Step into the Jazz Age… and into a crime scene.

Throwing a 1920s-themed murder mystery dinner party is the perfect way to combine glamour, intrigue, and a touch of danger—all in one unforgettable evening. Picture this: flapper dresses swishing through candlelit halls, the smooth sounds of jazz echoing through the air, champagne flowing, secrets lurking behind every smile… and a murder that stops the party cold.

Whether you’re hosting in a vintage-inspired venue or transforming your home into a speakeasy, this is your chance to immerse guests in the glitz of the Roaring Twenties while challenging them to uncover whodunnit. With costumed characters, mysterious motives, and a setting dripping in Gatsby-style decadence, your soirée will be more than just a dinner—it’ll be a night to die for.

💌 Save the Date Ideas

• "You're Invited... But Will You Survive?" Art Deco Postcard with mysterious overtones – Gold foil, geometric designs, and bold typefaces

• "You're the Cat’s Meow" Cards – Vintage slang with playful illustrations

• Speakeasy Ticket / Access Card – Designed like a secret entry pass to a jazz club with Secret code required to RSVP

• Newspaper Headline – “Breaking News: You're Invited to the Hotsy-Totsy Event of the Year!”

• Newspaper Clipping – “Murder at the Ritz! Guests Wanted for Questioning”

• Vintage Matchbox or Mini Champagne Bottle Tags – Tiny, mailable tokens with the event date

• Vintage Police File Folder – Event details styled like a suspect dossier

• Blood-Stained Calling Card – Elegant but ominous with just a hint of red

👗 Costume Ideas

For Ladies:

• Flapper dress with fringe, pearls, and a feathered headband

• Silk gloves, cigarette holders, t-strap heels

• Louise Brooks-style bob wig or finger waves

• Mob boss’s moll or undercover agent in disguise

• Jazz singer with a haunting voice and a hidden motive

For Gents:

• Three-piece pinstripe suit with fedora or boater hat

• Suspenders, bow tie, two-tone shoes

• Mob boss or bootlegger look with fake cigar and prop Tommy gun

• Bootlegger in a pinstripe suit and suspicious suitcase

• Dapper detective with a trench coat and fedora

• Wealthy hotelier or politician with something to hide

Bonus Ideas:

• Undercover Prohibition Agent (badge hidden in a flask!)

• Silent Film Star – Monochrome makeup and dramatic poses

• Jazz Baby or Vaudeville Performer

Bonus Archetypes:

• The jealous lover

• The scorned socialite

• The mysterious stranger from out of town

• The fortune-telling flapper who *knew it was coming*

🪩 Decor Ideas

• Feather centerpieces in tall vases with string lights

• Champagne tower or faux bootlegging barrels

• Signage with phrases like “Welcome to the Juice Joint” or “Shhh… it’s a Speakeasy”

• Faux velvet ropes, vintage gramophones, and flapper silhouettes

• Dimly lit speakeasy vibes with black & gold Art Deco accents

• Murder scene tape or blood-spatter clues subtly placed around the venue

• Fingerprint cards and suspect boards on display

• Vintage props: typewriters, rotary phones, magnifying glasses

• Guest seating by “Suspect Categories” – Alibis, Motives, Red Herrings

• A Jazz Age or dramatic photo booth with 1920s props and a mugshot wall backdrop

🍸 Food & Music Ideas

Food:

• Small, elegant bites served as part of the unfolding drama

• “Poisoned” deviled eggs (with a harmless red pepper drizzle)

• Shrimp cocktail in coupe glasses—looks innocent enough

• “Last Supper” themed entrée or desserts like "Deadly Decadence" cake bites

• Tea sandwiches, canapé trays

• 1920s-inspired sweets: lemon bars, pineapple upside-down cake, petit fours

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Drinks:

• Classic cocktails: Sidecar, French 75, Bee’s Knees, Gin Rickey

• Housemade “Bathtub Gin” punch

• Signature cocktails with ominous names:

  • The Smoking Gun (mezcal-based)

  • Red Rum Punch

  • The Alibi (gin & lavender fizz)

• Champagne served in coupes with blood orange garnish

Music:

• Live jazz trio or swing band

• DJ spinning electro-swing remixes for a modern twist

• Record player sound effects or old phonograph ambiance for atmosphere

• Murder-themed playlist with 1920s ambiance

• Intermittent “clue drop” sound effects between tracks

• Charleston dance break or “interrogate the suspects” activity to music