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1920s Speakeasy Murder Mystery · 10-20 players

A printable 1920s speakeasy murder mystery party game for 10 to 20 players, with video-guided rounds that keep a big group on track all night.

Knock twice. Give the password. Step through the hidden door... and find out who wanted the owner gone before the last song ended.

Twenty suspects. One secret jazz club behind a barbershop. A dimmed final song. A body in the back office.

A party they'll never forget, perfect for 1920s parties, speakeasy nights, Roaring Twenties birthdays, jazz age dinner parties and game nights.

Smaller group? The 6-10 player version of this same mystery is also in the shop.

THE STORY

Chicago, 1926. Behind Nella Rose's barbershop sits the Blue Lantern, a private club for musicians, shopkeepers and night workers. At 11:32 the band starts the final song and the lamps go low. At 11:40 the song ends and the lights come up. Two minutes later, club owner Silas Vane is found in the back office. Someone in that room was keeping a crooked book.

THE HOST CAN PLAY TOO

You don't need to know the killer. The solution stays sealed until every vote is in, so the host plays along with everyone else.

VIDEO-GUIDED PLAY: SCAN THE QR. WATCH HOW TO PLAY. NO RULEBOOK.

Scan the QR code in your kit to open a private video page made only for this game. A short "How to Play" video explains the night. Then the narrator runs the party: press play for the welcome, the body discovery, each of the three rounds, the vote and the killer's confession.

Playing on a computer or TV instead? Every QR code has a short web address printed beside it. Type it into any browser and the same videos open.

• DETAILS
• Format: printable PDF plus phone invites (instant download)
• Players: 10 to 20 (6 core roles, 4 secondary roles, 10 tertiary roles)
• Theme: a 1926 Chicago speakeasy hidden behind a barbershop
• Any role can be played by anyone; several roles use they/them
• Host flexibility: the host can play, no need to know the answer
• Time: about 2 to 3 hours
• Rating: teens 13+ and adults. Spooky, not gory. No real-world methods.
• Paper: US Letter (choose "fit to page" for A4)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1. Host guide: 4-step setup, night-of timeline, checklist, clue checklist

2. QR code to the video page: How to Play plus 7 narrated round videos

3. Phone invites: one per guest, ready to text

4. Printable invitations

5. Full character packets with portraits: who I am, my plan, what I'm hiding, personality, outfit idea, fun fact and quote

6. A one-page lite sheet for every character

7. Mixed-format clues across three rounds: set lists, lamp cues, ledgers, key registers, bar slips and more

8. Newspaper, floor plan, room signs and props

9. After-Murder Detective sheet, so the victim keeps playing

10. Voting ballots, the sealed solution and the killer's confession

11. Name tags and awards

THE CHARACTERS

Primary (the 6 core roles): Silas Vane (club owner), Ada Mercer (jazz singer), Jules Vale (pianist), Nella Rose (barber and hidden-door keeper), Ruth Ellery (closing-book clerk), Gideon Pike (bartender)

Secondary (add for 7 to 10 players): Eddie Vale (doorman), Kit Bell (telegram courier), Pearl Saint (bar assistant), Lottie Finch (costume stitcher)

Tertiary (add for 11 to 20 players): Milo Wynn, Cora Dane, Felix Ward, Thomas Pell, Ollie Moss, Henry Greer, Nora Hart, Bea Morgan, Esther Clay, Mabel Reed

HOW IT WORKS IN 4 STEPS

1. Pick the number of guests and assign roles, primary roles first.

2. Text each guest their phone invite.

3. Print the packets, clues and props. Seal the solution.

4. On the night, scan the QR and let the videos run the party.

FAQ

Can I use it more than once? Yes, for your own personal parties.

Do guests need to prepare? Just read their character sheet and dress the part if they like.

Is anything shipped? No. This is a digital download. Nothing physical is mailed.

Original story and artwork. For personal use only.

HOSTED VIDEO ACCESS

Internet access and a browser-capable phone, computer or TV are needed to stream the hosted videos.

Created with AI assistance under the shop owner’s creative direction.