National Mystery Series Week.
Mysteries series in books started mainly in the 1800s and continue to this day. Where was I when the first week in October was dedicated as National Mystery Series Week? Well this year I was celebrating and I didn't even realize it. I've been sick laid up with a head cold and though I was not curled up with a good mystery book, I was curled up under my favorite blanket watching murder mysteries from the BBC on my instant netflicks account.
This was started 1998 and this is the 17 yrear that is has been a National Holiday celebrated by bookworms and movie buffs alike. To celebrate you can have a murder mystery night with friends, curl up with a good book or grab your favorite blanket and watch a TV series or mystery movie, which is what I did.
This drawing of mine is titled The Jane Austen Creey Rice drawing. This is based on the Jane Austen Rice painting, which was owned by the Rice family, which is how it got its name. Painted by a Russian artist in the late 18th century when Jane Austen was just a girl in her mid teens, the painting is still highly disputed today. Some saying the subject of the painting was far too pretty to the writer of Pride and Prejudice.
Murder Mystery Night
Sherlock
This updated Sherlock which is a Masterpiece Mystery series is set in modern day London and stars one of my favorite British actors, Martin Freeman shines as Doctor Watson and if you have netflix like I do, they have just uploaded season two for your watch pleasure, they game is afoot.
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders is a series set in the fictional town of midsomer and you can guess the rest, yes there are murders. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby is somewhat of a regular bloke and a very good copper, him and his partner get wrapped in the craziest, insane, wild cases. He is married and has an actress daughter. I am just entering series 4 and I watched two just this week.
Inspector Lewis
Inspector Lewis regions the force after a three year break, after the sudden death of his wife. He is a average guy, he has a nose for crime and a good sense of right and wrong, but he is surrounded by pompous intellectuals in this university town, he has a a partner who himself was well educated and could of done anything he wanted, but he wanted to be a police officer.
I've watched a good few of these as well this week and can't wait until more of this Masterpiece Mystery series come out on netflix, really I might not be able to wait, when I get through to season 5.
Murder She Wrote
Murder She Wrote, well I wanted to add an American show, of course this actress is originally British. It was great in the beginning, but by the end the plots were a bit thin. It did last a good 12 years. I watched this for years as a child and loved the one episode that was supposed to be based on one of her books.
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Party Like It's 1799
A regency murder mystery party is perhaps the best way to celebrate Halloween. This party will never be a true Regency Halloween party because even though Halloween was based on several accent European holidays it was not widely celebrated until America adopted the tradition in the 1800s. However just because it may not be authentic, doesn't mean you can't do everything in your power to make it feel that way.
You can throw a party that Jane Austen herself would be proud of.
You can make them yourself, use aged parchment style paper and a print font in a pretty classic style. Fold the paper over and seal it with sealing wax. After you have stamped the wax with a stamper, write the name of the invitee on the back and have these hand delivered by people in period costumes.
How do you cook for a regency style food on a budget. No one wants to spend 300 dollars on a half eaten cake. Roasted duck, goose or even turkey can be used as a main course. Cornish game hen can be used as a fabulous man dish. It is great for the hostess on a budget, lets say you have ten guests including yourself. These small hens are about two dollars at ALDI stores, one per-person is actually too much, cut in half after they are cooked is actually better. Candied carrots, celery stocks and french rolls served with creamed butter.
Fruit tarts and teacakes for dessert. Fruit tarts can be bought at most huge chain stores or you could even make them using Wonton paper, which is lighter and crispier. Teacakes are like round cupcakes with wedding cake frosting.
Decorate with lit or flickering battery operated candles, you want a sense of romance to fill the air. Use flowers dried or fresh, classic furnishings like trunks and wood items to decorate your house, and remove the overly modern things that would distract form your event. Think like the TV and hide the phone and computer.
Let there be music if you cannot hire the string section of the local school band or hire the local piano teacher to play classical music you can buy CDs or download music to your ipod or other mp3 players.
The mystery part of the party is the most creative. Assign your quests and yourself their names and or titles for the mystery game. This can be people from regency history, your favorite songstress or characters from books. Say you get to be Jane Austen because it is your event, well you could assign your friends the names of people from her novels. Catherine Morland, Emma Woodhouse and so forth and if you have a rather large party you could use names from Jane’s youthful short stories and unfinished works as well.
