Tired of following crime stories from your couch? Arsène Lupin, Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Columbo… what if, for once, you were the one leading the investigation? Starting October 10,the Hôtel Kergorlay Langsdorff in the 16th arrondissement will host “The Last Judgment Detective Party,” a theatrical mystery where the audience steps behind the curtain. A crime scene, clues, suspects, and one rule: don’t be fooled by appearances.
A case that has never been resolved
Paris, 1895. François Champetier has just been acquitted of his wife’s murder, but only because the court was unable to reach a verdict. In other words, no one is truly convinced. In the newspapers and in social circles alike, he is still under suspicion. So he decides to take the initiative by inviting the capital’s best detectives to reopen the investigation, right where the crime took place. Five of them accept the challenge, and no two are alike. Their methods are reminiscent of those of the great names in detective fiction, such as Hercule Poirot and Jules Maigret. Some rely on intuition, others on psychology or interrogation, and all have their own preferences. What these professionals don’t know is that Champetier has also placed an ad promising a handsome reward to anyone who solves the case. So amateurs are in on it too. Those amateurs are you. As for Champetier, he won’t be coming…
It’s up to you to lead the investigation
Here, no one guides you from room to room. You move freely through the parlors and hallways of this mansion, alone or in groups, and you do what a real detective does—you observe, you search, you ask questions. You can examine the evidence, question the characters, or follow an investigator around to understand how they reason. But be careful: these investigators aren’t as impartial as they claim to be.
And when the time comes to reveal who committed the crime, everyone has their say. It’s up to you to convince the others. Keep an eye on your neighbors, though: the killer might very well be investigating right alongside you!
Practical Information
- When: starting October 10 (duration: 1 hour 25 minutes)
- Where: Hôtel Kergorlay Langsdorff, 9 rue de l’Amiral d’Estaing, 75016 Paris
- Prices: €39 full price, €35 group rate (4 or more people), €30 youth rate (ages 8–14)