Game difficulty
Beginner-Intermediate
Costume suggestions
Comfy pants so you can eat as much as possible! Or wear turkey hats for a fun Thanksgiving twist.
Time to play
1.5-2.5 hours
Game play
Detective style freeform game where the host can play along
Plot
Thanksgiving Family Dinner Murder Mystery Introduction To The Theme
Thanksgiving is a holiday when families and friends come together for a big meal and oftentimes big drama. Family reunions can get complicated, and the Howard family was no stranger to crazy…
When a group of family and friends got together for a Thanksgiving meal, they were excited to spend time with good company and good food. Their tradition was to cook together, go around the table and everyone say one thing that they are thankful for, then eat the delicious meal. The night would end with games and, of course, pie.
For one unlucky guest… the night ended with death. Priscilla Howard was killed right after the first game was played in the living room. She ate a slice of pie and died only a few moments later at 9:15pm. It seemed like she had choked to death, but more nefarious reasons for her death quickly emerged. The police were called, and the autopsy reported that she had been poisoned with a lethal dose of cleaning solution. The suspects were limited to the ten guests in attendance at the Thanksgiving family reunion. Found near the body was a key to an unknown lock, a turkey figurine, and an invitation to a hotel dinner party that happened a few weeks before Thanksgiving.
It is now up to you to question the other suspects and prove your own innocence… if you even are innocent. Remember, no one knows who did it, not even the killer themself. Good luck!
Sample Characters (Actual Characters Will Vary Based on Number/Gender of Players)
Avery is a professional chef, and she always hosts Thanksgiving dinner at her house. It is a big undertaking, but Avery loves to plan and make arrangements so she doesn't mind it. Avery can be a bit controlling at times, but she always makes the evening perfect so no one complains. She is very kind and loving, and there is always a seat open at her table for those with no place to go.
Justin is a professional tennis player. He gets to travel the world and play tennis, and he absolutely loves it. He is extremely busy so he does not get to see his family as often as he would like, but that makes it so much better when he does. Justin is a terrible cook so he usually sticks to helping clean and entertaining everyone at dinner. He is very competitive and loves to set up games for after the meal.
Olivia owns a pet shop in town, and she is extremely friendly. She loves animals and has made it a point to save as many as possible from shelters and give them a better life. She is Avery’s neighbor and the two have been close for quite some time. Olivia is a very funny person and everyone who knows her thinks of her very highly. She is a great baker and always brings a pie or two to the Thanksgiving festivities.
Milo is a construction worker, and he has built many houses in his life. He loves the feeling of making something out of nothing, and it is very rewarding to him. Milo is a very hard worker so any chance that he has to relax, he will take. He is very close with his family and tries to spend time with them whenever he can. He is a very happy guy whose smile is infectious to those around him.
Isabelle is a teacher. She married into the family and now spends every Thanksgiving with them. Isabelle is great with kids and she is always the first to come up with fun activities to keep the group busy. She is a very kind person, and she does a lot of community service around town. She loves reading in her free time, and lately she has been working on writing a book when she is not teaching.
Peter is a retired teacher. He taught for many years and truly loved what he did, but now he enjoys traveling and seeing the world. He loves his family and often sets up reunions when they can all get together. Thanksgiving is one of Peter’s favorite times of the year because it is when he gets to be with his whole family and see how everyone is doing. He takes a lot of pride in his family and he is a really thoughtful person.
What's in the Digital/Printable Thanksgiving Family Gathering Murder Mystery Kit
Everything you need to host an unforgettable murder mystery party
Host Guide
Complete instructions for hosting the perfect thanksgiving mystery
Introduction
Set the scene with our engaging story introduction
Character Packets
Detailed character backgrounds and secrets for each guest
Name Tags
Printable name tags for all characters
Voting Forms
Let guests cast their votes for the culprit
Confession
The dramatic reveal of the murderer's confession
Autopsy Report
Forensic details to help solve the mystery
Extras
Bonus materials including invitations and decorations
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