When I breezed through the New York Times’ daily Wordle and Strands puzzles the other morning, only to fail miserably at Connections, I should have known that solving a murder mystery that evening wasn’t in the cards for me. Sure enough, after two hours of traipsing around the Loop in light rain, my partner and I correctly guessed the “what” but neither the “who” nor “where” in “Clue: A Walking Mystery.” Ah, well — no real harm done to my ego. I’ve never claimed that the Christie, Doyle and Sayers mysteries lining my bookshelves confer special powers of deduction.
Produced by Right Angle Entertainment, this interactive experience based on the popular Hasbro board game returns to Chicago for a second year with a new mystery for participants to solve on a self-guided hunt for clues. At the starting point in the Block 37 mall, a butler greets each group of amateur detectives and lays out the cold case in question: the murder of Boddy Black Jr. at a dinner party in his mansion. The six suspects are the guests that he had been trying to blackmail: Miss Scarlett, Solicitor Peacock, Chef White, Professor Plum, Mayor Green and Colonel Mustard.
Equipped with a case file and map, detectives embark on a scavenger hunt around the Loop to find clues in local businesses, including bars, restaurants, retailers and the historic Palmer House hotel. Most of the clues have an interactive element, such as a puzzle to solve, and there’s a QR code to scan for hints or to skip any of the locations. Once all the clues are gathered, detectives find another butler or two at the end point on the Riverwalk and guess the killer, the murder weapon and the room where the crime took place.
Although “walking” is in the title, the marketing materials could be clearer on just how much exercise is involved. Each group takes a different route through the stops; mine totaled about 16 blocks, so I definitely got in my 10,000 steps that day. I’d suggest wearing comfortable shoes and bringing an umbrella if there’s a chance of rain. All locations are purportedly wheelchair accessible, but there were several where I took stairs or an escalator and would have had to search for the elevator if needed.
The choice of locations was slightly puzzling and left me wondering about the target demographic. For Chicagoans, most of the stops are places we’ve already been to or tend to avoid, especially during rush hour or peak tourist season. A few of the participating businesses offer modest discounts to “Clue” ticketholders, but not enough to sweeten the deal much. And if a visitor to Chicago were to walk this route, it doesn’t show off the Loop to the best effect. You never make it to Michigan Avenue or Millennium Park. You might glimpse one of Broadway in Chicago’s theaters but won’t see much of the Loop’s other interesting architecture. The ending spot on the Riverwalk is by far the most picturesque.
Still, “Clue: A Walking Mystery” should appeal to those who enjoy scavenger hunts, logic puzzles or interactive experiences. Although some of the plot points seem a bit forced, the mystery is a good brainteaser, and the self-paced structure allows groups to take leisurely stops for food and drinks. It wouldn’t be my first suggestion for someone looking to explore the Loop, but it’s an entertaining enough way to engage the little grey cells, as Hercule Poirot would say.
Through Sept. 10, departing from Block 37, 108 N. State St.; tickets $31.50-$45.00 at cluewalkingexperience.com