Previous Next

Murder is the name of the game and it is up to you to see that justice is done! Getting away from his usual spoof games, Fergus McNeill, author of Boggitt and Bored Of The Rings, has written an adventure based on a mystery novel by Dennis Wheatley.

Bolitho Blane, a British soap industrialist, has apparently committed suicide whilst on a holiday cruise. Also on that cruise was Carlton Rocksavage, Blane's rival in this soap about soap. There had been talk of mergers and bankruptcy, so when the suicide turns out to be murder he is obviously going to be a major suspect. As he stands to gain so much by eliminating his business rival, the motive is there for all to see.

But is it too obvious? What about the other guests? The Bishop of Bude, for example. Far from being pillars of the establishment, in 1920s crime fiction - when the novel was written, bishops rate only slightly lower than butlers as the person most likely to have done the dastardly deed.

Blane's secretary, Stodart, also had murderous opportunities, and the Italian court and Japanese businessman are also suspicious characters.

The game comes in three parts, each part corresponding to one day's investigation. Time is very tight and if you do not succeed in gleaning certain facts by a certain time, the game ends.

As the game is "Quilled", input is the traditional verb-noun and involves lots of talking. The construction used is 'talk to' somebody followed by 'ask about' something or someone. Some of the statements obtained are very long and you will need to make careful notes.

Murder Off Miami is a reasonable attempt at a whodunnit adventure, but I found the atmosphere lacking, although I couldn't put my finger on what I thought was wrong. Perhaps it was just that I have been spoilt with classics like Infocom's Deadline and Witness.