Who Dunnit?

My brother, David, and his wife, Kelli, sent us the best present for Christmas. It was a murder mystery game, which we'd never played before, so we were really excited to try it out. It called for 8 people, so we rounded up three other couples and dressed up for a session of "who dunnit" in a 1920s Chicago speak-easy.  We went all out and love it!

The cast of characters:

Cathi:  Malissa F. Orrthot ("Scoop") - As a young reporter for the city's leading paper, The Chicago Trumpet, Scoop quickly made a name for herself on the crime beat, later covering the political scene.  Her considerable beauty and lively charm have undoubtedly helped further her career, and she enjoys a broad circle of influential and powerful friends on both sides of the law.  She counts as a close friend and ally the editor-in-chief of the paper, Augustus Kohn - known affectionately to his staff as "Citizen Kohn."  Recently, though, Scoop has written a series of articles exposing corruption in government and, as a result, has antagonized several of the city's most powerful figures.  Undaunted by threats against the paper and herself, Scoop has vowed to carry on the crusade "until I've exposed every crook in Chicago."

Bryce:  Ernie ("Bet A Million") G. Ambler - Chicago's most colorful millionaire gambler, Ernie parlayed a small stake into a stock exchange fortune early in the decade.  He still actively plays the stock market, but his favorite game is poker and he can often be found at a table in the notorious back room of Chicago's Green Tables, where they play the "richest game in town."  Ernie is flamboyant, outspoken, always ostentatiously dressed, and never without his diamond stickpin and Havana Cigar.  It's said that he will bet on almost anything.

Lori:  Molly M. Awbsterr - A society dame from New York, where the Awbsterrs are a prominent and respected family.  Molly came to Chicago for the action and because, in her own words, "Chicago is a fun town."  Molly is a flapper from the top of the feather in her hat to the tip of her satin shoes and she maintains an apartment on the top floor of Chicago's most exclusive apartment-hotel.  She is a consummate shopper, driving herself about town in an elegant Packard DeLuxe Eight Sport Phaeton automobile.  Friends and acquaintances call her "The Moll".

Nate:  S. Treighton Harrow - US District Attorney and chief opponent to the criminal element in Chicago, Harrow is single-handedly responsible for bringing to justice several of crime's most despicable practitioners.  Foremost among those convicted through Harrow's efforts are mob hit man Charlie "Golf Ball" Marconi (who carried a machine gun in his golf bag) and Maximillian Buccher, alias Max the Butcher, alias Max the Knife.  Amidst the corruption and complacency that characterize Chicago law enforcement, Harrow stands out as a shining example.  Harrow carries on a tradition set by his renowned trial attorney father, Clarence D. Harrow.  Nobody knows his first name.

Jade:  "Silky" M. Adam - Silky is a slinky and shady lady who owns and operates The Everly Club, Chicago's most prominent private establishment situated in the exclusive Luxington Gardens district.  Silky's father, "Champagne" Charlie McCorker, founded the club years ago, and his daughter, christened Penelope McCorker - known to friends as "Poppy" - took over management at about the time she married prominent Chicago businessman U. Penn Adam.  After her husband's unexpected death, the young and beautiful owner became known as "Silky" for the elegant silk gowns she was accustomed to wearing in the evenings.  Silky counts among the club's members the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Chicago, who, despite their busy schedules, often stop in at the club for an hour or two simply to pass the time in the club's elegant and relaxing atmosphere.

Dan:  Billy ("The Kid") Thrower - Star pitcher for the Chicago Stock Kings major league baseball team, Billy was born to play baseball.  His grandfather was Bulford "Bull" Thrower, famed for his dreaded "mud-ball."  Termed "almost impossible to hit," the pitch suffered the disadvantage of requiring a muddy field or, in the alternative, a well-endowed cow pasture.  Grandson Billy has carried on Bull's tradition and in his first major league game struck out 11 batters.  He currently holds the league strikeout record.  Off the field, Billy is a fun-loving, hard-drinking, warm-hearted, lustful, brawling and rebel-rousing as a baseball player can be.  He won 22 games for the team last season and is on a faster pace this year.

Brandon:  Eddie ("Socks") R. Gyle - Smooth, fashionable and clever, Eddie is an avid golfer and spends most afternoons on the links at the exclusive Lake View Country Club dressed elegantly in plus fours and argyle socks.  In the evenings he can be found at his exclusive gaming house in downtown Chicago, known simply as Green Tables, where the affluent, the trendy and the compulsive citizens of Chicago come to gamble.  Those close to Eddie also know him as a deal maker and in certain circles as "Fast Deal Eddie," although what he deals in and with whom is never mentioned.

Me: Currently the featured singer at Eddie Gyle's Green Tables, Torchy has also appeared in many of the exclusive night clubs of Chicago and has sung with many of the town's top jazz bands.  While she brings music an exuberance of style enjoyed by fans of the modern sound, it is her rendition of the more traditional blues melodies and so-called "torch songs" that have earned her the nickname "Torchy."  Her smoldering beauty and sultry voice contribute to Torchy's appeal, as does an extensive repertoire that includes the latest in Chicago jazz, as well as more traditional blues numbers.

The group was certainly lively, but gracious in their tolerance of my inexperience in hosting a murder mystery. We had a lot of fun with our characters and had a lot of laughs over all the accusations! Needless to say, we are all hooked on these murder mystery games and can't wait to do it again.

Oh, you're probably wondering who the murderer was. It was Jade, aka Silky!!!

You didn't think it was little ol' me, did you? ;)
And, finally, here is a pic of all us girls all dolled up: