With the latest explosion in crime drama shows, the popularity of the 'whodunit' is steadily increasing. From the several dozen variations of Law & Order to the silly one liners of CSI, people want to get their Clue on; those poorly made TV show-based computer games just don't cut it. A murder mystery themed party is a great way to get your guests to exercise their brains and mingle with everyone at the party. Most parties of this type use a kit, which includes a story about a murder that occurs at some point during the party. If you feel so inclined, you can write the story yourself, but, since not everyone is a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a kit can help you in this regard. These kits include costume instructions, clues, story and character backgrounds. The more outrageous your guests' costumes are, the more fun your party will be. Make sure your guests RSVP to show up, because it wouldn't do if the murderer or gumshoe didn't attend. The promise of some awesome prizes (generally some kind of alcohol does the trick, or something cheesy like an oversized magnifying glass) and an entertaining evening is often enough to ensure attendance. Food selection depends on the setting of the murder mystery. If your story is set in a Parisian hotel, serve some veal, /pâtés /and wine. Alternatively, you can serve foods with puns in their titles: Blood Soup, Mystery Meat, Passionate Pasta, Sordid Sorbe, Death by Chocolate cake, etc. Having a pot luck is another idea, which may help stir the proverbial creative juices in your guests and lessen your workload as host. Decor should fit the story similarly, but it isn't absolutely necessary to having a good time. It does enhance the mood, however. The more familiar your guests are with each other, the more comfortable they will be able in acting out their parts. The fun in this kind of party is all about weaving the story, so even the shyest amongst your close friends should be willing to help with the show. Drinks beforehand can help; they don't call it liquid courage for nothing. Don't indulge in too much alcohol though, because you still want the game to come a proper conclusion. Putting on a party like this needn't be expensive. Food can be fast to prepare, costumes can be made from everyday items and decor may require just a bit of creativity. A murder mystery party is something different for you and your friends to experience, and a little bit of creative competition will make your party a marvelous time for all. It's elementary!