The year is 1911, and you are a guest at the Newport summer home of Sherman Ashton III. All the socially acceptable people were invited for a weekend of parties and hunting events.

Of course, the idea for the party came from the mistress of the house, Adelaide, a lonely soul who goes to extreme lengths to make her guests happy and comfortable. Sherman, her extremely antisocial husband, hardly showed his face at the ball last night preferring to sit alone in his library. No one likes old Sherman. Most of the guest are only here because of sweet Adelaide. What no one can figure out is why she stays with the ogre.

There are quite a few guests and some are more than a little strange. Like Mavis Snooky, the entomologist. She is always out near the pond with her butterfly net or talking about her disgusting pet spider, Edgar. Then there is old Colonel Percival Heathcliff, the eccentric war hero - always going on about "the Big war". Clara Hooter, the snooty singer who happened to be the entertainment last night. And all the rest. Such a conglomeration!

This afternoon, there was a great stir in the house. Something has happened but no one is saying exactly what. Adelaide was visibly shaken as were her three children. Hemlock Bates, the great detective and his assistant, Bumble, as well as members of the police force were seen around the mansion today.

All the guests have now been assembled in the dining room for dinner. Hemlock Bates has asked that no one leave the dining room. He will be in shortly.

The food is being served and it has been meticulously prepared just as Adelaide had planned. She has kept to herself most of the day, which is not like her at all. Perhaps she will show up during dinner and everyone will find out what all the secrecy is about.

The Eight Legged Murder is an observation type murder mystery presented by actors during a sit down dinner. The Eight Legged Murder can be presented to as few as 20 people to more than 100 people. Unbeknownst to the guest, many of them get involved as "house guests" of Adelaide Ashton and are given props and parts in the script. Everyone participates in solving the murder and the winner is awarded a prize.

Susan Cowan, Author

All mysteries are originally written by Susan Cowan and are planned to provide a full evening of entertainment. They are period parties starting in 1898 and moving into the 1960's. Each party has wild characters, bizarre settings and tons of fun.
You enter the party as your assigned character, in period attire, and participate with your fellow sleuths to solve the forth coming mystery. Plan to have a good time and to be entertained as well.