Do you intend to attend a murder mystery game night? Are you thinking of how to dazzle your family and friends using your detective mastery? Could you be one of the people that get into the game with the winning mentality?
You better know that the best way to win or catch a murderer in a murder mystery game is to have the right questions to ask.
This article references famous fictional detecting experts such as Lieutenant Columbo, Nancy Drew, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, Easy Rawlins, and Sherlock Holmes.
The above-mentioned inspirational detectives have a range of detecting skills and expertise to reckon.
Learning from the experts, this article establishes that getting the basics of the game is highly essential. The basic requirement of the game is none other than aligning your line of questions to the winning strategy.
Asking the respondents the right questions can allow you to unmask your rogue and help you win the murder mystery game; almost effortlessly.
So, what type of questions should you have in a murder mystery game?
The secret to asking high-quality investigative questions at a murder mystery game is practical, sensible, and consistent. Try not to ask close-ended and random questions, allowing your respondent to provide one-word responses, the no or yes answers. Master the art of keeping your questions open-ended to encourage your suspect to provide more details regarding the murder.
Do you wish to solve the mystery game before other detectives? Read 10 detective questions we recommend for you today to ask the suspect for the correct answers.
1. How Did You Know the Slain?
Asking this question helps you to know the type of relationship the victim and the suspect had before the incident. For instance, were they close relatives, business partners, spouses, secret lovers, or strangers?
If your suspect seems not to know who the victim was, then there is a high probability that the suspect is not the murderer. However, do not be quick to judge strangers. You may try to dig deeper to get more information to convince you about the suspect’s innocence.
Remember that most murder cases have motives. Therefore, finding the relationship between the victim and the suspect is essential. You may uncover some interesting details in the course of learning the relationship.
2. What Do You Do for A Living?
Investigating the suspect’s background is another essential thing. What a suspect does for a living can reveal. Ask questions that help you identify possibilities of the suspect and the dearly deceased crossing lines or developing an unhealthy competition.
More so, some jobs may expose the suspect to easy access to weapons. You may investigate the means of murder your suspect has access to. Can the victim have easy access to the weapon used in the murder case? If yes, then dig deeper.
3. When Did You See/Talk/Engage/Meet the Deceased Last?
Time defines events. A suitable detector should learn the art of establishing the timeframe of events leading to the murder.
Asking this question allows you to know where your suspect was at the time of the murder. More so, investigate who the suspect was with during the fateful occurrence. Your detecting skills may help you establish who saw the slain last and what did they do together.
4. Where Were You at The Time of The Murder?
This question is one of the must-ask questions when detecting a murder event. Let your suspect explain where they were at the time of the murder and whom they were with. Asking this question can make you feel like a legendary detective. Does your suspect have an explanation?
5. Can You or Anyone Else Corroborate Your Whereabouts?
If your suspect provides an alibi regarding their whereabouts at the time of the murder, follow it up with this question. There is a high likelihood that your guest may be lying. Lead the suspect to corroborate their whereabouts. It may be essential to ask them to attach someone else who can verify this question’s answer.
Continue to investigate the profiles of everyone the suspect fronts in the verification of their whereabouts at the time of the murder. Some profiles may reveal more information about the suspect or the entire event as a whole.
6. Were You and The Victim on Good Terms?
If the suspect and the victim had any relationship, you might need to establish if the two were on good terms. Did they have any quarrels, fights, financial disagreements, or long-term enmity? All these can easily lead to murder.
In most cases, detectives work hard to unearth the motive of the murder. It may be best to learn how to establish the motive because it leads you to get other finer details.
Let the suspect tell you how they expected to benefit from killing the victim. Had the victim harmed the suspect before? Was it a revenge mission?
7. What Do You Know About the Victim's Will?
Money and property riddles trigger many murders. Super detectives understand that people can be willing to kill for money or a lucrative property.
As a detective, use this question to investigate if the suspect stands any chance to benefit from the victim’s demise. For instance, a spouse may kill a partner to gain access and control of massive property and money, especially when the deceased’s will allows the suspect to get the inheritance.
If the suspect already knows what share of the inheritance the victim had given to them, then they may use various ways to expedite the victim’s death.
8. Can You Expand on Any of The Evidence or Clues?
Detectives do not encourage superficial responses. You must push your guest to the corner until they spill all that they know about the murder. Make the suspect say what you see on their faces. A yes or no response may not be enough for you to determine if your guest is guilty or not.
Throughout the game, you may find that the suspect continues to reveal clues and evidence related to the murder.
Your guest may have something extra to say about the evidence and clues revealed throughout the game. Give your suspect enough chances to expand on these clues.
The more details you attain about the game, the closer you will be to winning it. Unmasking the occurrences depends on your skill to get evidence and clues as well as more helpful information.
9. What Was Your Reason for Coming Here Tonight?
Our number nine-question might be the favorite for this article. A detective will never let the suspect leave the sitting before asking why they had to meet at the location. You may need to establish why the suspect had to visit the place you met them.
This question can help you learn what your suspect enjoys doing and maybe the secrets they may be hiding.
As much as you are after solving a murder case, learning your suspect’s other secret may not harm you. Some secrets can be an eye-opener to more clues and evidence.
10. Can You Tell of Anyone That Might Have a Reason to Murder the Victim?
When detecting, you acquire most of your power by assuming not to know anything about the incidence. Be as blunt as possible with your suspect.
Keep it in mind that most of the other detectives are also very busy investigating. It may help if you get a glimpse of what other guests have revealed. Some of your fellow detectives may be willing to share their information with you. Take that advantage and use it to strengthen your investigation where possible.
You may also use other detectives’ materials to verify your suspicions by looking at the unmasking patterns of events. More so, you can use the information to determine any possible lies fronted by your suspect.
More Detective Tips to Help You in Solving a Murder Mystery Game
Other than aligning your detective questions to ask a serial killer, you may use these tips to strengthen your investigation skills:
- Keep your detective questions and investigative patterns consistent with all your suspects.
- Remember to keep records of any suspicions. You may also eliminate any suspect providing sound alibis.
- Know when to ask a particular question. Some questions are better asked before clues and evidence are detected; others may work best when asked later.
- Never encourage superficial responses. Keep your questions open-ended all through. Open-ended questions may help you gather more clues and evidence.
- Consider suspects who may overshare or avoid details. Such suspects may be having some clues or evidence regarding the murder.
- Do not underestimate anyone. Talk to as many suspects are possible. Possibly, speak to everyone.
- Be consistent, sensible, and time-keeping. Avoid repeating questions.
- Always embrace the art of verifying responses. Do not take everything that comes as told. Dig deeper.
- Check the patterns of events as the suspects reveal new evidence and clues.
Furthermore, it may be essential for you to always remember the murder mystery game rules. The way you understand and remember these rules may affect how you play the game.
Some of these murder mystery game rules you may constantly need to include:
- Only the rogue can lie
- Most suspects provide clues and evidence at the start of every new round
- Suspects use their profile booklets to get their background
Knowing and understanding the primary murder mystery game rules may help you have a better and more strengthened line of questions.
You can get any would-be dishonest suspects while working hard to attain as many details as possible.
FAQs
Q. What do I need to play a murder mystery game
Basically, you only need a group of people to play a murder mystery game. You also need to attend a part and papers to print the game on. Nevertheless, it can turn more successful if you are willing to invest more time and resources into the game.
Some of the things you may need to make the game more memorable and successful include special lighting, costumes, a unique menu, themed decorations, and props.
Q. How long can it take to prepare for a murder mystery game?
It is essential to take enough time to prepare your party; the more time you spend preparing the game, the more successful it is likely to be.
A good murder mystery game may not be successful if you rush to throw it together in the eleventh hour. You may think of starting to prepare your murder mystery game two weeks before the D-day. Two weeks are adequate for you and your group to read the script, plan your menu, prepare and invite others, and purchase props and decorations.
However, it can be more fun and less exhaustive if you plan your game like a month before the very day.
Q. Can the person who is hosting the party also play?
In most murder mystery games; the host takes a role of a guest. More so, the host should not learn about the killer’s identity in advance to participate in the game like all other players.
But you may allow the host to have a clear understanding of various vital plots instances to ensure the smooth running of the game.
Therefore, it may be possible for the host to know the victim and killer identities before the game.
Q. Can I run a party twice or more?
Yes! You can run a murder mystery game several times. Obviously, any previous participant of the game will have the solution of the game. Therefore, it may be better to involve different groups of people every time you play the game.
Q. Are murder mystery parties suitable for kids?
Most murder mystery parties are not children friendly. However, children can participate in parties labeled “Child Friendly.” Scripts containing elements of violence and adult themes may not be suitable for kids.
