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1920s murder mystery party
Murder at the Gilded Lily A 1920s speakeasy murder mystery party for 6 to 10 players
Murder at the Gilded Lily is a printable 1920s murder mystery party for 6 to 10 players that takes 2.5 to 3 hours. It includes the full game plus invitations, a themed menu, a host timeline and decor.
Vol. XLII · No. 312Extra! Late City Edition
The Chicago Evening Star
Speakeasy Owner Shot on Jubilee Night
Federal agents watch the door as Gilded Lily guests are held till dawn
RUSH STREET — Chicago, 1927. Behind the cold-room door of a Rush Street flower shop, past a doorman who wants the password, is the most glamorous speakeasy on the Near North Side: the Gilded Lily. Tonight is its fifth birthday, the Jubilee, and owner Victor Sterling has promised an announcement at midnight that changes everything.
He never makes it. Victor is found shot in his office, and with federal Prohibition agents parked outside watching the door, nobody can leave until dawn. Gin in teacups, a jazz band, and a room full of people with secrets. One of them is a killer.
$24
Instant printable download
- Players6 to 10 players
- Running time2.5 to 3 hours
- Best forAdults
- SettingChicago, 1927, a speakeasy behind a flower shop
How the evening unfolds
Round one: Motives
Guests mingle in character and find out who Victor cheated, owed or threatened on his way to the top.
Round two: Alibis and the clock
Where was everyone as midnight approached? Timelines are compared, and some stories stop adding up.
Round three: The evidence
Clue cards bring out the physical evidence over pineapple upside-down cake, and the theories get serious.
The reveal
Everyone names a suspect before the host reads the solution over a final toast.
On the menu
Recipes, drink pairings and a shopping list are included, timed so the food arrives between rounds.
- Bee’s Knees gin cocktails served in teacups, plus the Teetotaler, an alcohol-free honey, lemon and ginger fizz
- Deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail to start
- Chicken à la King in puff pastry shells with a Waldorf salad, and mushroom à la King as the vegetarian main
- Pineapple upside-down cake during the evidence round, and a champagne or sparkling cider toast for the reveal
Meet the suspects
6 core characters, plus 4 optional roles for bigger groups. Every guest gets their own character booklet.
The Club Owner’s Wife
Clara Sterling
Victor’s elegant society wife, who has stopped pretending she doesn’t know where the money comes from.
The Bandleader
Leo Fontaine
The Lily’s bandleader and piano man, who writes the songs and never gets the credit.
The Headliner
Ruby Delacourt
The Lily’s star singer, the finest voice in Chicago, and everybody’s idea of Victor’s girl.
The Police Lieutenant
Lt. Frank Malone
A Chicago police lieutenant who drinks at the Lily for free and has never once noticed that it serves alcohol.
The Gossip Columnist
Dot Hennessy
The Chicago Tribune’s sharpest gossip columnist, who knows everybody’s secrets and sells a few of them.
The Doorman
Gus Brennan
Victor’s doorman and bodyguard, a big, quiet man who decides who gets in and who goes upstairs.
The Cigarette Girl · optional
Bunny Lamarr
The Lily’s cigarette girl and part-time chorus dancer, who shares a dressing room with the star.
The Bartender · optional
Archie Finch
The Lily’s bartender, who mixes the drinks, answers the telephone and hears everything said across his bar.
The Exiled Countess · optional
Countess Natalia Orlova
A Russian countess who fled the Revolution with nothing but her jewels. Or so she says.
The Temperance Crusader · optional
Mrs. Agnes Pruitt
President of the Women’s Temperance League of Cook County, who is here to gather evidence. Allegedly.
Everything in the box (well, the download)
The game
Host guide, character booklets, clue cards, solution script and name tags.
Invitations
Printable invitations plus a text-message version to send in seconds.
The evening timeline
A minute-by-minute run sheet, so you always know what comes next.
Themed menu
Recipes, drink pairings and a shopping list that match the story.
Costume ideas
Dress-up suggestions for every character, from easy to all-out.
Decor and music
Printable place cards, menus and signs, plus a playlist to set the mood.
What you get that most kits don't
- A whole dinner, not just a game. A full menu with recipes, drink pairings and a shopping list, timed so each course lands between rounds.
- Decor and printables. Place cards, signs and name tags in the party's style, ready to print.
- One price for every guest. $24 covers all 6 to 10 players. You never pay more for a bigger group.
- A straight whodunit. A real mystery with clues that point to one killer, played straight rather than as a pun-filled comedy.
Host questions
How many players is Murder at the Gilded Lily for?
It plays with 6 to 10 guests. Six core characters cover the whole solution, and four optional characters let you add guests without changing it.
What should guests wear to a 1920s murder mystery party?
Every character comes with easy costume ideas: drop-waist or flapper dresses, pearls and feathered headbands, or suits with suspenders, bow ties, fedoras and flat caps. Nobody needs to buy anything special.
Is it a Great Gatsby murder mystery party?
It has the same Roaring Twenties glamour, but the story is set in a Chicago speakeasy during Prohibition rather than on Long Island. Gatsby-style outfits and decor fit perfectly.
Is the menu included?
Yes. Seven 1920s recipes are included, from deviled eggs to pineapple upside-down cake, with an alcohol-free cocktail, a vegetarian main and an allergy note. Almost everything can be made ahead.
When will I get my files?
Straight after checkout. You get an instant download link by email, and you can print everything at home on US Letter or A4 paper.
Ready to host Murder at the Gilded Lily?
6 to 10 players, 2.5 to 3 hours, and every detail planned for you.
Buy now · $24New to hosting? Read how to host a murder mystery party for a step-by-step plan.
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