The Club Rules 📜
Ratified at the founding meeting of 1927, at which the minutes were stolen, making it — technically — the club's first case. Unsolved.
I. It is never the butler.
Amendment of 1929: usually. Amendment of 1934: the club regrets the events of 1934.
II. Accusations are made with a pointed finger, slowly.
It plays better in the retelling. The club has standards, and they are theatrical.
III. What happens in the group chat stays in the group chat.
Except theories. Wrong theories, especially, belong to the ages.
IV. No spoilers on the incident board.
Gloat freely — the share button is spoiler-proof by design. Ruining a twist is a three-teapot offence.
V. Buttons are earned, never bought.
The club's economy runs entirely on brass buttons and smugness. Neither is for sale.
VI. The Butler's book is not for reading.
He writes in it when you do something notable. No member has ever seen inside. Mrs. Grimshaw claims it's mostly shopping lists. Mrs. Grimshaw has said too much.
VII. Respect the red string.
It is load-bearing.
— signed, The Butler (who didn't do it)
Questions from the floor 🎙️
Do we all need to be online at the same time?
No. Everyone investigates at their own pace and compares notes in the group chat. The mystery waits politely. Suspects remain suspicious indefinitely.
How many people can join an agency?
Twelve. Any WhatsApp group bigger than that isn't an agency, it's a jury.
What if I accuse the wrong person?
Then you have a wonderful time, the suspect produces a devastating alibi, and you accuse someone else. The club awards a commendation for persistence, because persistence is nine-tenths of detection. The other tenth is smelling things.
Is it scary?
Cosy-scary at most. Our ghosts have schedules and knee trouble. Nobody dies except, historically, Great-Uncle Aldous, and he's fine about it.
What do I get for my membership money?
Every case, every chapter, the full outfitters, and the right to be insufferable in your group chat when you crack the cipher first. The first case is free either way.
Was it the butler?
No. See Rule I. Please stop asking. He's very sensitive and he files our paperwork.