Death in the Christmas Window

Christmas Eve, 1926. Halloway & Crane, the grandest department store on Juniper Avenue, is about to unveil its famous Christmas window at the stroke of midnight. The crowd is gathering in the snow. The mechanical dancers of "The Winter Waltz" are ready to waltz.

But when the curtain is checked at 11:40, the store's founder, Cornelius Halloway, is lying dead inside the locked window.

You two are the only ones who can solve it before Christmas morning: one of you a sharp-eyed police sergeant, the other a crime reporter with a nose for a story. Five suspects. Three envelopes of evidence. One killer.

A printable 2 player co-op detective game for couples: a cosy 1920s Christmas murder mystery for a date night in, an anniversary or a gift. No game master needed, and it is written to be fair: the evidence proves who did it, so you can solve it without guessing.

WHAT YOU GET

• Start Here Game Guide (8 pages): how to play, a running order for 60 or 100 minutes, setup, printing and a FAQ (no spoilers)
• Detective Kit (8 pages): your two role cards, a cut-out police badge and press pass, case notebook pages, a timeline sheet, two accusation sheets and a scorecard
• Three evidence envelopes (10, 9 and 7 pages): police reports, a floor plan, telephone records, notes, letters, interviews to read aloud, private leads for each player and sealed hints
• Sealed Solution (5 pages): a read-aloud reveal, the step-by-step proof, every red herring explained and the full timeline
• Date Night Extras (10 pages): an invitation for your date, 4 cocktail cards (each with an alcohol-free version), a 1920s supper menu, a playlist of song titles, a table setup guide, place cards, envelope labels, a door sign and a Mystery Solved certificate
• 57 pages in all, in two complete sets: US Letter and A4 (each laid out for its own paper, not scaled)

HOW IT PLAYS

• For 2 players. Play as partners, or as friendly rivals with the scorecard
• Open one envelope at a time, read the evidence together and act out the interviews
• Each envelope has a private lead for each of you, so you both bring something to the table
• Stuck? Each envelope has sealed hints, printed upside down below a fold
• When you are ready, each of you writes an accusation in private, then you open the Sealed Solution
• About 60 to 120 minutes. Either of you can take either role

GOOD TO KNOW

• Instant digital download: you get a zip file of PDFs after checkout. Nothing is shipped.
• Print at home or at a print shop, at 100% ("Actual size"). Covers are in colour; the evidence prints well in black and white.
• Content: an off-stage murder (no gore), with 1920s drinking, gambling and money troubles. Best for adults and teens (13+).
• Personal use: print as many copies as you need for your own date nights. Please do not resell or share the files.
• This is an original story with original characters. It is not affiliated with any other game, book, film or brand.

How we made it: the story, characters and evidence are original to this game. They were written with the help of AI tools, then checked and edited by us, including a step-by-step consistency check of every clue, alibi and timeline, so the solution is fair and unique. All artwork and ornaments are drawn by code, not AI image tools.

Questions or refund requests: email quillbaylabs@gmail.com.