Before lockdown we liked going to murder mystery events. Since lockdown a number of companies have moved their shows online. Moonstone Murder Mysteries is one such company. They used to be an entertainment company specialising in dining experiences entertainment, but are currently providing weekly interactive murder mysteries on YouTube. They started series one of their murder mystery events in April and we discovered them towards the end of series one. Our first adventure was Fatality on the Ferry.

Fatality on the Ferry Plot

On a luxury three day cruise from Portsmouth to The Isle Of Wight, Mike Delfin had been murdered. Mike was the head reporter for the local newspaper. Luckily, Inspector Rutherford just happened to be travelling on the ferry and took charge of the investigation. He drafted in a guest detective and she asked the questions that we, the audience, were likely to ask. Anything that we wanted to know in addition, we put into the chat box and Inspector Rutherford asked it on our behalf. There were four potential suspects for this crime :

• Danielle Barnes, the acting general manager for the ferry company
• Captain Patito, the ferry captain
• Mary Barty, the head chef
• Derek Bran, a passenger who can communicate with the dead!

The interaction with the Inspector and the suspects was handled extremely well. Standout moments, that had little to do with the plot, were the hypnotic way the name “Derek Bran” kept being repeated and the assertion that “if I don’t remember it, it didn’t happen”. A sentiment I think we can all carry forward….

A fun evening that we thoroughly enjoyed…..And we correctly deduced the murderer!

A couple of weeks later series two began with……

Mr Wobbly’s Murdertime Spectacular

This time a well-loved children’s entertainer, Mr Wobbly, had been murdered. He may have been well loved by children but there were at least four possible suspects who could have killed him.

Luckily Inspector Rutherford was on the case, this time assisted by DI Squibb (a member of the audience). The four potential suspects were :

• Jack Redwood, another children’s entertainer
• Hannah Stone, another children’s entertainer
• Dean Benson, director of show
• Pheobe Foster, Mr Wobbly’s agent

As before, the interactions between the Inspector and the suspects was handled extremely well. Audience questions were picked up from the chat function by Inspector Rutherford and DI Squibb and put to the suspects. This mystery featured Mr Buttons, who did not feature in future episodes but appeared every week in the chat box comments along with mention of badgers.

Another fun evening and we again worked out whodunit.

Mr Wobbly’s Murdertime Spectacular! can be found at https://youtu.be/kD0cQY0_g0k

The following week we solved the Curse of the Pharaohs

Curse of the Pharaohs

Lord Lucas Haines had been financing an expedition to find Ancient Egyptian Artefacts when the leader of the expedition, Sir Wilfred Marker, was murdered. Could it have been his assistant, Amelia Carnarvon, who killed him? Or rival explorer, Harrison Drake? And what had curator, Mildred Berstead, to hide?

As usual, Inspector Rutherford was on the case. Unfortunately, the Inspector seemed to have problems with his microphone and was difficult to hear. This time he was assisted by DI Feig and, of course, the audience via the chat box.

Another fun evening that we thoroughly enjoyed…..and we correctly deduced the murderer!

Curse of the Pharaohs can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmTvgNxZ29s

The Tables have Turned

The Ninth online Moonstone Murders was called “The Tables have Turned” and it appeared that the tables had indeed turned…….

We were greeted by that great detective, Sherman Bones. Oh, this is different, we thought. What has happened to Inspector Rutherford? Are we were going to be led by a new detective this time?

Suddenly Inspector Rutherford appeared. (Hooray!)

He told us that Sherman Bones was a character in a mystery, and was played by Tim Buyer. He also informed us that the Moonstone Murders company of actors were due to perform a murder mystery tonight. However, when they arrived they discovered the owner of the company, Mrs Betty Blue, had been found murdered!

So Inspector Rutherford was going to carry out a “real” investigation with the actors. He was assisted, as ever, with a guest detective (DI Mortlock) and the audience.

The suspects were:

Tim Buyer/ Sherman Bones:
Evelyn Stents/ Ruby Lockhart:
Kate Stop/ Marilyn Lockhart:
Raymond Barnes/ Jeeves the Butler:

This time we could hear Inspector Rutherford fine, but the live show suffered a few technical difficulties. These have been ironed out for the version of the show that is available on YouTube. Not that it made any difference to the enjoyment of the show, nor to the clues being presented.

We, unfortunately missed vital information, and pointed the finger of suspicion at the wrong suspect! Luckily “Barry”, who insisted his name was Inspector Jonathon Rutherford, was able to deduce the correct murderer and point out what we had missed.

Another great evening.

The Tables have Turned can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKR0sgwh1qc

Bippity, Boppity, Buried!

For the latest online Moonstone Murders we were transported to a mystical kingdom. A  ball had just been held to find a suitable suitor for Princess Aquaria. Unfortunately, the princess had been murdered – poisoned by apple!

The suspects were:

• Princess Ember:
• Princess Crystal:
• Anathese (the witch):
• Billy the Bellhop:

Inspector Rutherford was on hand, suitably attired, and assisted this time by DI Wenden and Constable Catherine. Great performances from all the cast. Just like a pantomime and murder mystery combined.

A wonderfully fun evening…..and we worked out whodunit.

See Bippity, Boppity, Buried! at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4lTKLROrEw

Next time

Join City Adventurers as we try to solve the next mystery – Episode 11 is Dressed to Kill and will be shown on Thursday 25th June 2020.

The last murder in the series will be performed on Thursday 2nd July 2020.

Tickets are available on Design My Night

Or subscribe to the Moonstone Murders Youtube Channeland donate to the actors and their charities at https://streamlabs.com/MoonstoneMurderMysteries/tip

Join City Adventurers and solve the murder…..

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