Got a Clue?

One of the reasons I LOVE to read mysteries and adventure stories is sorting through clues and figuring out the problems as the story unfolds. In mysteries, romantic suspense books and thrillers, the discovery of the clues and the resulting action and adventure are what drive the plot. I admit it -- I love the thrill of the hunt, the misdirection, red herrings, false clues, relationship drama and ,ultimately, the final twist and denouement. It's so much fun!

When I was a kid, I loved to play the board game Clue. I still do. My ten-year-old son and I play all the time. It's an activity we enjoy doing together, and I like knowing I'm stimulating my son's observation and deductive skills. Not surprisingly, Velma is our favorite character on the Scooby Doo gang. Why? Because she looks for CLUES! She thinks. She deduces. She's the brains behind the operation. Her clue assembly and observation skills leads to the resolution of the mystery. She figures out things piece-by-piece, clue-by-clue. For her, the devil is in the details. Mystery solved. Jinkies!

As a reader, I love a good conundrum, a puzzling twist, a plot that is mysterious, adventurous and interesting. I actively look for books with these elements. As a writer, I like to add those elements to my stories because I enjoy writing them as much as like reading them! And now I'm excited to announce that not only am I going to be reading and writing about clues ... I'm going to have the opportunity to actually PLAY a character in a Clue-like murder mystery. On March 17, 2018, in Cincinnati, Ohio, I've been invited to participate in...A DINNER TO DIE FOR! It's a reader event, where authors and readers all have a part to play in a dinner murder mystery. It's a Saturday of meeting mystery authors,  getting books signed, lunch, and a dinner where YOU get to follow the clues! It's all so exciting!

If you are interested in attending the event, please check out the details HERE. I would love to meet you! I will be dressed as one of the Clue characters (I'm not telling which one yet) and attendees will have roles to play...possibly even the killer! It's going to be a wonderful day of books, mysteries and lots and lots of clues! Hope to see you there!

Now, tell me, what do you like best about your mystery novels?

~Julie Moffett 

For more information on Julie's books and her humorous, geeky Lexi Carmichael mystery series, check out her website here.

Hosting a Murder

I am a huge fan of Clue, both the game and the movie. I saw the movie in the theater on my 16^th birthday and when I heard about the murder mystery dinner party games where one could host (and solve) a murder, I was dead set on being part of one someday. Umpty-ump years later, I finally hosted one when my family got together for a summer vacation at a villa in Santa Barbara. It was the perfect setting for murder.

There is also an entertainment portion of these parties—in addition to the murder mystery, that is. Because our theme was tropical (Hawaiian), the recommended food and drink menu included plenty of fabulous fruity drinks and food. We grilled pineapple, steak, and fish and had tropical adult beverages on hand.

By the way, the game we played was the “Lethal Luau” theme, and here is the link. I played Nadia, the international swimsuit model. (I know, I know. You can laugh.... Okay, that's enough. LOL) There were eight of us in all, each portraying an interesting character whose personalities (and motives for murder!) were unveiled during each round of questioning.

Why is murder so fun? I found myself contemplating why I was so excited about finding out which of my siblings, their spouses, or my father had killed someone. It was the puzzle. I love solving a good riddle, puzzle, or conundrum. What made it even more fun was how everyone got into character, some even adopting surfer or Hawaiian chief lingo and accents to go along with the characters. And costumes. I've been banned from posting the pictures here (mostly by myself), but trust me, we were in character.

I highly recommend adding a little murder to your next gathering. There are a lot of different themes available. Everything from Mardi Gras to "honky tonk homicide" to a wine party. But since we were going to be by the ocean and the murder victim in this one was the birthday boy (and my husband happened to be celebrating his birthday), I thought it would be perfect.

Next year, though my family doesn't know it yet, more murder is on the menu. Once we pick the location of our next annual vacation, I'll find a theme to match and mayhem will ensue. I can’t wait!