What Happens At A Red Herring Mystery

Much of what happens at a Red Herring mystery depends on the show you choose, on the information you provide about your organization, in the event schedule, and on the layout of the location. Here, however, is a description of some things you might experience:

Shortly after you arrive, you notice there are unusual people mingling among the guests. One by one, these characters come up to you and introduce themselves, ask you about yourself, and make small talk concerning the era of the show (how rough it is punching cattle these days, or how the feds may be moving on prohibition soon, and so on). Getting into the spirit of the evening, you ask them some questions of your own. They engage you in a lively conversation that makes you feel as though you too were part of their imaginary landscape.

Dinner starts. The characters retire to a table over in the corner to eat, but soon they’re back again to make sure you’re having a good time. You ask more detailed questions, such as when the murder happened? They look puzzled: there hasn’t been a murder in a long time, but of course you never know in a place like this…

One character approaches you stealthily and asks for your help. If she should happen to fall later on, would you catch her? You worry what this might involve, but gamely agree.

Dessert is served. Suddenly, two characters begin arguing loudly in the center of the room. Everyone turns to watch as the argument reveals details about their relationship. The situation gets tense. A member of the audience on the other side of the room calls out a humorous suggestion. One of the characters turns to him and offers a humorous counter-suggestion. Then the two characters finish their disagreement. Still, unresolved issues hang in the air…

Two more characters begin a conversation. One of them mentions the name of the woman sitting across from you and says the whole situation is just like when she dances barefoot in her office. Everyone laughs, and you wonder how they knew about that.

Two other characters talk. The lady who came to you before actually does fall, and she lands right in your lap. The gentleman asks you to unhand his woman. She remarks what a comfortable lap you have.

As each dialogue progresses, you perceive a pattern of evil and intrigue. Surely this must end in somebody getting killed. Then there’s an explosion out in the hall. A character staggers in and, with his dying words, accuses… but too late: he’s dead.

A local policeman, who just happened to be attending the evening’s event, steps forward and announces a murder has taken place. He deputizes the audience to help him solve the crime. He decides to organize his new deputies into teams, and each table of 8 or 10 becomes one team. Of course, every team needs a leader, but how to pick one? He goes around the room, selecting captains. Thinking quickly, you decide to point him to the company vice president seated next to you. The policeman thanks you for your initiative and decisiveness, which of course are perfect characteristics for a team captain. You’re it.

The policeman says he needs to know who committed the murder, what the motive was, and all the clues that point to that murderer. In case of a tie, he says, the team with the largest number of correct clues will be the winner. He then gives the teams twenty minutes to interview the suspects, who by now are seated around the room.

You notice some teams are just sitting at their tables, wondering what to do. Other teams get up as a group and mob the nearest suspect. Your organizational skills begin to assert themselves, however, and you decide on a different plan. You assign each member of your team to go to a different suspect and find out as much about him or her as they can. You’re not just a delegator, however: you move around the room trying to get an overview of the questions and answers.

When the twenty minutes of interview are over, the suspects leave the room. The policeman gives you a solution form and asks to come up with a team answer. You begin to discuss what everyone found out. Each person thinks the murderer was the suspect he or she interviewed. You assert your captain’s authority and get them to discuss the pros and cons of each: who had stronger motives? Who had better opportunities? What specific clues did you find? One guy says he looked in a suspect’s violin case and found something strange in there. Aha! You decide this could be definitive and everyone agrees. That’s your murderer.

However, being a good organizer, you assign the person with the best handwriting to fill in the solution form. You insist that not only will you include the murderer’s name, main motive, and definitive clue, but also as many other facts pointing to that character as possible.

The policeman picks up all the solutions and leaves the room. In a few minutes he returns with the suspects, who line up along one side of the room. The policeman says he now knows who both the murderer and the winning team are. But before announcing them he first introduces each suspect and goes over his or her motives. He then asks if he or she committed the murder. She says no. Some teams argue that it must have been her. The policeman points out the error of their ways. Finally, the murderer is revealed: it’s the suspect you chose! But are you the winner?

The policeman holds up the winning solution. However, he says, there was also a loser. He reads the losing solution: whom they picked and the clues they entered – none of which support their conclusion. Thank goodness you didn’t do that. The policeman then reads some other really off the wall solutions and everyone gets a good laugh.

Then he announces the winner: it’s you. Your team won! And your prize is…