Murder at the Drive-In: 1986 Small-Town Sci-Fi Murder Mystery Party Kit

Witkruis, 1986. A missing boy, a humming mast on the koppie, an eleven-minute blackout and a body behind the ticket booth. Who killed Dr Cronjé?

An 80s small-town sci-fi murder mystery for 8, set in a Highveld dorp where the TVs go to snow every time the mast on the koppie hums. Three weeks ago a boy vanished below the fence of the “weather station”. On Tuesday he walked out of the mealies, shaved and silent. Tonight the whole dorp came to the reopening of the drive-in, and at 9:14 every light went out. When the power came back, the station’s director was dead behind the old ticket booth. Your guests arrive as eight suspects in perms, moustaches and khaki shorts. Over three rounds the evidence comes out, secrets spill and alibis crack. Then everyone makes an accusation, and the murderer confesses.

What's inside (34 A4 pages)

• Step-by-step host guide with a checklist, running order and drive-in kiosk food and decor ideas (plus how to stage your own blackout)
• 8 character booklets, each with a secret, an alibi and instructions for every round
• A photographed cast list and 8 fill-in invitations, with a 1986 costume for every suspect
• A victim file with a portrait of the dearly departed, a one-line send-off and their famous last words
• 15 evidence cards in three rounds, with envelope labels
• The opening scene to read aloud
• Name tags plus 4 detective badges for extra guests
• Accusation cards and 6 awards, including Best 80s Hair and The Thing in the Mealies
• A sealed solution and the murderer's confession

Meet the suspects

Sergeant Koos, who closed the missing-boy file in nine days. Magda Steyn, whose son came home and hasn’t said a word. Dr Annelie Vos, from the station on the koppie. Mr Malan, whose radio club logs everything. Tannie Sannie, who sells slap chips and everyone’s business. The dominee, whose church roof the station paid for. Oom Faan, the radio ham with three years of tapes. And Lientjie, the guard’s daughter, who knows every hole in the fence.

Prefer it printed?

Choose Printed & delivered and we'll print the whole kit for you in full colour, with the evidence cards, name tags and awards on thick card, and courier it anywhere in South Africa.

• R349 for the printed kit. Delivery is R100, or free on orders over R1000.
• We print and send within 2 working days, and delivery takes 2 to 5 working days, so order at least a week before your party.
• Cards come printed on sheets, ready for you to cut out along the dashed lines.
• Printed kits are posted only, with no PDF. Want to print extra copies yourself too? Add the digital download to your cart as well.

Good to know

• Players: 6 to 12, made for 8. Have 6 or 7? Use the stand-in statements. More guests? Up to 4 can play detectives from Pretoria.
• Difficulty: ●●●●● Expert (5 out of 5). Our trickiest case: a big cast, a tight timeline and a town full of secrets. For seasoned sleuths who love detail.
• Time: about 3 hours, including dinner and dessert.
• Ages: 14+. Spooky, never gory. Perfect for 80s parties, Halloween and anyone who grew up with a bakkie and a torch.
• The host can play too. No need to read the solution in advance.
• Instant download: the digital version arrives as a PDF straight after checkout.
• For personal use. Print as many copies as you need for your own party.