The Mystery Club: a detective birthday party, planned

The look: sepia, kraft paper and case files

Brown kraft paper, cream, black and a little red for the string. It should look like an old detective's office: case files, magnifying glasses and a board on the wall with photos joined by thread.

The evidence board is the centrepiece. Pin up the first clue, a map of the house and a few mystery photos, and the children will gather round it without being asked.

• Kraft paper tablecloths with "Top secret" and "Case file" stamped on them.
• Yellow tape across a doorway marked "Crime scene: do not cross" for the photos.
• Magnifying glasses and notepads laid out at each place.
• Footprints cut from black paper leading to the first clue.
• Cream and brown balloons with question marks drawn in black marker.

The invitation

Send it as a sealed case file: a detective is needed, the case opens at this time, the address is the agency. A torn half of a clue in the invitation that matches a half hidden at the party is a good start to the trail.

You're invited

Mystery Club

A mystery needs solving, and you are on the case. Report to the agency for a birthday investigation.

✓ Going? Maybe✗ Can't

Food and the evidence cake

Name the food after the case. Detectives eat on the job, so keep it to things that work in one hand.

• Fingerprint sandwiches: square sandwiches with a fingerprint pressed in jam or chocolate spread.
• Clue brownies: brownies with a letter piped on each that spell out a word when collected.
• Magnifying glass snacks: round crackers on a pretzel-stick handle.
• Invisible ink lemonade: plain lemonade in cups labelled as a secret formula.
• Evidence bags: popcorn or crisps in small clear zip bags with a numbered label.
• The cake: a square cake iced as a case file, with a fondant magnifying glass and the words "Case closed" piped on.

The case and the clue trail

Write one simple mystery: something has been taken, and the clues lead to where it is hidden. The missing thing should be the prize, so the finish is the reward.

• Hand out case files with a notepad, a pencil and a magnifying glass.
• Clue one at the evidence board: a riddle that points to a room.
• Clue two needs a cipher wheel or a simple letter-swap code to read.
• Clue three is written in lemon juice and appears when held near a warm lamp, with an adult on the lamp.
• Clue four is a lock with a three-digit code collected from the earlier clues.
• The lock opens the box with the mystery prize, shared out to the whole squad.

Between the clues

Run a couple of short challenges while the next clue is set up, so the energy does not drop.

• Fingerprint station: ink pads and cards, and a chart of loops, whorls and arches to compare.
• Spot the difference: show a tray of objects, take one away, and ask who noticed.
• Disguise kit: fake moustaches, hats and glasses for a line-up photo.

How the two hours run

1. 0:00Detectives report in and collect their case files.
2. 0:10Fingerprint station and disguise photos.
3. 0:30The case is opened at the evidence board, and clues one and two.
4. 0:55Refreshments at the agency.
5. 1:20Clues three and four, and the lock opens.
6. 1:40Case closed: the evidence cake.
7. 1:55Detective badges, favours and goodbyes.

What to buy

Pack sizes are for about 15 kids. In PartyPal the list sizes itself to your headcount.

Common questions