Amazon Minimum Age: 18
Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Toy
Brand: University Games
EAN: 0023332200115
Feature: Party Planner with recipes and menu by Sandra Gluck
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: University Games
Manufacturer: University Games
Manufacturer Maximum Age: 99
Manufacturer Minimum Age: 18
Model: 33202
MPN: 33202
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: University Games
Release Date: 2002-03-01
Studio: University Games

• Party Planner with recipes and menu by Sandra Gluck
• Character Booklet for all suspects including roles and background information
• Compact Disc included with introduction and solution to the crime
• Socially engaging and fun

• Smart Ass
• Murder Mystery Party - Pasta, Passion & Pistols

Host a deadly delicious evening for fellow wine lovers! Invite 6 to 8 friends to help solve the murder of Barry Underwood, a local vineyard owner. Suspects include Ralph Rottingrape, Marilyn Merlot . . . and you! You get: party planner with recipes, a menu, and music and decorating tips; 8 character booklets; 8 party invitations, envelopes, and place cards; 6 secret clues; and CD with intro, summary of events, and solution to crime. Size: 11"H x 9"W x 3"D
Put on your own mystery dinner theater: murder's on the menu, and everyone's a suspect in this grownup game for six to eight players. The game includes everything you need to serve up mystery, murder, and fun: a shopping list, menus, and recipes by cookbook author Sandra Gluck; eight party invitations and envelopes; place cards; secret clues; and, best of all, a murder mystery to solve. Just invite your friends to dress up and play the roles of the devious suspects (each with his or her own character booklet with roles and background info): Otto Von Schnapps, Tiny Bubbles, Papa Vito, Marilyn Merlot, Ralph Rottingrape, Hedy Shablee, Bonny Lass, and Bud Wizer. Serve up a meal or light snack, play the (included) cassette tape with its introduction, summary of events, and solution to the crime. Find out who killed California vineyard owner Barry Underwood, and why. --Rebecca Hughes

Customer Rating:
Summary: Lots of fun
Comment: Our group had a good time solving this mystery; I was surprised that there are only 6 core characters (with 2 extras) as opposed to many other brands we have played where there are 8 main characters.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: LAUGHS GALORE!
Comment: My friends and I had WAY too much fun with this game! I read the brief character descriptions and the friend who came to my mind first was the one I assigned to play that particular role. It couldn't have turned out any better - they all got totally into their characters and went all out with their costumes, too. It was all women in this group, so some were playing male roles and the "cross-dressing" was hilarious in itself! I know we will all cherish the memories from that night for a LONG time!

NOTE: The only thing you need to do is make sure no one goes home with their script or clues! I wanted to pass the game along to some out-of-state family members so they can play it with their friends (if you do the same, be sure to copy the invitation information first so others can re-create it), but one my guests left with a script booklet and now she can't find it!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Our 5th Murder Mystery
Comment: Wine and Murder was our 5th Mystery. It was the first one that I did not host even though I purchased it. We ended up playing the whole game through at once instead of eating courses between rounds. I recommend eating between rounds. It gives your guests time to absorb what they have learned and more time to conversate with other guests while in their roles.

This mystery was fairly easy to dress for, which is always a bonus. Anytime you can pull old clothes out of your closet, it is an advantage. We didn't have music in the background, which I usually do, and I recommend because it adds to the environment. Also, some small decorations help. I was actually kind of bored with this mystery compared to others, but that may just have been the atmosphere.

This was the first mystery where I actually solved the murder, so it might be a good one for beginners. We had played Murder on the Grill, Death in St. James Park, Icicle Twist, and Pasta, Passion & Pistols and I could not guess the murderer in any of those. Consequently, I have also never played the part of a murderer. Fortunately, for every mystery, a different guest has ended up a murderer.

So, purchase this game if your friends are outgoing and they enjoy acting. And do yourself a favor and go the extra mile for decorations and food.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Cool Wine Parties
Comment: I hosted a deadly delicious evening for fellow wine lovers! I Invited 6 to 8 friends to help solve the murder of Barry Underwood, a local vineyard owner. Suspects include Ralph Rottingrape, Marilyn Merlot ... and this wonderful book. You get: party planner with recipes, a menu, and music and decorating tips; 8 character booklets; 8 party invitations, envelopes, and place cards; 6 secret clues; and CD with intro, summary of events, and solution to crime. Want to make your wine parties interested, this is it!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Evening
Comment: Since this is a game rather than a toy, I tried to skip the star ratings which seem to apply to toys rather than games, but the system wouldn't allow me to do that.

This is a game involving wine, as the title implies, and so should be played by adults and who are not offended by drinking of wine.

Six of us participated in this game and had a ball. Everyone really got into character right from the get-go. When people arrived, they arrived in character. Each of us enjoyed this game.

The only drawback I see to this type of game is that once you have played it, it's done. That is, you know who committed the crime, how and why. Maybe they could come up with a way to have multiple endings. Or, maybe someone could set up a game exchange, where once a person had played the game, they could exchange it with someone else for a game they hadn't played. Just an idea.

In any case, the game was well organized and a lot of fun. Which, after all, is the point.

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