’s chocolate - it’s made in a mug - it’s ready in 5 minutes - it’s no BS. Why not try it for your next party? It’s become this viral phenomenon, and now all hostesses in the know are talking about this cake-miracle. DO IT! You know you want to. Then, times the mugs by your number of guests... 

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Drama, Trauma and Drug References

Hey Party People! So THIS is how it feels to be a precautionary tale. I’ll tell you a quick, yet horrific story and hopefully save you some time, trauma and drama. Last Friday, about 20 minutes after I sent you the Mysteries Ezine, something HORRIBLE happened. I lost every mystery game file I have created in the last five years. See, since I do all of the design and writing in-house, and until only recently had been running Shot In The Dark Mysteries from my home office, I had a number of HUGE... 

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Earth Day 2010 – Our favourite initiatives

It’s Earth Day 2010! The day when people worldwide keep the environment and our planet at the forefront of their minds as they go about their day. People in newsrooms across the globe will pause as they stand in front of the side-by-side recycling bin and garbage receptacle and actually CONSIDER putting their crumped up piece of paper in the recycling bin rather than the garbage can (hey, consideration is progress!). Over the past few months we have come across some great green initiatives... 

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Earth Day 2010 – How about a mystery?

Earth day is fast approaching – in fact, it’s this coming Thursday. And while people worldwide will be celebrating Earth Day in various parties, celebrations, fundraisers and eco-initiatives, chances are most of us will spend the day as we always do – another Thursday – one day until TGIF! Truth is, you don’t have to be a hero and arrange a big event to make a difference. In fact, making a difference and doing something for the environment could be as easy as print and... 

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The Da Vinci Code of Murder Mystery Games launches, Le Chat Noir and some FAB flowers to brighten this Friday!

I hope wherever you are, you’re finally enjoying some fantastic spring weather. What better time of year to pull together your friends and family? Today is a brilliant day at SITD headquarters. My family and I move cities on Sunday and there’s lots to do, but I have had this picture on my mind for a while now – a mounted canvas Le Chat Noir (which is, coincidentally, the name of a mini-mystery, non-murder, family friendly party game I’m launching next week…). Le Chat... 

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Friday Recommendation For You!

Hey Party People! This weekend we’re not partying like usual – I’m in the process of moving cities, so the house is a disaster and we’re getting the keys to the new place this weekend, so instead of our usual festivities, we will be camping out in a house without furniture! It will be fun though, and the lack of television and computer will give us time for quality conversation, games and reading. As I was thinking of what to pack for the weekend, my thoughts came around to... 

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Earth Hour 2010 – Thank You for Participating

Earth Hour 2010 was an incredible success! People from around the world all banded together to turn off their lights for an hour between 8:30-9:30 local time. While popular in the years passed, Earth Hour reportedly had even more participants than usual. Cities and communities are getting on board and getting more creative by offering events to participants. As the years pass, Earth Hour is becoming not only an environmental movement, but a celebration of our efforts to save our planet. The Earth... 

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What are you doing for Earth Hour?

Next weekend is Earth Hour (March 27th between 8:30-9:30 pm), and I hope you participate in this amazing chance for the world to unite and let their voices be heard. If you don’t know what Earth Hour is, it’s a WWF-organized event that spans the globe. For one full hour, participants from all over turn off their lights to impact our earth in the most incredible way. We at Shot In The Dark Mysteries LOVE Earth Hour. We have participated since the very start. We’re awfully green over... 

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Don't worry, you won't break the game!

I facilitated a game here in Toronto this weekend – a custom game written from scratch for an old friend of my husband. Before the game started, as I was briefing the suspects, I assured them that there was no way they could “break” the game, so long as they avoided the 2 unforgiveable sins in murder mystery games: Don’t make up random information if it’s not on their sheet, and if asked directly about their “hide” information, they can not lie. Little did... 

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4 Elements of a Fabulous Party

I am often asked what makes a great party great and a horrible party – well, a “Hindenburg”. People tend to ask me this with the expectation of one simple, brilliant answer that will guarantee party success. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as cutting the crusts off your little sandwiches to ensure everyone has fun, but there are four very distinct elements each great party – elements the bombs have lacked. While defining these oh-so-important elements of a fabulous... 

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Chocolate Tasters Wanted? Am I Dreaming?

Okay, so this may be completely off-topic, and you may wonder what chocolate has to do with Murder Mystery Games. Aside from inspiring some amazing mystery party game ideas, the answer is nothing. I may be a business owner who plots murder for a living, but I’m also a woman and I love 3 things more than everything else: Coffee, Shoes and Chocolate. Particularly truffles. Which is why I actually had a physical reaction when I read about this truffles tasting event. It was a shiver – a... 

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Get drunk by noon, all in the name of Saint Patrick

Most people think that St Patrick’s Day is just about green and beer (not to mention green beer). The truth is that most people, including me and the contributors of Wikipedia, have no idea what St Patrick’s Day is really all about. Is it the birthday of Guinness beer? Is it the celebration of leprechauns? Is it an excuse to drink (the answer to that is, of course, yes, but there is bound to be more to it). As always, we are here to enlighten you. Well, sort of. Saint Patrick was the... 

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Video: The Crisis Companion

Shot In The Dark Mysteries’ Mystery Maiden, Leigh Clements, explains what a crisis companion is and why you need one when planning a party, or hosting a murder mystery party. swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/evESyOG_D4U&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-1070-youtube-1", "425", "344", "10", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes);  Read More →

Custom and Personalized Mystery Games – What's it all about?

I had planned to blog today about custom mysteries, what they mean and the process it takes to create a custom mystery. Before I did though, I thought I would pop by some of my competitor’s websites to see what take they use when creating a custom mystery, and see where our differences lay. What I found absolutely shocked and astounded me. From the sites I browsed, I only found one other murder mystery games company that writes custom mystery games – and their website said they charged... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad part 6: The Destructo-Guest

You can read the rest of this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/4M1eFGgyhqA&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad Part 5

Read the rest of this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/L41UFpMevhI&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 6: The Destructo-Guest

When Good Guests Go Bad Part 6: The Destructo-Guest This is the final article in our six-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”. Today we look at the “Destructo-Guest”. If you’ve never had to deal with a destructo-guest, you’re lucky! The destructo-guest is careless in their everyday life, and brings that carelessness into your home when you entertain. This guest moves around a bit like a hurricane, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. When one... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 5: The Can't-Be-Wrong

Welcome to the second-last article in our six-part series on “When Good Guests Go Bad.” Unfortunately, at every gathering there always seems to be one person who has an opinion on everything, and even when they’re wrong they’re right! These are the kind of guests who bring up topics just to argue them, and if there is nothing to argue they will conjur something out of thin air. Not only do they create uncomfortable situations at every turn, they also tend to offend people,... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad part 4: The Never-Ending Guest

You can read and watch the videos for the rest of this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/hulTQ4U-3Rc&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad part 3: The Lush!

You can read and watch the videos for the rest of this series at these links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video http://www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/blog/video-when-good-guests-go-bad-part-6-the-destructo-guest/ swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/2a53j2qUQl4&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad Part 2: The Surprise Show

You can watch the rest of the videos and read the articles from this series at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 1: The No-Show Guest Video Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/p2bCbgctbGY&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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Video: When Good Guests Go Bad Part 1: The No-Show Guest

You can read the rest of the articles from this series, and watch the videos, at the following links: Part 1: The No-Show Guest Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Article Part 2: The Surprise-Show Video Part 3: The Lush Article Part 3: The Lush Video Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Article Part 4: The Never-Ending Guest Video Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Article Part 5: The Can’t-Be-Wrong Video Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Article Part 6: The Destructo-Guest Video swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/p2bCbgctbGY&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0",... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 4: The Never-Ending Guest

Sometimes, Hosts On The Run can do too good a job of entertaining – so good, in fact, that some people don’t ever want to leave! In this issue, number 4 in our 6-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”, we discuss the “Never-Ending Guest”, also known as the guest who just doesn’t know when to leave. Whenever I think of The Never-Ending Guest, I’m reminded of the Seinfeld episode when George leaves Elaine and Jerry stranded at a house in Long... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad part 3: The Lush!

As hosts, we want people to drink and be merry. But when Mary drinks too much, the party can take a turn for the worse.  In this article, the third in our 6-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”, we look at how to properly deal with “The Lush”. Just like our previous two Good Guests Gone Bad articles (The No-Show and the Surprise-Show), a drunken guest situation can begin one of two ways.  Either Mary gets drunk and ends up with a lampshade on her head at most... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad Part 2: The Surprise-Show

In this world there are hosts and then everyone else. Hosts make a boring weekend exciting and put the “special” in “Special Occasion”. It’s not an easy job, and it doesn’t get any easier when guests aren’t courteous. In part 2 of our 6-part series entitled, “When Good Guests Go Bad”, we explore “The Surprise-Show”, also known as “The Unexpected Guest”, and how to deal with this person while keeping your cool. The “Surprise-Show”... 

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I ain't no Steinlen, but I can Noir my Chat with the best of 'em!

Love this… Next week we are launching the second game in our mini-mystery game series, called Le Chat Noir. It’s a redux version of a game we wrote for the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary & College in Cochrane, Alberta, called The Cat Came Back. We are tweaking this awesome, non-murder mystery game for the general public and launching it under the name “Le Chat Noir”. Of course, we’re not the first to use these three French Words together. Our game is about a... 

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When Good Guests Go Bad Part 1: The No-Show

WATCH THE VIDEO DERIVED FROM THIS ARTICLE HERE: VIDEO: WHEN GOOD GUESTS GO BAD PART 1: THE NO-SHOW As hosts, we can control most everything about our party like the food, the music and the atmosphere, but the one thing we can’t control is the behavior of our guests. With the right invitation list, this could prove disastrous for a host with even the best intentions. How we, as Hosts On The Run, deal with these tricky situations is very important There are six identifiable types of “Good... 

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New murder mini-mystery game, A Medieval Murder, has launched!

Yesterday A Medieval Murder, the first in our line of Mini-Mysteries, launched to the public for an incredibly reasonable $19.97. In Saxon’s Realm, He Is King! It’s the night of King Saxon’s feast, and the most important people in the realm are attending. But when the king is found murdered in his quarters, seven suspects are quickly identified. Who killed him, and why? You’ll find out in an hour or less while playing A Medieval Murder mystery game! Mini-Mysteries are a brand-new kind of... 

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The Medieval Feast Boar – Who saw that coming?

Recently I started creating sample game materials for each game launched on Shot In The Dark Mysteries, or re-launched (like Murder At The Superhero Peace Convention – an old fave that just got a hot new facelift). These samples include the game instructions (or, in the case of the Mini-Mysteries, a sample of a suspect guide) and sample clues. Naturally, I don’t include REAL clues, the ones in the sample are fake and, usually, a bit outrageous. A Medieval Mystery, the first in a new line... 

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What to Expect at your Mystery Party

The most frequently-asked question I get is: “So, what can I expect? How will the night unfold?” While it’s hard to say exactly how your party will unfold, here is an overview of how you can expect it to go. Before your party, you may decide to send your “suspects” their character information, “pre-game” clues (certain mystery games) or “suspect guides” (mini-mysteries). This gives your guests time to prepare ahead of the party. Although, sending... 

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Valentine's Eve Murder Mystery Mixer Event

We put on hundreds of events in Calgary when we were based there, but this is our first one in Toronto so don’t miss it! I’m not kidding when I say that tickets are extremely limited, as the venue, Espresso Mi Vida in the Junction, is a tiny but awesome little cafe and can only accommodate around 30 people, so make sure to call me to reserve your tickets immediately! (647) 330-HOST (4678), or pop into the cafe to reserve your spot. Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010 Time:... 

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What's all this Mini Mysteries mania about?

Okay, you’ve probably seen or heard about it somewhere on the internet recently – whether it’s being buzzed about by mystery fans on Twitter or mentioned in games ezines, there has been a lot of talk about Shot In The Dark Mysteries‘ latest line of mysteries, called Mini Mysteries. What are Mini Mysteries? Mini Mysteries are the first of their kind ANYWHERE in the murder mystery game industry. They are shorter games, designed to be played in under an hour with a cast of suspects,... 

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Mystery Game Search Categories – What Do They Mean?

Yesterday I spent most of the day configuring our new search feature on our murder mystery games site. After a lot of frustration and a midnight appeal to my wonderful web designer, Chev, we got it working. But then, as I stared at the swirling, spinning words, entranced into an almost hypnotic state, I realized that many people may not understand what some of these classifications mean. Let’s take a look at them: Mystery Game Suspects (ie: 10 suspects): This is the number of “suspects”... 

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