How to Host a Teen Mystery: Barbecue with the Vampire

by Decipher

Product Features

• CD with period music and details of the murder, a host guide with instructions
• 8 guest invitations and envelopes, layer name tags, individual player manuals
• Sheet of secret clues with summary of findings, iagram of the crime scene and optional menu and costume suggestions

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: 1878875922
• Item model number: 102369
• Manufacturer recommended age: 12 - 16 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,967 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Be there or be square, Stan A. Live

Product Description

You are invited to attend a barbecue at the very spooky castle of rock superstar Killian Killagan. It's been a long time since Killian has had a party. He's lonely, but busy recording his new album "Spawned in the USA." You'll also be celebrating the birthday of Nora Flexion - the homecoming queen of Jugular Springs High - with a special cake. Upon arriving, you discover someone is turning helpless citizens into bats. Assume the role of one of these eight eerie characters: JACQUELINE HYDE (Jackie is a health food freak and body builder by day... a party animal by night), JUAN STEPHAN LAGRAVE (Juan is the poorest kid in school. His father is an undertaker for the local Albanian Orthodox funeral home. Juan's father often promises his son the business but Juan is not thrilled about it), FREDA EVERTIN (Freda is afraid of the dark, scared of insects, terrified by animals... yet she lives in an old mansion which is said to be haunted. Her family owned the well-known amusement park Six Black Flags, but ever since it was washed away during Hurricane Vlad, they have been shrouded in mystery), DWAYNE DENARTERY (Dwayne is a slick, handsome and incredibly conceited young prince from a small Eastern European country. He expects people to treat him like royalty, and usually everyone does), ANITA LOTTA TAI-PEI (Anita is Dwayne's girlfriend and is so completely devoted to him that she waits on him like a servant. She used to be the school's best student. Popular, confident and outspoken, she is a natural leader), HOWIE BLEDSOE (Howie was the victim of a freak lawn mower accident during Hurricane Vlad. Surgeons were forced to transplant nearly every organ. Now, he stars in every sport... he creates amazing paintings... and he melts girls' hearts with the tongue of a poet), ROBIN O'POSITIVE (A child prodigy who completed college at age 12 and medical school at 15, now the state's youngest surgeon. Everyone loves Robin's sunny disposition), Killian Killagan (Reclusive and strange, this famous recording artist lives alone in a dark castle on top of Deadman's Bluff. Killian loves all things spooky: scary movies, horror books, etc. His parents were victims of a tragic Venus' flytrap encounter during Hurricane Vlad). Imagine your home as a spooky castle on a bluff as you and your friends enjoy hours of suspense and intrigue - but mainly humor - as you solve the crime over an authentic New England vampire's feast of barbecue chicken and roasted vegetables. Ages 12 to 17, eight players. So much fun, it's almost criminal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun for 9 - 10 year olds, too, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Although the age range starts at 12, my daughter's 10th birthday was a huge success with this game. It is very complex, but all eight of the kids really got into the finest details. None of them solved it before the solution was revealed, but had a great time playing the characters and anlyzing the information anyway. From start to finish, including playing through dinner, they needed 4 1/2 hours, and even then I was pushing them along a bit. Be sure to allow enough time for the guests to discuss the mystery as much as they'd like. The downside was that they got into it so much that two of the kids had nightmares about vampires afterward! We did the decorations along with the theme, and I (Mom) dressed as a vampire to add to the atmosphere. With take-out barbeque served, this was the EASIEST, most fun birthday party I have ever done - and my daughter says that it was her favorite party ever. She wants to do the other one, and it's so easy that we'll do it this spring without the excuse of a birthday. Perfect for kids who are into mysteries - this group also loves fantasy such as Harry Ptter.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Barbecue with the Vampire is a unique party experience., October 14, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

When I hosted Barbecue with the Vampire for my friends ages 15-17, I found that all of us were instantly plummeted into the plot of this unique game. The characters were complex and my guests portrayed their roles well, dressing in intriguing costumes that fit in perfectly with my basement that had been transformed into a vampire's lair. We had a lot of laughs and did a lot of thinking. My only complaint was that the solution was really complicated and no one solved the mystery correctly. This game is well thought out and challenges the players to be attentive to the smallest detail. I would recommend this game to anyone who likes pretending to be someone else, solving problems, and scary movies.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars voted the best birthday party game ever, October 30, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

An overwhelming success at my daughter's eleventh birthday party. The difficulty level was challenging but manageable for the 11-year-old guests. They all came imaginatively dressed for their pre-assigned roles, we had the room decorated like a spooky castle, daughter and I played our roles right from the beginning, and the weather cooperated by adding a clap of thunder as people arrived! Appropriate food was prepared by dad at the bbq. It took a lot of management by mom to keep everything on track but the kids had the best time ever, guests asked for information to order the other game in the series for their parties.