Cemetery in Quebec. Photo by Sue Frause.
Langley Mystery Weekend has come and gone.
Since I’m still on the road, I missed the whole thing.
But last week I sat down and had a chat with longtime Langley resident Chris Crotty, who wrote the mystery for ten years.
Chris said the game started as a way to get people to come to Langley during February — traditionally a slow month for business in the seaside town. It was the brainchild of Mo Black and Marjiann Moss, both with the Langley Chamber of Commerce at the time.
The first mystery, written by Jeff Handley 23 years ago, involved then Mayor of Langley Dolores Cobb and local dentist Dr. Ric Prael.
“Everybody got into the act,” said Chris. Even Jiggers the liquor store cat.
They switched to fictitious people and that’s when the fun began.
Chris says her favorite mystery was the one that included a Miss Langley Pageant; a cat show; Real Hair For Real People; and the men’s movement.
I’ve played it several times with my family and it’s a hoot. Originally it cost only a buck to play (inflation has hit, it went up to $5 this year). All you do is walk around to shops and businesses picking up clues and then sit down and figure out who did the dastardly deed.
We never did get it right.
One year I got even more involved, helping Chris and Marjiann write the mystery. I realized non-fiction was more my beat.
If you missed the 2007 edition, Death By Chocolate, no worries.
It’ll happen again same time next year.
To find out who dun it, go to the Langley Chamber of Commerce website.
Chocolate Signs in Quebec. Photo by Sue Frause.