As you’ll see from the calendar on our website all of our public venues have re-booked in 2012 and on top of those we welcome the Bull at Barming, Thames river boats and Titan Hightours as new venues for Murders open to the public. These bookings plus a number of private productions means that we already have a good year to look forward to.

If you have any friends who would like to become a friend of ours please pass our details on.

Speak again soon, Keith.

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve actually sat in front of my keyboard and updated all the events open to the public in 2012. Do have a look at the public events page on the website. If you know anyone who may be interested in our murder mysteries please pass the info on and ask them to join up to our blog. 

I should also have a face book page soon.

Yours in Murder Mystery and always Mayhem

Keith

Saturday 18th February 2012
Come on our Stern-wheeled Paddle Steamer for an evening of dining, mystery
and suspense with a luxury hotel stay included

With the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Trinity Square as a perfect back drop to begin your evening we board the Elizabethan from Tower Millennium Pier at 19:00 with a welcome glass of Champagne.
Solve the clues of the murder that is played for you by ‘The Company Upfront’.

A warm welcome aboard the Elizabethan. This perfect replica of an 1890s Mississippi Stern-wheeled Paddle Steamer beautifully reflects the style and craftsmanship of that bygone era. Concealed, however, behind her Victorian exterior are truly elegant surroundings and facilities that would not be out of place in a five star restaurant or night club.

Telephone 01732 862353 for more details

The cost for the production of ‘Murder in the Dark’ along with a delicious two course meal is just £20 per person.

Some people would MURDER for an evenings entertainment at that price!!

Telephone the club manager on 01491 873 299 to book you places

Born in Brittany on 29 September 1816 Paul Henri Corentin Féval can be considered as the writer of the first murder mystery novel.  Although most famous for his swashbucklers such as Le Loup Blanc (1843) and Le Bossu (1857), it is his novel Jean Diable (1862) that can claim to be the world’s first modern detective novel.

In it, Scotland Yard Chief Superintendent Gregory Temple is mystified by the actions of a supremely gifted crime leader who hides behind the identity of John Devil.

His masterpiece was Les Habits Noirs (1863-75), a criminal saga written over a twelve-year period comprised of seven novels. It is the precursor of modern day organised crime novels. After losing his fortune in a financial scandal (several million pounds in todays money), Féval became a born again Christian, stopped writing crime thriller, and began to write religious novels.

He died on 8th March 1887

The pressure to buy expense gifts, last minute shopping and the heightened expectations of family togetherness can all combine to undermine our best intentions. Some practical suggestions can help you reduce your ‘Christmas stress’. Below we have five quick pointers towards having a stress-free break.

1. Avoid the crushes by buying online

While the reliability of the Post Office might seem to add rather than reduce stress there are many benefits to buying items online. Most of the main online gift suppliers will send the gift directly to the recipient, including wrapping and a personalised message from you. You can look at other buyers reviews to see how good the item is. Buying online gives you additional protection as a consumer and to top it all amazon.co.uk, iwantoneofthose.com firebox.com are all offering free postage up until Christmas.

If things do get delayed in the post it just means the lucky recipients get an extra suprise gift in the New Year!

2. Eat out for Christmas lunch

According to whatprice.co.uk the average Christmas dinner (excluding drinks) costs £16.84. For around twice that you can eat out. Yes, it is more expensive, but it can’t be beaten in the stress busting stakes. No turkey dilemas (fresh, frozen, organic), everyone can eat what they like, no washing up, no clearing up.

Or if you are feeling particually lazy and can’t be bothered to even go out to eat why not order a takeaway, many Chinese and Indian take-aways stay open on Christmas day, and more and more people are taking advantage of this.

3. Emergency Presents

Buy a couple of extra bottles of wine, with shiney bags and tags and keep them handy in case someone drops in with a present for you. If no unexpected guests call you still have two extra bottles of wine to drink.

4. Get out and about

Don’t stay stuck in doors for the whole of the holidays. There are usually lots of great things to do on Boxing and New Years day, and not just the sales. Look in your local press and, of course, check murder-party.co.uk to see when the next public murder mystery event is coming to your area. Better still book a private party for your friends, club or work to blow away the post-Christmas blues.

5. RELAX

Remember, even if this years Christmas is a total disaster you will have 12 months to make sure the next one is a success, enjoy it.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just a short blog to let you know that our Murder Mystery production at the Bluebell Railway on Thursday 9th December is now sold out.

HOWEVER we still have a few tables of two available on Wednesday 8th and tables of two and four available on Monday 13th December.

Yours in Murder, Mystery and Mayhem

Keith.

The production went really well and the audience were great. Although we didn’t get a maximum score of 38 one team scored 34 and we had one team that only scored 7!

Two more murder productions left this week, the good old Ferry House Inn and then a new venue for us, The Mid Hants Railway where we are performing at the station and aboard the train for a charity called ‘Helping Elsewhere.

For photos of the event and to read comments click here.

Speak again soon.

Keith

The Company Upfront, Murder Mysteries to Die For!!!

With only half an hour to set-up between 2.30 and 3pm the adrenaline should be flowing before we start the mingle to around 40 people at 3.05.

The clients were looking for a team building afternoon event following a morning of meetings and they could ask for nothing better than a Company Upfront Murder Mystery.

All the best and speak soon

Keith.