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Murder in Manhattan
£49.95
Add intrigue to your next party with this murder mystery game, set at a Manhattan cocktail party.
Format:
Mystery Party Kit
Setting:
New York cocktail party
Time:
90+ minutes
Ages:
Adult
Players:
Play with Printed Sheets or the App
Hosts have the choice of playing the game with printable documents or using the PWM Party Assistant app
View app gameplay guide
Gossip, treachery & murder at an upscale NYC party…
Backstory
You and your guests have been invited to the anniversary bash of Mr. Francis Fisk, a noted businessman. The attendees include a number of Fisk’s high-society friends, family members, and business associates. These high society sophisticates live in a world of intrigue, gossip, treachery and endless jockeying for social superiority.
Murder!
Things take a turn for the deadly when a rolling blackout provides someone with the opportunity to advance their social agenda in a more brutally direct fashion than most of the guests are familiar with. When the lights come back on, a grisly crime is discovered!
Solving the Mystery
Reputations are at stake and no one at the party wants to risk the scandal of press and police involvement. Now the guests must work together to sift through the evidence and identify the killer in their midst!
There are 25 primary suspects in this mystery, however only 10 are required to play the game. The host or hostess will play the role of Taylor Walker, 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
- *Alexei Siranov - Security: Doorman at Fisk’s building and security for the party, Alexei is in charge of making sure none of the lower classes get into the celebration.
- Chester Fisk - Playboy: The debauchery and indulgence of the life of the upper class run hand in hand with this well-known playboy, younger brother of Jonathon and Francis. He owns the Castle, a hotel known for ruining the reputations of many celebrities and socialites.
- *David Kreig - Author: David published a biting satire on Upper East Side personalities—recently at the tope of the New York Times bestseller list—which everyone suspects is based on actual socialites.
- Francis Fisk - Real Estate Tycoon: This party is being thrown by Francis in celebration of his company’s twenty-five years of success in real estate. He is very well known and always throws the most elegant parties.
- *Grayson Kreig - Rock Star: A one-hit wonder, Grayson was once part of the band Eagle’s Rose, which has long since broken up.
- *Isaac Corrington - Retired Senator: Although retired from government life, Isaac is the head of the politically active Corrington family. Easily the king of the Upper East Side socialites, Isaac has played the social and political scene for years.
- *Jesse Corrington - Journalist: Editor of a biting online gossip site, Jesse is known for only publishing verifiable rumors. He comes from one of the most powerful families on the Upper East Side.
- Jonathon Fisk - Outcast: Jonathon runs Fisk Enterprises in Australia and has been invited back to New York for his brother’s big celebration. Rumor says he left due to some scandal that was covered up.
- Richard den Waldern - Philanthropist: A young but prominent philanthropist, he is known for giving generously to children’s charities around the country. He was recently in Florida on vacation.
- *Sam Lily - Lawyer: Sam is an entertainment lawyer known for his famous clients and sharp sense of humor.
- Zachary Wellington - Architect: A board member of Fisk Enterprises from Chicago, he is attending the event with his daughter Candice.
Female Roles
- *Ashley LeBois - Editor: Up-and-coming queen of the younger generation, Ashley is the editor of Runway, a popular fashion magazine. She rules the younger generation with well-timed rumors and vicious social takedowns.
- Candice Wellington - New Girl: Candice is both Zachary’s daughter and his assistant. This is her first time in New York.
- *Davana Gudriov - Housekeeper: Ashley’s maid and housekeeper, Davana has been looking out for Ashley since she was a little girl.
- *Francine (Frank) Rose - Debutante: A cousin of the den Walderns from Florida, Frank recently arrived in New York and is making her debut among the upper class.
- *Gwen Kreig - Rising Star: New to the social scene, Gwen is a fashion designer with cutting-edge style and swift social-climbing ambitions.
- *Helen LeBois - Designer: Helen owns and designs her own line of haute couture fashion, catering only to the rich and fabulous.
- Irene den Waldern - Party Planner: Irene runs a very successful public relations firm that caters to the Upper East Side and numerous celebrities and socialites. She is throwing this party for Francis.
- Jo Chase - Filmmaker: New to the scene, Jo makes documentaries and is filming the party for a new documentary.
- *Mercy Neist - Scheming Socialite: A well-known socialite, Mercy mysteriously left New York a few years ago and has only just returned from traveling abroad. She is a troublemaker and a schemer who used to give Ashley a run for her money.
- Rose den Waldern - Queen: Queen bee of the older socialites, Rose rules the Upper East Side with an iron fist inside a silken glove.
Male or Female Roles
- *Callaway Lee - Bartender: Callaway was hired by Irene to be attentive and discreet as well as to keep the drinks flowing.
- *Jamie Lavigne - Caterer: Jamie was hired by Irene to be attentive and discreet and to make sure the party runs smoothly.
- *Sydney O’Connor - Caterer: Sydney was hired by Irene to be attentive and discreet and to make sure the party runs smoothly.
- Taylor Walker - Head Caterer: (Played by the Host/Hostess) Taylor was hired by Irene to be attentive and discreet, as well as to run the staff and make sure the party goes as planned.
- Jess McIntire - Caterer: (Played by the guest that played the victim in Act One) Jess was hired by Irene to be discreet and bring her any juicy gossip throughout the night.
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
Murder in Manhattan is a 171-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 special goals and gossip unique to each character Fully customizable invitations, complete with RSVP cards and guest lists 13 pages of gorgeously illustrated full color props and clues for use during the scavenger hunt Voting sheets Customizable awards for your guests And much more! With your purchase of Murder in Manhattan you will also receive the following: Step-by-step printing instructions Two mp3 audio effects for use with your party Instructions on how to use these audio clips to best effectFollow 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.
Lynette –
Headline Another Success!
Nickname Lynette
What fun!! My biggest event yet!
Forty ready-to-play guests all came in perfect costume and character. Laughter and hilarity abundant! Seven Keen Detectives! Heavy hors d’oeuvrves and Manhattans, our signature drink, satisfied all. Poor victim! Done in by his/her real life offspring! Lol!
Tammy –
Headline Murdered for Gossip
Nickname Tammy
This is the 4th Murder Mystery party the host has ran, 2 were physical board games and 1 was a free download. I had 14 people registered and chose this game for my birthday party. There were high hopes for this game however it did fall short of expectations.
I was really disappointed that as the host the murder was ruined for me by reading the briefing package. It meant I couldn’t even properly participate in the game or take on a fun significant character. I played along as if I didn’t know, but that was definitely disappointing.
There was a lot of information for guests to remember and rely upon, even with giving them their bios and characters a week a head of time. Instantly after reading his bio, one of the guests knew his character was "Chuck" from the TV series Gossip Girl. Once playing, he could relate every single character and plot line to Gossip Girl. Not only was it disappointing for him, but it caused some confusion for many of the guests who didn’t see the show.
As a host who paid for this game, I was very disappointed that I paid for a plagiarized version of a TV show. Not only that, but given the fact the story line and characters were plagiarized, there were major errors in Francine’s story line which impacted her interactions with other characters and facts being brought up to the group.
In the future I would trim down my party numbers to find a free or board game version instead of buying from this website.
Bruno –
Headline Not your older brothers' murder mystery party.
Nickname Bruno
The occasion was a friend’s birthday. She wanted a party that didn’t draw a lot of attention on her but where everyone was having a good time. This was a terrific time; everyone was into it. Lasted about 2-3 hours.
Megan Lang –
Headline Homicide on the Upper East Side
Nickname Megan Lang
We hosted a murder mystery dinner for 17 guests. It was held at a beautiful venue and an outside caterer did the food. Our guests got into character SO well and all put in a huge amount of effort.
One big error noted in the script: Rose den Walden’s info sheet says that Helen LeBois was previously married, but Helen LeBois did not know about this. Also some grammar/spelling errors and typos.
7/17 guests guessed the murderer correctly, which I think reflects that the game is the perfect level of difficulty.
WLK –
Headline This was fantastic for a Halloween/Birthday party!
Nickname WLK
I had this party for my boyfriends birthday party/ Halloween. The party was fairly easy to plan, the manual outlines every step by step. To make it even easier I had a potluck style dinner instead of preparing everything myself. It all went great! As people started to arrive we let them interact as normal and then when everyone had arrived we sang happy birthday, blew out candles, and then started the game and everyone got straight into character! It was hilarious to watch.I highly recommend if you are looking for an entertaining evening!
Jacy –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname Jacy
We had the most fun! We decided to do it around Halloween to get all of our friends together for some catching up and just something fun. We thought this would be the best idea!
Sarah –
Headline Murder in Manhatten cocktail Party
Nickname Sarah
Decided to do this for Halloween and because I’ve always wanted to do a murder mystery party. We ended up having less then the required amount of guests (I didn’t see the games with less players at the time). It still went great though and was very fun. Everyone got into character easily. The kid was very helpful but a little pricey for my taste. I enjoyed it as did my guests though.
Chris –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname Chris
Upon entry people collected a name badge and were ticked off from the guest list at a lectern.
The opening speech was given and everyone was offered drinks.
Characters then spread out to gather information about each other.
As the evening went on and it got darker a "blackout" occurred and the scream of [the victim] was heard.
The scavenger hunt lasted only a short time but some characters decided to deliberately withhold evidence pertaining to their characters until pressed by the group.
After a lengthy discussion where each person was given the opportunity to read all evidence and make their mind up on who the killer was, the voting cards were handed out and each player cast their votes for the killer, best actor, and best costume.
The votes were very close across all categories with no one voting for themselves! The killer was discovered however and the awards were handed out.
JB –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname JB
We hosted the Murder in Manhattan for a 40th birthday party with 33 guests (used 6 Private Investigators plus the 25 roles).
We took the time to give people roles (characters) that fit their personalities (outgoing people with roles where they needed to feel comfortable interacting and being loud…). This, along with everyone coming dressed to their role, were a few of the reasons the event was a tremendous success.
Throughout the party we had ‘caterers’ walking around with food (appetizers) and drinks in hand for the ‘guests’, and the bartender did a great job ensuring no glass was empty.
Everyone left that evening commenting how much fun they had and what a great time.
We are thinking about making this a yearly party!
Dustin –
Headline Melanie's Murder In Manhattan B-Day Mystery Party
Nickname Dustin
I held this event for my wife’s birthday and we had an amazing time. There were a total of 20 people involved in the game so definitely plenty of suspects. I had the event catered and a cake made as well as beer, wine, and cosmopolitans to drink (it is upper east side Manhattan right??) I really did my best to follow the instructions laid out to a "T" and feel that this murder mystery game is the best one I have ever been involved in (this is my 3rd one, but 1st as a host). I feel that now we have set a bar to do this again next year and even better 🙂
Tuyet –
Headline Murder Manhattan
Nickname Tuyet
This is our 2nd Annual Murder Mystery Party and as always, it was a blast! Everyone had such a great time, especially the newcomers this year. There was a lot of information to study but everyone stayed in character and it was so much fun. I bought the expansion pack so we could invite more people this year which works out great for those who don’t want to act or study at all.
Sara –
Headline murder in Manhattan
Nickname Sara
35th bday – success! 13 couples – so much fun! None of us had even been to a party like this. Most of us are parents and rarely do much "fun" stuff. We had a bb sitter in the other room … And the adults had a blast! We dressed in costumes and arrived in part ready to place. The story line is great, easy to plan and we planned a Buffett style menu including drinks. The Bloody Mary’s were a success, a friend made a cake that looked like a high rise building & a martini glass with blood handprint. Definitely going to plan another party for this summer!!
Jeanne Turner –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname Jeanne Turner
Such a fun party! I had about 25 people there A lot who didn’t know each other but everyone got along so well due to the suggested prompts in the scripts. It’s helpful to have one other person who knows and can help you manage the light for the black out. Super good time we’ll do it again.
Stacy German –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname Stacy German
What an awesome party! Thank you Playing with Murder. I held the murder in manhattan themed party for my birthday celebration last week Saturday. I had 25 friends attend and everyone really got into character. Such a great time and very easy to host. Overwhelming feedback was that we NEED to do this again!
Celsey –
Headline 29th Birthday
Nickname Celsey
We decided to celebrate my 29th Birthday with a Murder Mystery party! We had the family over for delicious food, lots of laughs, and of coarse….murder! We had the BEST time! Everyone dressed up (my sister in law really embraced her character, I will attach a photo) and we had so much fun! It was so hilarious listening to everyone interrogate and gossip about each other. We had a couple of write in guests (Disney princesses) that joined us for dinner and then watched a movie while the adults finished the game. Perfect for a night with family or friends! I would say that this is the most thought out murder mystery party I have ever seen. Lots of character options, a fun and easy story line, and the scavenger hunt is a fun addition. I would recommend this party to anybody! We plan on having another party to celebrate New Years in a month or so! Thanks for making my Birthday great!
Fred –
Headline Murder at home
Nickname Fred
A good idea for my birthday. Everyone was fantastic, dressed for the ocassion. They went very well in their respective characters.
The whole house was the stage and it was fun. All guests enjoyed the mystery and research.
I totally recommend it.
MMC Napier NZ –
Headline Fantastic
Nickname MMC Napier NZ
For most including the hostess this was the first time we had done a murder – a notice went up on the board and before we knew it there were 25 participants!! We followed the party plan and it all went really well everyone had a ball! Everyone got into character in their own unique ways and it was fantastic.
Rhiannon –
Headline Murder in Manhattan (Colorado-style)
Nickname Rhiannon
Everyone who attended our party (hosted Dec. 2014) had an absolute blast. I created my own invitations jazzed up with jewels and printed on card-stock. Mailed each invitee his/her own character bio and invite. Everyone dressed up to play the part. All 25 parts were filled hours before the party, due to some changes in plans by friends.
Highly recommend this! Although no one invited had ever been to a Murder Mystery Party, it was a hit. The murderer was nailed by night’s end!
Michelle Wilde –
Headline Easy, fun and would do it again
Nickname Michelle Wilde
My son was turning 16 and we had been kicking around several ideas. We landed on a murder mystery and I found Playing with Murder. By far the best out there. THe party was a hit! All the kids loved it!
They are begging for another one,
Easy to use well written and would use this company again.
Stacey Canavan –
Headline Murder in Manhattan - The Elite all have something to hide
Nickname Stacey Canavan
This was the perfect idea for my 25th Birthday. I wanted to do something different to commemorate my quarter life birthday and have heard about Murder mystery parties but never known anyone whose done one before.
My 20 guests including myself or Taylor Walker was i was known for the night all gathered in the dining room of my house to begin a Murder in Manhattan. No one had been to one of these parties before but we’re all very eager to participate.
When darkness struck on New York City and the power went out one of my guests didn’t make it past dinner but who was it and where was the murderer. All my guests dressed up in elegant evening wear with the gentlemen in suits and ladies in dresses and a lot of shinning jewelry.
As the night progressed their was a scavenger hunt for clues and more and more secrets about my guests started to surface. Everyone laughed and got into character and the night was 100% a success and i would definately host another one.
Carol Gordon –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname Carol Gordon
Our party was a blast! Playing with Murder provided everything we needed to host a great party. We had 17 people and were amazed at how everyone played their character to the full extent. Would definitely host another!
Madman –
Headline A party to kill for!
Nickname Madman
This was origanilly going to be for our reunion, but decided at the last minute to use it for my son 17th birthday party. He was nervous about who to invite mostly because he only has a few close friends. So he decided to invite his entire youth group which is about 35 kids. However we had a total of 20 attend. I think everyone was a little nervous at first because this was everyone’s first murder mystery party! However once the welcome, the rules and the story back ground was out of the way everyone got busy trying to find out all the secrets. I was a little surprised with how they all interacted and tried very hard to get into their roles. They all did really well and had a great time! I think the most exciting part was the surprise that there was actually a black out( wink wink ) and then there was someone lying dead on the ground! That’s when I think the few sluggish guest decided that this was a lot of fun and everyone was way more excited to try to figure what was going on! All the kids had a great time and my son was so happy with his party? Thanks
Leah –
Headline Murder in Manhattan
Nickname Leah
My casual "dessert and bubbly" birthday evening was enhanced significantly by the Murder In Manhattan mystery. It was a perfect way for guests who did not know each other to mix and have fun. They all got into it and the actual staged murder was brilliant. Also, I found Ken to be extremely efficient in emailing back when I had questions – he was very helpful and pleasant to deal with. Thanks for making my birthday one to remember!
margherita –
Headline Best party ever!
Nickname margherita
I was recently in charge of planning an event for the Italian Society I am a part of in my uni in London. I am honestly so proud I chose this! The party went on extremely smooth, everyone identified themselves so unexpectedly much in their characters, it was just hilarious. The plot wasn’t simple and yet it was quite easy to follow for all the guests The characters are very well described and the night was full of surprises.
Michelle Nessman –
Headline Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Big Hit!
Nickname Michelle Nessman
This package was amazing! VERY easy to navigate and my guests had a blast! I particularly liked that the murder occurred during the party. I would definitely recommend Murder in Manhattan to anyone seeking to try this for the first time.
Helen –
Headline looking forward to playing again
Nickname Helen
It went really well thank you, everyone was guessing right to the every end and even when voting no one got the actual murderer.
Charles –
Headline Everyone had a great time
Nickname Charles
I was impressed with the ease of the event. Having never even been to a murder mystery, the instructions created a format that was easy to follow. Everyone had a great time. My only complaint would be the amount of time needed to calculate the winners and fill in the awards.
Jennifer –
Headline Overall, it was fantastic!
Nickname Jennifer
I absolutely loved the mystery party. The character descriptions were great, the detailed instructions were fantastic, and everything in my party went according to plan!
The only thing I would have asked differently is somehow the clues be more incorporated. I found that a lot of the guests and myself were confused on how certain clues were meant to be found and incorporated. This was a little unclear.
Overall, it was fantastic! I would love to throw another one.
Maryanne –
Headline We thoroughly enjoyed our Murder Mystery Party!
Nickname Maryanne
Unfortunately we did not document with photographs! We had an age range from 14 years old to 75 and everyone had a blast! Thank you for making our first experience with an on line purchase of this sort of game.
Jennifer –
Headline Satisfied with game but disappointed host knows murderer
Nickname Jennifer
This is the third year we’ve held a Murder Mystery party and the first year that we’ve used your company. Overall we were quite satisfied with the game. The characters were fun and there was good information provided on each one, making it easy for guests to come prepared.
All of that being said, we were very disappointed that, as hosts, we had to find out who the murderer was. There is no reason for the host to be in on the secret, and with the other company that we’ve used in the past we were surprised at the end along with everyone else. The only reason we knew who it was is because the certificate has the murderer’s name on it. This is totally unnecessary and did make it so that we didn’t enjoy ourselves as much as in the past.