Mystery party

New Year's Eve Mystery Party

The Midnight Star: A New Year's Eve Gala Mystery Party

Host a New Year's Eve jewel-theft mystery party for 8 to 12 teens and adults, run from the printed pages and finished before midnight.

Printable PDF
US Letter + A4
Instant download

$30one-time purchase

One zip. Pages: 122 in the Letter edition (guide 10, solution 6, pre-party pages 13, dossiers 72, table pieces 21) plus a 1-page cover; the A4 edition has the same pages

Look inside

Parts of real pages from the download, shown smaller and marked as a preview.

Dossier cover for Quinn Abernathy, Gala Chair
Two write-in invitations to the Larkspur Hotel gala
Run sheet: clock times from arrival through awards

What's in the download

Host guide (10 pages): start page, casting aid, no-show table, print plan, prep countdown, one-page run sheet, rules to read aloud, two worked examples, troubleshooting
Sealed solution (6 pages, a seal page at each end): solution to read aloud, scoring key, host clue map, red herrings explained
12 character dossiers of 6 pages each (a cover that looks the same for every role, the private brief, rounds, plea, and a suspect board last): 8 core roles and 4 optional roles, rounds printed in each dossier, a plea and a suspect board
12 send-ahead character pages and 2 write-in invitations on one page
9 fold-to-hide clue sheets, an evidence-table sign, 12 accusation sheets with award nominations, 16 name tags (4 blank) and 6 pre-titled award certificates
Every file in a US Letter edition and an A4 edition

Exactly what you get

Pages: 122 in the Letter edition (guide 10, solution 6, pre-party pages 13, dossiers 72, table pieces 21) plus a 1-page cover; the A4 edition has the same pages
Paper sizes: US Letter and A4
Players: 8 to 12, including the host
Ages: Written for 13 and up
Language: English (US spelling)
Planned length: 2 hours 40 minutes on the run sheet
Files: 11 PDFs and 3 licence notes in one ZIP
Format: PDF

Good to know before you buy

Print-only PDFs: invitations and certificates are filled in by hand, not edited on screen.
Needs at least 8 players including the host; roles 1 to 8 must all be played.
One mystery with one solution, so the same group cannot replay it.
The 2 hour 40 minute run sheet is a plan; the game has not been timed with real guests.
Written for ages 13 and up: a theft, no murder, no alcohol in the story.
Nothing is printed or shipped.

What you need

A printer, plain paper (122 sheets one-sided for 12 players, 94 for 8), a stapler, paper clips, scissors, tape and pens; 8 to 12 players including the host. No internet needed once downloaded.

Guides that go with it

All guides →

How to Host a Murder Mystery Party from Casting to the Reveal
Match a murder-mystery kit to the confirmed guest count, cast every required role, run clues through a reveal, and keep a jewel theft as a separate party.
New Year Eve Games Adults Can Play by Group Size
New Year Eve games adults can run for two people, a small table, or a big room, with the supplies each size needs and drinking rounds left off the list.

Questions about this printable

What do I need?

A printer, plain paper (122 sheets one-sided for 12 players, 94 for 8), a stapler, paper clips, scissors, tape and pens; 8 to 12 players including the host. No internet needed once downloaded.

Can I type into it?

No. Invitations, name tags and certificates have blank lines you fill in by hand; the files are not editable.

What if fewer than 8 people come?

The game needs at least 8 players including the host, and roles 1 to 8 must all be played. Up to 12 can play: roles 9 to 12 are optional. The host guide has a no-show table.

Which paper sizes are inside?

US Letter and A4. Both editions come in the same zip, so print whichever your printer uses.