Death in the Fast Lane

Before I start describing Death in the Fast Lane, I'd probably better own up to two things. First, I'm a partner in Freeform Games LLP, the publishers. Second - I wrote Death in the Fast Lane, so you might want to take everything I say with a pinch of salt!

That aside, let's carry on.

Death in the Fast Lane is an interactive murder mystery party for 9 to 11 guests, plus the host. Set in the high-octane world of Formula 17 motor-racing, Death in the Fast Lane takes place during the final three races of the current grand prix season. However, championship leader Jo Shooie has been murdered!

In Death in the Fast Lane, guests take on the roles of drivers and owners of three competing teams - Team Chelsea, Team MacDonald and Team Picard. In addition, Michaela Sprint and Mel Watson represent the Race Committee, the organisation overseeing Formula 17.

The host plays the part of the Race Marshal, and like other Freeform Games murder mystery parties, the host organises the game for everyone else. (They don't play it in the same way - and they already know who the murderer is. Hosting a game is quite different from playing in one, and I find it very satisfying.)

Death in the Fast Lane includes full instructions for playing the game - including the final three races of the season, which are played out with a simple card game. (I strongly recommend trying out the card game in advance, as advised.)

As the game progresses, the last three races are played out - and each of them can be won by any of the drivers. There's no predetermined winner - and any of the leading drivers can win the overall championship.

As well as solving the murder and winning the championship, each character has other goals which include negotiating for new contracts, finding out each others' dirty secrets and ensuring that Formula 17 remains respectable.

At the end of the party the murderer is revealed by amateur sleuth Mel Watson.

So is it any good? Obviously I am biased, but I would say that the races (and therefore the driver's championship) take up a significant part of the party. So if your friends are particularly keen on solving murders, you might want to give Death in the Fast Lane a miss.

On the other hand, if you have some friends who are fans of motorsport and you think they might enjoy a murder mystery party where the emphasis is on having fun rather than solving the murder, then you might want to take a look at Death in the Fast Lane.

Death in the Fast Lane is available from Freeform Games and cost Ł20.

For more information about Death in the Fast Lane, click here to download the free introductory pdf file which includes more details - including background, a full cast list, costume guide, invitations and how to pay. (The file is 41KB, so it may take a few moments to download.)

To purchase Death in the Fast Lane from Freeform Games LLP immediately click on either logo below:

You will be taken to the Freeform Games LLP website - just follow the instructions to purchase Death in the Fast Lane. You will then be emailed the location of the main Death in the Fast Lane pdf files and password (to unlock it) almost immediately. Just download the game, print it out and have a great murder mystery!

By the way, if you don't want to buy the game over the Internet, the introductory pdf file provides details of paying by post.

Death in the Fast Lane requires Acrobat Reader - it’s free and lets you read the "pdf" files, no matter what kind of computer you have. If you’ve got an old version of Acrobat Reader, you might want to upgrade. Click here to download Acrobat Reader.

Great Murder Mystery Games