Mystery Loves Company
Round up the usual suspects.
Someone's leaked a police case file, and every one of you is in it. Dig through the evidence, clear your name and work out which of your mates did it.
Test case: £10 (see the FAQ for the catch)
- PlaytimeEstimated 30-45 minutes
- Evidence15 printable pieces: police reports, receipts, CCTV logs and more
- Players4 players, ages 18+
- Best forFriends, double dates and co-workers who don't fear HR
So what is this?
It's a murder mystery where the suspects are your friends. You tell us a few harmless things about your group: what they wear, where they go, what they buy, what they always say. We build those details into the evidence, then you investigate the murder yourselves.
- You tell us about your group
- We put those details into the case
- You start recognising things
- You think you know who did it
- You have to prove it
Spotting your mate's coat makes them a suspect. You'll need evidence to make it stick.
Spotting your mates is half the fun
You'll see a receipt and know instantly whose it is. You'll clock a coat in a photo, the pub someone always ends up in, a message that sounds exactly like them.
Recognising it is the easy bit. Proving it is the game.
A receipt might look like Laura's. Great. Now find the evidence that shows it really is.
Every clue earns its place, and every case can be solved from the evidence alone. Your group's details are knowing winks for the people who lived them, and a plus-one can still crack the case.
How it works
- 01
Tell us about your group
Four players, a few harmless details each. It takes about 10 minutes.
- 02
We build your case
Your details are written into our murder mystery and its evidence. A real person checks every case before it lands in your inbox, within 2-3 days.
- 03
Everyone's a suspect
Nobody gets to sit safely on the sidelines, and nobody knows who did it. Not even the killer.
- 04
Print and investigate
Your case arrives as a PDF to print. Follow the timestamps, locations, messages, receipts and CCTV.
- 05
Clear your name
Build your alibi, and find the evidence that puts everyone else where they say they were.
- 06
Find the killer
One of you won't be able to explain the evidence. Head to Hints & Answers and name them. You get two accusations.
What happens next
Gather your suspects, spread the evidence across the table and pick your approach.
Work together. Share what you find, build everyone's alibis and crack it as a group. One of you won't be able to prove their innocence, and unfortunately for them, crime doesn't pay.
Forget your mates and clear your own name first. Keep your discoveries to yourself, poke holes in everyone else's alibis and generally make their evening harder. Just remember that evidence always tells the truth. If it was you, you can only hide it for so long.
Warning: Remember when Miguel borrowed your jacket and never gave it back? Expect that level of denial. Be thorough, be ruthless, and ignore the pleading. The evidence will tell you who did it.
MEMO · RE: YOUR LAST MURDER MYSTERY
You've played a murder mystery before. Probably.
You've cracked every high quality unsolved murder mystery case file going. Now it's personal.
When the witness says the suspect was wearing a red jacket, you'll know it's the one Brandon wore last Saturday. Anyone can solve it, but only your group will recognise it.
Brandon has some explaining to do
What's in the case file?
QUIKMART · 3 MILL LANE
14/02 23:02TILL 1
SOUR SWEETS1.25
OAT MILK1.80
TOTAL3.05
CONTACTLESS ****0921
CAM 4 · CAR PARK · 14/02 22:58:31
FIGURE WITH RED BUM BAG. FACE NOT VISIBLE.
The Anchor → Quikmart: 9 min walk
| Time | Type | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 22:31 | SMS IN | 07700 900264 |
| 22:47 | CALL OUT | 07700 900583 |
| 22:49 | CALL IN | 07700 900583 |
| 23:05 | SMS OUT | 07700 900264 |
why did Nikki ring twice?
Police Reports & Records
The official incident report, suspect interview notes and phone records. Every detail matters, and some of them will lead you astray.
Witness Statements & Alibis
What the bar staff saw, what each suspect told the police, and where everyone says they were. Someone in this file is lying to you.
Receipts, Posts & Scribbled Notes
Till receipts, social media posts, a CCTV log, a town map, a train timetable and a handwritten note. 15 pieces of evidence to cross-examine.
The Solution
Submit your accusation online and get the full story. Did you catch the killer, or did they walk?
The evidence on this page is made up, so there are no spoilers.
“Couldn't I just make one myself?”
Sure, you could. I tried, actually.
Turns out it's much harder than it looks. Twenty-five hours over six weekends into my first attempt, I still hadn't written a single original clue.
So I built a case generation engine to do the hard part for you. All you need to do is pour the drinks.
You're welcome.
Georgia
What stays off the record
The murder is made up. We use harmless, recognisable details, like clothes, hobbies, favourite places, purchases, nicknames and habits, to make the case feel like it belongs to your group.
Health issues, money troubles and messy break-ups stay off the record. Our build page spots sensitive details and asks you to take them out, and a real person checks every case before it's sent.
The killer is picked at random, so nothing you tell us decides who did it. Relationships are locked too: your brother stays your brother, and there's no surprise romance with your best mate. The only thing that should raise eyebrows is an alibi.
Questions you're probably about to ask
Is this just AI writing a murder mystery?
Our stories, case logic and evidence templates are written by real people. Our software drops your group's details into the evidence, then an automated checker tests the timeline and makes sure the case can be solved. A real person checks the whole case before it's sent. That's why it takes a couple of days.
Does the killer know they did it?
Nope. The killer is picked at random when your case is built. Nobody in your group knows until the evidence gives them away.
Do I have to act or lie?
No. Everyone investigates the same evidence. The innocent suspects will find their alibis, and the guilty one will run out of excuses.
Can someone who doesn't know the group still solve it?
Yes. Every clue earns its place, and plus-ones can crack the case on the evidence alone.
Does what I tell you decide who the killer is?
No. The killer is picked at random. Your details shape what the evidence looks like, and a funny or suspicious-sounding detail gets no say in who did it.
What if someone in my group is sensitive about something?
Leave it out. We don't need anyone's private life to make a good mystery. Our build page flags sensitive details, relationships stay exactly as you tell us, and a real person checks every case.
How many people can play?
Four for this first case. More group sizes are coming.
How long does it take to play?
We're aiming for 30-45 minutes and testing it this week.
How long until my case arrives?
2-3 days. Check your junk folder too.
What if we get stuck?
Email hello@playusualsuspects.uk with your case file number and the word HINT, and we'll send you a nudge. Built-in hints are coming soon.
How much does it cost?
£10. This is a test price, and it comes with strings attached (sorry!). For now we're only sending cases to people who are happy to tell us how it went, so we can improve our case logic and engine for future cases. Once your case has passed our check, we'll email you bank transfer details, and your case file lands in your inbox as soon as payment arrives.
How do I play?
Print the PDF, spread it out and start reading. When you think you know who did it, head to Hints & Answers and enter your case file number and their first name.
Right. Enough reading.
Somebody in your group has some explaining to do.
Build my caseTell us about your group and we'll handle the rest.