Whodunit lovers get a chance to unmask the killer in new mystery event

Varun Gwalani (centre) conducts a previous mystery-solving session. PICS COURTESY/VARUN GWALANI; istock

If you know a true crime buff, ring them right away; it's an emergency. There's a crime scene at Hotel Levion, and things aren't quite adding up. Author Varun Gwalani, who penned the story by the same name, is looking for the sharpest minds to crack the suicide (or is it a murder?). "The catch in the case is that you could very well be the murderer," he shares.

Nearly 20 participants will meet at a private residence in Bandra West tomorrow, and leave their identities at the doorstep. Every person in the room is a character in the fictional infamous hotel. "For the next two hours, I peel back the layers of the story. You can ask questions, build your suspicions, and read between the lines," Gwalani reveals. While murder mystery nights are mushrooming in the city recently, what might set this one apart is the author's involvement. "Unlike solving a readymade mystery kit that you can purchase online, the storytelling format allows me to improvise and tweak the story on the go, making the outcome unique every time," he explains.

For organisers Puja Vora and Mohit Bhatia of the DaBombaes community, it's one of the few ways to get people socialising in an increasingly digital-first society. In addition to the mystery nights, the duo have their eyes on planning nocturnal treasure hunts on the streets of Bandra. "We've hosted lawyers, doctors, artists, retired senior citizens, and teenagers before. With the weather turning pleasant, everybody wants to spend time in good company," they add. It's criminally underrated, if you ask us.

ON June 25; 9 pm; June 26, 7.30 pm AT Bandra West (locations revealed on registration)
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ENTRY Rs 1199