Who doesn’t like a good whodunit murder mystery? Attend a murder-mystery show or event in and around DC and enjoy delicious four-course meals, a zany cast of characters and good old-fashioned fun. It’s like participating in a real-life version of the game Clue. Was it really Miss Scarlet with the candlestick in the ballroom? 

Watson Adventures
National Museum of American History
1400 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20560
(877) 946-4868 ext. 11
watsonadventures.com

Schedule: Click here for schedule information
Tickets: Click here for ticket information

Looking for a challenging murder mystery? The Murder at the Museum of American History, hosted by Watson Adventures, promises to test your wits with tricky questions and team challenges. You and your teammates will discover a long-forgotten invention by Benjamin Franklin, which was reportedly used in secret rituals by the Freemasons. Did this invention cause the deaths or is there a more sinister serial killer on the loose? The team who discovers the answer wins a prize. Other events hosted by Watson Adventures include scavenger hunts for kids, teens and adults.

Mystery Dinner Playhouse at the Sheraton Hotel
Sheraton Hotel Crystal City
1800 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
(804) 649-2583
www.mysterydinner.com

Schedule: Click here for schedule information
Tickets: Click here for ticket information

Put on your best toga and thinking cap while you figure out who offed Julius Caesar. In “Die, Claudius!” at the Mystery Dinner Playhouse, guests participate in this raucous, titillating Roman murder mystery by speaking with cast members, jotting down clues and receiving “bribe money” to weed out information from the suspects. Guests will also enjoy a four-course meal including a soup or salad, main entree and a dessert courtesy of the chef. Prizes are awarded to those who provide the best and most creative murder-mystery answers. The venue also provides a full-service cash bar.

Related: Best Unique Museums in DC

Blair Mansion Restaurant
7711 Eastern Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20912
(301) 588-1688
www.blairmansion.com

Schedule: Click here for schedule information
Tickets: Click here for ticket information

Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet and a hilarious cast of characters as you participate in a rotating line-up of murder mysteries at the gorgeous, 17th-century Blair Mansion estate in Silver Spring. Figure out which mom has a scandalous secret in “Mum’s the Word,” or discover who goes a little overboard when a hairdressing competition turns deadly in “Curl Up and Die.” Guests will enjoy a wide variety of food and dessert options, including vegetarian options as well. Take a picture from the show, add a funny description or comment and post it on the Blair Mansion Facebook page for a chance to win a gift certificate for a free murder-mystery show.

The Mark Addy Bed and Breakfast Inn
56 Rodes Farm Drive
Nellysford, VA 22958
(434) 361-1101
www.mark-addy.com

Schedule: Click here for schedule information
Tickets: Two-day packages start at $439

Why not plan a weekend getaway and participate in a murder mystery at the same time? Book a two-day stay at the Mark Addy Bed and Breakfast Inn and enjoy deluxe accommodations, gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a delicious three-course gourmet breakfast and four-course gourmet dinner each day. Upon your arrival, guests will receive a murder-mystery information packet, which includes a formal invitation, secret clues, character descriptions, costume suggestions and more. Prizes are awarded to best guess, best costume and best actor. Be sure to mention “murder mystery weekend” when making reservations.

Related: Best Concert Halls and Theaters in Washington, D.C.

The Black-Eyed Susan
2700 Lighthouse Point E, Suite 130
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 342-6960
www.baltimorepaddlewheel.com

Schedule: Click here for schedule information
Tickets: Click here for ticket information, children younger than 13 not permitted on cruise

All aboard the Black-Eyed Susan, the D.C. area’s only authentic paddlewheel dinner boat. Once there, guests will enjoy Victorian-style decor, beverage services, hors d’oeuvres as well as a three-course meal and a full-service cash bar. Choose from a variety of murder-mystery shows including the tantalizing “I Know What You Did Last Father’s Day,” the ultimate poker match “Murder in Spades” and a supernatural adventure “Raven about Murder.” Special menus are available for those with particular dietary needs. To get to the boat, proceed to Lighthouse Point at the Baltimore Marine Center.

Susan Diranian is a freelance writer living in Ashburn, VA. She is covering Travel & Outdoors. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.