Would you like to make your dinner party something different and something that your friends talk about for months to come? Well, if your friends are the type who are up for a laugh once they've had a few drinks, then a murder mystery dinner party would be just the thing to occupy their thoughts

Organizing such a party need not be difficult and they can be suited to all ages from teenagers to senior citizens. The Internet is full of resources to get you started, as any Google search for ?murder mystery? will prove. So, where to start?

To start, look at your list of guests. Are they fun people? Probably, that's why they are your friends. But perhaps some of them are wallflowers and some like to be in the thick of the story-telling. Provided you have, say, six of the latter, you can find a thrilling murder story that will entertain everyone... even your more shy and retiring companions.

Next think of a theme. You could go for the hackneyed route of Murder She Wrote or Dorothy L Sayers type mysteries, but why not try something different? You could set your mystery any time or anywhere: a desert island, a ship, a baseball game or the French Revolution. Be inventive and use your location and hobbies as a starting point. Put together a a list of possibles and see what resources are out there to make your scenario a reality.

There are three ways you could approach this, and what you choose will depend upon your money, your available time for organizing and previous experiences.

Perhaps you want to write the whole thing yourself. Great if you have the time and skills to put together the plot and prepare the guests materials. It is time-consuming, but you will have created something unique that is entirely your own, and will fit your ideas precisely. Searching for tips on ?how to write a murder mystery? could help, or perhaps you have played such a thing before and feel sure you could do better

Secondly you can buy many kits online that will present you with a full plot, a set of invites and character notes and sometimes a CD to help guide you on the night itself. These are perfect for the beginner, although you may not be able to find one that matches your ideas or suits the number of guests you have ? you may need to compromise.

Thirdly, there are companies of experienced writers and actors who will turn up in your village hall and take all the stress away from you. They will be experts at setting up and performing a clever plot, and the devious mystery will unfold before you. You can expect a great deal of hilarity from such an event, and the best troupes also ensure that there is a solid mystery behind all the fanciful character names and gags. Just a simple Google search for ?murder mystery evening? or the like will present you with a huge array of options, so go on, get searching. Have a stab...