Dazzled to Death (12–15) 15+

Dazzled to Death – a 1950s murder mystery party game with a glamorous setting for 12 to 15 guests.

"Dazzled to Death was brilliant! I had a variety of different friends over, and they all enjoyed getting into character and attempting to solve the mystery! "
Emily , New Zealand

Recommended for ages 15+
Costs US$29.99
Written by Tracy Bose

Dazzled to Death is a dinner party murder mystery game for 12 to 15 guests and a host – download the free introductory pdf file.

In Dazzled to Death, the stage is set for an innocent family gathering, with a few friends and strangers added to make the party go with a swing. However, not everyone is as they seem -- some have dark secrets they need to keep hidden... and someone is the killer. You will be in the middle of the action and it will be up to you to wheel and deal with the other guests. Can you achieve your goals, keep your secrets hidden and survive Dazzled to Death? It's up to you.

Dazzled to Death

It is 1948. The socialite Evington-Browne family ("E-B" to their friends) and guests are preparing for their annual cocktail party, held by tradition at the family's hunting lodge in the White Mountains north of Boston. A fierce storm has now set in, and the party finds itself cut off from the rest of the world. This is unfortunate, as the valet of one of the guests has been found dead in the kitchen! It looks like a heart attack - but is it murder? Can you achieve your goals, keep your secrets hidden and survive Dazzled to Death? It's up to you.

In Dazzled to Death you will discover the following:

• • Who has been wearing a mask to sneak around?
  • Who will inherit the Dazzling Diamonds?
  • Would the infamous cat-burglar 'the Puma' dare to strike here?
  • Are the Evington-Browne family in danger of losing their money, their reputation in society and their sanity?
  • Can anyone keep control of Tracy's pet monkey?
  • ... and, of course, who killed the valet?

Find out in Dazzled to Death!

Dazzled to Death lasts for about four hours and is suited to an evening. It is often played over a meal – a finger buffet if possible to allow guests to circulate and talk in private.

The free introductory pdf file contains an introduction to the game, a cast list of all the characters, and a copy of the Boston Times – plus details of how to buy the game.

Important note: Dazzled to Death is an alternative version of one of our other games, The Night before Christmas. The characters and the plots are the same, so if your guests have previously played The Night before Christmas, they'll know the secrets of Dazzled to Death too! The difference is that The Night before Christmas is written specifically for a Christmas setting, while Dazzled to Death is suitable for any time of year.

These are the characters in Dazzled to Death:

• • Agatha Marbles – Priscilla's elderly English friend and allegedly famed detective
  • Charles Pemberton – James's son, currently a student at Harvard
  • Christy Crompton – Young fellow-student friend of Patrick
  • Dinah Peters – Cook (temporary stand-in for usual cook)
  • Dr. Bruisyard – Retired family doctor and friend
  • Evie Evington-Browne – John and Rose's 21-year-old and wilful daughter
  • James Pemberton – Rose's brother. Art dealer and traveller
  • John Evington-Browne III – Respected businessman and head of the family
  • Miles Earnshaw – Unexpected guest, friend from Rose's youth
  • Patrick Evington-Browne – John and Rose's 20-year-old son
  • Priscilla Evington-Browne – John's elderly and often forgetful Aunt
  • Reggie Haven – Young socialite friend of Evie's
  • Rose Evington-Browne – John's much-loved wife
  • Soames – Butler / housekeeper
  • Tracy Evington-Browne – John and Rose's youngest (16 years old) and mischievous daughter

How Freeform Games Murder Mysteries Work

Dazzled to Death is unlike many murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a death, most of the characters have more important things to do than to investigate it. And the killing may not be over – it is unlikely that everyone will survive the remainder of the evening!

Dazzled to Death is played just like a murder mystery game. You may be trying to solve the murder, but primarily you are (initially at least) concentrating on your own goals and objectives. Unlike most boxed murder mystery games, Dazzled to Death lets you decide how to achieve your goals and thwart your enemies.

"Thank you so much for letting me download the new files and the extra characters. The Dazzled to Death party was a huge success, everyone enjoyed it and the two extra characters fitted in seamlessly!
People are already talking about which game we should buy to play next – except this time someone else can host, so that I can try my hand at detective!"
Hayley van den Bergh, New Zealand

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer, the Waiter, and welcomed to the party. They then receive their detailed backgrounds - including dark secrets, goals and items. The fun then begins as players form alliances, blackmail each other, steal items and maybe even resort to murder! Depending on what the players choose to do, there are several different possible endings, but finally everyone finds out how they did, and what secrets everyone else was concealing.

Extra characters

Sometimes you have too many guests and you need more characters. So we've written a free extra character for each of our games that you can add in, and some of our customers have created their own characters for their parties and are kindly willing to share them.

• • 'Ginger' Roberts – freelance reporter in search of the Big Story. (Any)
    (by Freeform Games)
  • Angelique Gemini – Priscilla Evington-Browne's paid companion. (F)
    (by Michele Scott)
  • Beryl Sutton – Rose Evington-Browne's cousin. (F)
    (by Jenni Malloch)
  • Jules Cameron – event photographer (Any)
    (by Larry Weixel)
  • K.C. Warburton – internationallyacclaimed artist. (Any)
    (by Steph Mann)
  • Mephisto Lustig – Harvard friend of Charles Evington-Browne. (M)
    (by Michele Scott)
  • Reverend Maxwell Reagan – pastor of the First Church of Boston (M)
    (by Larry Weixel)

Please note that we haven't always tested these – and they may not tie in exactly with our games.