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Dead Book Society Murder Mystery
Party
With
the dawn of the new millennium comes the idea that the
Classics Book Club and the Foundation for the Reading and Study of the
Classics truly have earned their nickname, “The Dead
Book Society.” But there is hope that the
lovers of the classics can keep their dreams alive when a
Billionaire has announced his endowment of the chair of the
Foundation, beginning in the year 2000.
With this huge gift the chair, Sir Homer Relic, who has for
years promoted the reading and study of the classics, can,
with his trusty assistant, Steward Mitty, continue the hard
work of promoting the classics in a world hot for on-line
publications and post-modern literature and expression.
To
celebrate this resurgent interest and generous endowment, a
formal New Year’s Eve party has been called in the
home of the Foundation Chair. Cocktail hour was at 7
PM and formal dinner was to be at 8 but the host and the
future recipient of the endowment was found dead. The
police investigator now sequesters the guests as he gathers
clues and information on who would kill this
bibliophile.
The
murder victim, Sir Homer Relic, a glory-seeking, aggressive
administrator, liked to take the credit for every good
thing that happened in his presence. Perhaps he would
have been the best-endowed chair for the 21st century,
perhaps not.
THE SUSPECTS:
Hope Fulrighter: retired librarian who has
been working on the great American novel for 35 years,
never learned to word process, either with a computer or
with a publisher.
Napoleon “Nap” Armstrong:
Investment broker who loves military history, especially if
it is short and to the point, much like his communication
style.
Ava Gard: Post-modern editor and
challenger of socially constructed ethics, which leads some
to wonder if she has any.
Rita Moore: Frustrated English literature
professor who has recently gotten some notoriety for her
erotic poetry. Many were surprised that she had it in
her.
F. F. Lemming: Professor of creative
writing who recently launched a new style of writing, the
“lemming style” which may become the new
writing style of the 21st century, much to the disgust of
the old guard.
Steward Mitty: Sir Homer Relic’s
faithful but socially inept assistant, who many thought did
most of the work for the Foundation, although he has the
personality of his cousin Walter. He is next in line to
receive the endowed chair although it would be a disaster
for the Foundation.
Ima Relic: Widow of the murder
victim. Has always has been in the shadow of Sir
Homer and his accomplishments but now with all of the
insurance money, she can wield considerable power and
realize her lifelong dream of acquiring a
publishing company.
Maury Gore: Editor of It’s Real
Crime magazine, who enjoys reading the history of the human
race’s predilection for murder. He’s an
expert on the subject of murder in the classics.
Ghana
Winsome: News Magazine investigator who likes
to think she is saving the world with her emphasis on the
reading of the classics although she may be contributing to
the public interest in trash.
Nevel Ben Wright: Police investigator who
has submitted a crime story to Maury Gore. With Nap
Armstrong as his broker and his acquaintances with the
other suspects, he isn’t exactly a disinterested
party.
Sue Anne Geetrich: lawyer who has worked
for a few authors and publishers. She loves the
classics but loves the money, power, and prestige of being
a hotshot lawyer more. She is looking for that big
lawsuit that would do a classic number on her net worth.
Olive Furbooks: Owner of Platypus Classics
publishing company whose profits have been flatter than the
duckbill of its namesake. A resurgence in the reading
of the classics may help her failing company but it is
probably too late. Besides many suspect it is her
management more than reading trends that accounts for the slump
in sales.
Copyright 2009 Dr. Benes and MurderMysteryParties.com ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED
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