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Mardi Gras, Masks, Murder!
$49.95
Add intrigue to your next party with this murder mystery game, set at a Mardi Gras party in New Orleans.
Format:
Mystery Party Kit
Setting:
New Orleans Masquerade during Mardi Gras
Time:
90+ Minutes
Ages:
Adult
Players:
A posh Mardi Gras Masquerade turns deadly!
Backstory
The guests play a mixed group of characters who have been invited to a Mardi Gras masquerade hosted by Marshall Inglewood, the Governor of Louisiana. The party will be held at the governor’s posh New Orleans mansion. Everyone is expecting an elegant evening with hor d’oeuvres, drinks, and dancing, but as it turns out, something mysterious is afoot!
This mystery is divided into two primary segments. During the first portion of the evening (Act One), the partygoers will have the opportunity to eat, drink and mingle at the governor’s mansion.
Murder!
At the midpoint of the evening, a blackout occurs, and one of the players makes a terrible discovery: someone has been murdered in the middle of the party!
Solving the Mystery
Act Two will begin with the grisly discovery of the victim’s body. In the area around the body, there are clues that point to what must have occurred prior to the death. It will now be up to the guests to figure out what happened.
There are 25 primary suspects in this game,however only 9 are required to play the game. The host or hostess will play the role of Tony Cour, the Head Caterer. Read the "How To Play" section for more information on how to play an expanded game with more than 25 guests.
* = Optional character
Male Roles
- The Governor - Marshall Inglewood -
Governor of Louisiana who is hosting a Mardi Gras party. He’s well known in New
Orleans for his constant fundraising and elegant parties. - *The Sheriff - Jacques “Jack” Le
Boeuf - Sheriff Jack is a fixture in New Orleans, as he investigates most
crimes in the city. He’s known for his down home approach. - The Deputy - Jeremy “J” Porter
- Deputy J is a notorious playboy, but is very loyal to the Sheriff’s Office
and his city. - *The New Man - Raymond Downings -
Raymond recently inherited a large estate on the outskirts of the city and just
moved back to town. - The Club Owner - Derek Nordhart
- Derek owns “Fantasy” a very popular club that is known for its exclusive
parties and open dance floor. - *The Good Guy - Harvey Daniels -
Harvey manages the day-to-day affairs for Leon’s construction firm and is known
for his “good ol’boy” attitude. - *The Architect - Leon D’Loupe - Mr.
D’Loupe runs the largest construction firm in town and is largely responsible
for most of the restoration to the city as it recovered from Hurricane Katrina. - *The Preacher - Joseph Grant -
Reverend Joseph is the preacher at the Sacred Heart, a rapidly growing mega
church. - *The Bodyguard- “Jack” - Heather’s
bodyguard, he doesn’t say much. - The Head Chef - Noel Bellenuit
- Chef Noelle is a dramatic, flamboyant and difficult man, but his food is so
good even the most conservative members of high society don’t complain. - *The Chef - Rene Le Boeuf - Rene
served in the war and returned home recently where he got a job as a chef.
Female Roles
- The Voodoo Queen - Dominique
LaBranche - Well known in New Orleans for her many “reading” parlors and
Hoodoo supply stores. Her readings are said to be very accurate. - *The Queen Bee - Blanche Le Boeuf -
The reigning social queen of New Orleans elite society. She is a member of the
prestigious Le Boeuf family and is well known for her iron fist inside a lacy
glove. - *The Lawyer - Gabrielle Le Boeuf -
Miss Gabrielle is known to be sharp as a tack and a terror in the courtroom. She’s
utterly ruthless behind her sweet Southern manners. - The Hippie - Celine “Luna” Schumacher
– Deputy Porter’s date, Luna is a big believer in “green initiatives,” but
appears to legitimately like Deputy J. - The Bouncer - Sarah Corrington
- Bouncer at “Fantasy,” many underestimate her in her high heels, but she’s
broken plenty of bones. - *The Socialite - Eloise Daniels -
Harvey’s mom is a well known socialite who always has a bit of gossip to share. - *The New Girl - Heather Le Bois -
A true practitioner of dark Voodoo, known for her lavish parties and the army of zombi she keeps as servants and bodyguards.
- *The Preacher’s Wife -
Lettie Mae La Terre - Reverend Joseph’s wife, and a member of his
church. There are hints of some sort of scandal in her past. - *The Showgirl - Amelie Belle - Amelie is a rising star on the stages of New Orleans and is famed for her long legs and graceful demeanor.
- *Waitress - Lily Porter - A waitress, she’s sometimes a little vague, but very hard working.
- *Waitress - Jo Ann Duluth - A waitress and member of the Sacred Heart.
- Waitress - Jaquelyn D’Argent - A waitress, she is a new staff member.
- *The Bartender - Crystal La Terre - Crystal’s cocktails are legendary in New Orleans and so is her quick mouth and bad temper.
Male or Female Role
- Host/Head Caterer - Tony Cour - Tony runs one of the most successful restaurant/catering businesses in New Orleans. (Played by the Host/Hostess)
Extra Players
- *Investigator (male or female): Additional players have the option of playing the role of "Investigators". In this role the players are not suspects and do not have character backgrounds but can question the suspects and try to solve the mystery along with the other players.
What's Included
Mardi Gras, Masks, Murder! is a 155-page downloadable PDF file that you print at home. It includes the following features:
- An introduction that explains the basic principles of running a mystery-party and provides specific tips on props, menu items, sound effects, and special tips to help make your party exciting, memorable, and easy to run
- Step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for your party
- A detailed party guidebook that will walk you through the event in a simple, easy-to-understand format
- Instructions on how to run the party for a large group
- Nametags and character sheets for each player – the character sheets include tips on costuming and role-playing, as well as special goals and gossip unique to each character
- Fully customizable invitations, complete with RSVP cards and guest lists
- 14 illustrated clue cards the players can use to solve the mystery
- Voting sheets
- Customizable awards for your guests
- And much more!
Bonus Materials Included
With your purchase of Mardi Gras, Masks, Murder!, you will also receive the following:
- A separate “Customizable Documents” file that includes all of the invitations and awards in an editable format
- Step-by-step printing instructions
- Two MP3 audio effects for use with your party
- Instructions on how to use these audio clips to best effect
Follow these steps to host this mystery:
- Each guest will each assume the role of a particular character
Mystery Parties involve a combination of improvisational acting, storytelling, and creative problem solving. Each guest will play the part of that character throughout the course of the game. Each character has specific personality traits, goals, secrets, and information, all of which are included in the character sheet; a big part of the fun is getting into character and taking on a new, exciting role. - A mysterious Event will occur
At some point during the party, an Event will occur that will force the players to come together in order to solve a problem or unravel a mystery. Traditionally, the Event in question will be the murder of one of the characters (as played by a guest), but the parties crafted by Playing With Murder often use this basic framework to accommodate different types of Events, thereby ensuring that your guests will be surprised and entertained (even if they are veteran murder mystery party players). - Solve the mystery!
Your guests will need to use the information that their characters know (as well as additional clues that are provided during the game) to solve the mystery or overcome the problem posed by the Event. Typically this culminates in the guests voting on the identity of the murderer, but again, different parties will have different specific goals. All of our parties also come complete with additional subgames (treasure hunts, unique character goals and special puzzles) that are guaranteed to keep the action intense and your guests motivated and focused.
Expanded Game For Large Groups
If you have extra players, there are two ways that you can accommodate everyone:
- Investigator Role – Additional players have the option of playing the role of “Investigators”. In this role the players are not suspects and do not have character backgrounds but can question the suspects and try to solve the mystery along with the other players. Expanded Games include a PDF guide that explains how to use the Investigator role, as well as printable character sheets and name tags for anyone that is playing an Investigator.
- Multiple Groups – It is also possible to break your guests up into groups and play multiple instances of the game at the same time. The game will more or less happen the same way; the host makes announcements and each group moves their game forward simultaneously based on the host’s instructions. It’s good to have one assistant in each group to answer questions and facilitate gameplay within the group. This method provides a more intimate experience for your guests, who get better acquainted with a smaller group and participate in a more digestible story.Please contact us if you’d like more information about how to run your party using the Multiple Groups method.
Both the standard and expanded games are included with the purchase of any game kit.
Read more about Expanded Games here
First time hosting a murder mystery party?
Visit our How to Host a Mystery Party page to get step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for your murder mystery party.
Content Rating:
This party is rated adult. While there is no explicit material, the party does contain references to the following:
- Voodoo and pagan religions
- Occultism
- Mind control
- References to criminal activities, including drug running and human trafficking
- Suicide
- Alcohol and drug use
- Divorce
- PTSD
- Infidelity and extramarital affairs
- Murder
Difficulty:
This party is moderately complex to set up. We recommend a venue with at least two rooms and a sufficient area to hide clues for the scavenger hunt.
This party is difficult; the solution involves multiple steps, and may not be intuitively obvious to most players.
Rebecca –
Headline Voodoo and Murder in New Orleans
Nickname Rebecca
Menu Highlights We made Hurricane cocktails, jumbo shrimp, tri-colored cupcakes and jello shots in yellow, purple and green mardi gras colours.
Theme Highlights We found Mardi Gras themed decorations and beads at a party shop and printed A3 size photos of New Orleans and Mardi Gras I found on the web. I encouraged people to wear a mask and provided extras for those who didn't bring one. Most people dressed the part which really helped create the mood. We played the theme music provided. I created my own digital invitation to send to guests.
We wanted to do something a little different for an anniversary party so why not a murder mystery at Mardi Gras! Everyone really got into character, we were very pleased and a little surprised with the amount of effort people put in. Everyone mentioned the music and decoration really helped put them in the mood, I think it was important to have hosts that played to character, it helped others feel more confident about playing their own characters.
When we reviewed the clues everyone very quickly decided on the correct murderer which was a little disappointing as it I felt it had come to an end too quickly, so as host I decided to point out why each person was a suspect again – this helped confuse people and most people changed their mind and we ended up with a wrongly accused and had quite a few more laughs because of it.
Overall it was an exceptionally fun night – I’ll definitely do it again!
S George –
Headline Mardi Gras, Masks, and Murder
Nickname S George
Menu Highlights We served appetizers including hot crab dip, shrimp chowder, and meatballs.
Theme Highlights We used a street scene and street signs as well as masks and beads.
We were celebrating a 40th birthday for a dear friend. We wore masks and dressed up. Jazz music played in the background. Simple decorations of masks, beads, a street scene and table runners. It was a fun and folks loved looking for clues.
Niki Mears –
Headline The Best Mardi Gras Party Ever
Nickname Niki Mears
Menu Highlights We didn't have a special menu. :(
Theme Highlights We all went costume shopping together which added a lot of fun and made such everyone had a costume. We just used party city Mardi Gras decorations.
It was easy to set up and everyone had so much fun! We were talking about it for weeks! It is a must buy if you are having a Mardi Gras party.
Kelly –
Headline Awesome Mardi Gras Party!
Nickname Kelly
Menu Highlights I served appetizers, no dinner, for the party. A lot easier to do to allow more time to decorate and such before the party began. I served cream cheese pinwheels, shrimp, meatballs, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, taco dip, chips and veggies.
Theme Highlights I decorated with streamers, balloons, street signs and handmade pompoms, all sticking with the typical green, purple and yellow Mardi Gras colours. I used the audio file that was included with the party download and it was actually perfect background noise!
I threw this party for my 30th birthday! There were 15 people who came and we had a blast! I sent everyone their character packages two weeks before and everyone came in character and stayed in character throughout the night! The men really stole the show during the night as they really tried outdoing each other in their roles. It made the game so entertaining!
Nissa –
Headline A fun night!
Nickname Nissa
Menu Highlights We did a seafood boil with corn, shrimp, corn and sausage. Along with some Lousiana Fried Chicken (aka Popeyes lol)
Theme Highlights We had mardi gras masks and beads for the guests to choose from. I found some cardboard street signs and lamps at an online party store. We hung some green and purple tableclothes to create a room divider.
This was the first time I hosted a murder mystery party. The night was a great success and the guests really enjoyed themselves. The party was for 15 people. The package is well organized. Since I was emailing invites and character info I had to copy and paste from the pdf into emails which was a bit time consuming, so if there was some way to make it email friendly, I think that would be a great plus. I used the background music with no problems.. it was a great way to add to the atmosphere..
Mary –
Headline Mardi Gras
Nickname Mary
Menu Highlights My husband lived in Baton Rouge,LA for 13 years so we didn't use the menu suggestions outside of the drink suggestion. He did say that for the most part they did get the right idea on what is truly Cajun inspired although some he really thought something crawfish should have been included.
Theme Highlights Flickering lights to mimic the old house losing power during a storm, thunder/flashing light set up outside so every time someone walked up to the door it appeared to be storming.Then heavy drapes hanging up to mimic a lush mansion feel.
For my bday I wanted to put on a murder mystery dinner…my first one but I already knew I didn’t want to do one that was highly scripted. So I found this one, it had good reviews and was really well priced for doing a party for 15 people. Their info is very well laid out for how to plan the party, this extra detail was awesome….I’ve planned lots of parties in my past but I felt that the extra bits about how to assign characters was really helpful.
The only issue I had was there are no gay characters…and this really isn’t an issue per say, I was able to very easily re-write one of the couples to be a gay couple by changing the name and tweaking the background story. My only other comment is that I wish that the info you provide your guests came on a template for printing off on index cards…full 8×11 sheet paper is not ideal and it’s a LOT of info for people to memorize. I ended up putting on index cards for easy portability.
MARGO –
Headline MARDI GRAS
Nickname MARGO
Menu Highlights We made the King Cakes and a couple of the other suggested recipes. The Hurricanes drinks were strong, but made for a fun evening.
Theme Highlights We used the downloaded music, but had to use a different computer to get it to work. Since we were traveling, we were limited to small decorations such as Mardi Gras beads. Some went to a second-hand store the day before and bought some costumes. We used empty wine bottles filled with sand and prepared labels ahead of time with "Murder on my Mind", "Hapless Victim", and "Falsely Accused and Convicted" as the prizes.
Ten high school classmates rented a beach house in Florida for a week. We did the Murder Mystery dinner one stormy night. It was great the characters had their parts ahead of time to find costumes and decorate masks. It was a blast and would plan to do another one if we have another reunion. Some of the "male" roles had to be played by women, was the only hitch. The scavenger hunt went well, but trying to put those clues together was difficult for some.