Murder by Design has been actively involved in the business of Murder for over 30 years. The team were only the second in the country to present a murder mystery and have gained a reputation for their amusing and original storylines. Murder by Design’s ‘Whodunnit’ has been performed from the stylish 30’s to the Hi-Tech near future. Guests are invited to dress up and join in the light-hearted and wickedly humorous activities. We can even provide a full costume hire service delivered to the venue.

Interactive Murder Mystery

Two actors (1 Policeman and 1 other character) will arrive and meet your guests at a pre-dinner drinks reception where six ‘suspects’ will be identified from your guests. The actors then retire whilst your guests proceed into dinner. At coffee, the actors return and the Policeman briefs the ‘suspects’. The scene is set and the game begins. The teams move amongst the suspects and begin their interrogations.

Classic Murder Mystery

The Classic provides your guests with the quintessential ‘Whodunnit’ murder mystery. The evening begins with pre-dinner drinks where the guests have their first chance to meet the 6 or 7 larger than life characters. From social drinks straight into social dining. The characters sit at the tables with your guests and fully interact throughout dinner. Suddenly and without any notice that jovial chap you have been joking with or perhaps the dotty maid who has been making such a mess of the serving, will suddenly crash to the floor gasping for breath! Clues will be picked up along the way and hopefully that bumbling Policeman may actually be able to shed some light on the case. Just as the dead bodies begin to mount up the Policeman calls for help from the teams to put their thoughts down on paper. The evening ends with a stunning denouement during which the Murderer is discovered!

Our Storylines

At Murder by Design we constantly strive to create new and inventive plots and scenarios that will capture the imagination of our clients.  Below is our current portfolio of stock scenarios and the formats that they are available in.

Of course, should you have any specific requests for a plotline that you have always wanted to see, then we are happy to write a bespoke storyline just for you at a standard charge of £150.00 plus vat. The only thing we will need will be two weeks notice and some background information from you, then leave the rest to us!

Murder On Safari

1940. Wartime England.  This is the ‘Last Night in England’ party for the African Safari Group who are to leave these shores to recover as many of the artifacts from Africa as they can before Rommel arrives and plunders the lot.  However, it transpires that a German infiltrator may already be amongst the party!

Jesty’s Jewels

The Roarin’ 20’s.  The sudden death of a fabulously wealthy entrepreneur and Philanthropist Mr Hezekiah Jesty seems to be attributable to the old man drinking a little too much Port and then stumbling into the fireplace.  It is only when the Police receive a letter from Mr Jesty stating that if he dies suddenly, the Police should look to an enclosed list of people for his killer that they decide to take a closer look.

Available  formats: Interactive / Classic

The Oscars

It’s 1937 and this years Oscar ceremony looks as star studded as ever.  All of the celebrities will be in attendance.  Both Centurion and Dream Pictures are expected to bring their entourages to see who will scoop the awards.  But all is not well. Somebody will use tonight as a ‘golden’ opportunity to get even once and for all!

Mucklington Murders

The sleepy village of West Mucklington Parva has been in turmoil ever since the death of the Widow Rose Stimper.  She left strict instructions in her Will that the village should decide what to do with her money.  Tonight at Mucklington Manor, the villagers will make their proposals.  Who will get your vote?  Will it be the Village Squire or perhaps the dotty maid?  Not all of the candidates will still be standing by the end of the evening!

The Final Full Stop

The Tenth anniversary of the very successful Packard Publishing has brought together a number of the days most accomplished writers.  Even though they have all had flourishing careers with Packard they have never actually met the man himself.  Today will be a revelation for them all.  Today will be the final chapter for some, but who is doing the killing?

The Mallard Maladies

Right up to date with this one: Mallard Software Dynamics are about to launch another market leading product.  A number of would be clients and members of the press are in attendance to hear the words from the great man himself Kelvin McSteen, the Chairman of Mallard.

However, there is a dark undercurrent flowing through today’s proceedings. All is not well in the cut-throat world of big business and there is a surprise just around the corner for the entire planet!

Available Formats: Interactive/Classic

For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls

The stylish 30’s are the period for this portrayal of the ‘Society Wedding of the Year’.  The guests have all been invited and the occasion promises to be very grand indeed.

Of course, sometimes even with the best laid plans things can go drastically wrong!

At this wedding it’s going to be a little more than the cake that gets damaged.

The Mopton Murders

From the outside, Mopton Brayside appears an imposing sort of school that you may have some reservations about going to.  After you have met the teachers and the Head Boy it is the sort of place you would only go to if nowhere else would take you!

Things are not going well at the1937 Grand Annual Dinner.  This really is a school for scandal!

Available Formats: Classic

The Spy Who Bought It

There has been a very nasty murder in central London. The local Police have very few clues to go on in this 1960’s spy MI5 ‘whodunnit?’  It is time to bring together all of the suspects to see what they really know.

Available Formats: Interactive

Murder before the Mast

The Year is 1934 .  The Chairman and Board of The Black Funnel Fleet are celebrating the 90th birthday of their most famous acquisition, The S.S Great Britain and have thrown a party on board which will be attended by the most influential business people in the City..

The Captain of the ship John Nelson is already down in the bar and it looks like he may well become a handful as the evening goes on.

The Family Fortescue-Smythe are very well represented with the Chairman's Niece joining the party with her Fiancé Maurice Leyton.  The Chairman's second wife Sara and his sister Dame Celia complete the party.

Everyone is expecting a wonderful evening, but none are aware that on this very day certain people have a great surprise coming to them.  Who will this be and why will unfold before the evening is out.