Can I get a murder mystery party written with my friends' names in it?
Yes. Gather & Gasp writes a complete murder mystery kit from scratch for your group: every guest gets a character with their name, and one thing you tell us about each person is woven into their character and the plot. You choose the theme and the exact headcount (4 to 20), and the printable kit is usually ready in 15 to 25 minutes. A standard kit is $19.99, and you can see your own friends cast as suspects in a free sample first.
How it works
You pick a theme (or describe your own setting), set the number of players, and list who is coming. For each guest you can add one thing about them: a habit, a hobby, a running joke. The kit is then written around those people, so the suspects aren't strangers with your friends' names pasted on top; the details turn up in their secrets, alibis and clues.
Details are kept affectionate. The point is that the room recognises each other in the story, not that anyone is embarrassed.
- Choose a theme from 71 settings, or describe your own.
- Set your player count: 4 to 20, written for that exact number.
- Add each guest's first name and one detail. Mark he, she or they and the character is written that way.
- Get the kit by email, usually within 15 to 25 minutes, then print it at home.
What you get
Every kit includes a host guide (setup checklist, round-by-round instructions and the solution), one character booklet per guest with their backstory, secrets and goals, name tags and table cards, and accusation ballots for the final vote.
Each name tag carries a QR code that opens that guest's own character page on their phone. In party mode the host steps through the evening on their phone and each guest's page unlocks round by round, so nobody reads ahead.
Standard or premium
Both tiers are written around your guests. The standard kit ($19.99) uses every guest's name and one detail about each. The premium kit ($29.99) adds a painted portrait of every character, your inside jokes worked into clues and quirks, and a personal subplot for each guest with callbacks to the others.
Try it free with your own guests
The free sample lets you type up to six guests and a theme and see them cast as suspects, with an opening scene, in about 30 seconds. It comes with a complete printable 6-player sample kit, so you can see the format before you buy.
Themes that fit
- Haunted Gothic Mansion: Candlelight, a storm and a will reading. Easy costumes, and it suits any group size. Create this one
- 1920s Speakeasy: The most dressed-up party: jazz, bootleggers and a body in the back room. Create this one
- Reality TV Show: A modern setting where your friends' real quirks fit naturally into the drama. Create this one
Questions hosts ask
Do I need to tell you anything about my guests?
Only their first names. One detail per guest is optional but makes the biggest difference: it is what makes the room laugh when a clue turns out to be about someone's famous lateness.
Will anyone be embarrassed?
The writing keeps details affectionate: teasing, never embarrassing. If a detail could hurt, leave it out; the story works with names alone.
How many people can play?
Between 4 and 20. The kit is written for the exact number, so every guest has a real role and nobody plays a filler character.
How long does it take to get the kit?
Usually 15 to 25 minutes. It is written from scratch for your group, and we email you when it is ready to download.
What if I am not happy with it?
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee: we fix the kit or refund you in full.
Write my friends into a mystery
Written for your exact group, ready in about 20 minutes. Standard kit $19.99. Or see your own friends cast as suspects in the free sample first.