It's Murder!

Way back in January I was offered my very first review copy, and this novel was Lex Trent Versus the Gods by Alex Bell. I loved the book and Lex Trent 2 is one of my highly anticipated 2011 reads. Over the year Alex and I have met more than a few times - she can tell you the "we were black listed from a casino" story! - but I was still delighted beyond words to be invited to the Lex Trent launch party.

Alex and her family invited a number of guests to take part in a murder mystery weekend held in Stratford-upon-Avon, run by a company called It's Murder! Fantastically, the theme was the 20s so we all got to dress up in delightful flapper outfits (feathers included!) *grins*

Here is a picture of Alex and her dad!



A cast of talented actors took on the roles of the various murder suspects, and we were allowed to interrogate them over the course of a delicious meal on the Friday and Saturday evenings, trying to find out clues so that we could work out whodunnit...

Here is a picture of the cast in their full regalia!



I was useless at trying to decipher the clues, and still had no real idea by the time we reached Sunday lunchtime and had to make our accusation. Even some time soaking up the culture on Saturday afternoon - visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon - didn't do the trick!



Of course, the late nights and the alcohol probably didn't help - singing the theme song of Team America: World Police to Alex drunkenly was a particular low point....



I was a little unsure about a Murder Mystery weekend to start with, but the It's Murder! team produced something special. They allow the audience to take as much or as little a role as they want - if you don't want to ask questions, then you can just sit back and enjoy the food and the performance. Of course, the alcohol does flow freely and it becomes all too easy to get caught up in the mystery!

I had the most tremendous fun - it was *exactly* what I needed after the week I've had - and it just leaves me to thank Alex very much for inviting me to such an exciting and unusual weekend, and to thank her lovely parents - Shirley and Trevor - for being the best hosts.