The Spy Who Killed Me (14–18) 15+

The Spy Who Killed Me – a 1960s murder mystery party game with a spy-infested setting for 14 to 18 guests.

"The Spy Who Killed Me was very enjoyable and intricate enough to keep everyone involved."
Mary Narcum, United States

Recommended for ages 15+
Costs US$29.99
Written by Anastasia Kulpa

The Spy Who Killed Me is a dinner party murder mystery game for 14 to 18 guests and a host – download the free introductory pdf file.

Join us in a civilized evening of espionage, code-breaking, backstabbing, and graduating with honours. 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 The Spy Who Killed Me? It's up to you.

The Spy Who Killed Me

Welcome to Maudlin College, an institution with prestigious roots and an even more promising future. As we are nearing the end of the last term of the year, it is time to celebrate a hard year's work – in the lab, the library, and on the water – at the glorious Summer Ball. Maudlin College's best and brightest have gathered for a evening of celebration recognizing the recipients of prestigious research grants, and academic as well as athletic scholarships, which will be renewed – or not – this evening.

It should be cause for celebration – but the evening is more sedate than planned; as the musicians arrived this evening, the Head Porter announced that Beth Garnet, one of this evening's student honorees, was found dead in her room. There are whispers about that Beth lost her life because of her involvement in espionage – if that is true, she cannot be the only secret agent in the college.

The Spy Who Killed Me 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.

"We loved The Spy Who Killed Me. It was much better than other, more scripted games."
Caleb MacDonald, Canada

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

These are the characters in The Spy Who Killed Me:

• • Alex Tanner – Jan's assistant
  • Alicia Schleitwiler – an undergraduate academic scholarship recipient
  • Chris Morrison – an athletic scholarship administrator
  • Daniel Mason – an undergraduate
  • Doctor Aberhart – a dramatic music professor
  • Doctor Barnes – an abrasive physics professor
  • Genevieve Lyle – an undergraduate, coxswain of the rowing team
  • Jamie Carthart – an academic scholarship administrator
  • Jan von Capp – a research grant administrator
  • Jennifer Sable – a postgraduate student in physics
  • Jonathan Calder – an undergraduate and athletic scholarship recipient, captain of the rowing team
  • Margaret Ravenscroft – a postgraduate student in mathematics and academic scholarship recipient
  • Master Harris – the Master of Maudlin College
  • Nathan Saunders – an undergraduate
  • Professor Rosenthorn – a slightly reclusive economics professor
  • Professor Thompson – an eccentric mathematics professor
  • Sam Davidson – an undergraduate
  • Simon Feverfew – an undergraduate and athletic scholarship recipient, star of the rowing team

How Freeform Games Murder Mysteries Work

The Spy Who Killed Me is unlike many murder mystery games. Although the game starts with a murder, 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!

The Spy Who Killed Me 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, The Spy Who Killed Me lets you decide how to achieve your goals and thwart your enemies.

"I had a great time playing The Spy Who Killed Me!"
Brian (a playtester), Arizona, United States

On the evening of the game the guests are met by the organizer, the Head Porter, and welcomed to Maudlin College. They then receive their detailed backgrounds – including dark secrets, objectives and money. The fun then begins as they form alliances, blackmail each other, steal items and maybe even try to murder one another! Along the way they may uncover some of the mysteries of The Spy Who Killed Me. Who is a double agent? Who leads the secretive Holly and Oak Society? Who is a professional assassin, and who is the mysterious 'Elsie'? What is the secret of the cryptogram? 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)
  • Jordan Campbell – postgraduate music student (Any)
    (by Aaron McKendry)
  • Lee Hatfield – tennis-playing undergraduate student (Any)
    (by Kathi Bonallo)
  • Perry Skeeter – reporter for The Times (Any)
    (by Kathi Bonallo)
  • Quinn Wells – tennis-playing undergraduate student (Any)
    (by Kathi Bonallo)
  • Riley Burke – postgraduate economics student (Any)
    (by Aaron McKendry)

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