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ShopGirl98
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4 years ago

Sim Sleuths: A Recipe for Murder (Mystery Game)

Sul sul, Simmers and Sleuths!

Sim Sleuths: A Recipe for Murder is an interactive murder mystery story/game featuring premade sims. The aim is for Simmers to ask questions and gather clues to unlock more details and solve the mystery!

This is inspired by the original thread by @imhappy Who Killed Sobhian Fryers?
All the credit goes to them for coming up with such a fun idea for a game.

How it works
A Sims inspired mystery will be posted below and it is up to you to crack the case! You will be provided with some initial information and may ask questions to gather clues (which I will try to answer as quickly as possible!).

When you think you've figured out whodunnit, you can solve the mystery by commenting with who you think commited the crime (you are free to include how and why too). When the mystery has been sufficiently solved I will post the big reveal!

Everyone is welcome to join in and you can participate as little or as much as you like.


Sim Sleuths: A Recipe for Murder

Crime Scene
Victor Feng has been poisoned at Chez Llama in San Myshuno after eating a Pufferfish Nigiri of poor quality. He had taken his wife, Lily Feng, and their neighbours, the Goths, out for a meal to celebrate his recent promotion.

Victim Profile
Victor Feng was a powerful politician who was close to successfully taking over San Myshuno with his Simoleons for Everyone cause.

Possible Suspects and Witnesses

Staff
Spoiler
Lilliana Kealoha (Chef)
A very talented chef, works at Chez Llama.

Motive: None known.

Statement: Lilliana claims that she did prepare a Pufferfish Nigiri that evening, but that the one she made was of excellent quality.

Salim Benali (Waiter)
A struggling author working part time at Chez Llama to make ends meet. Was in favour of the Simoleons for Everyone cause.

Motive: None known.

Statement: Salim says he did not notice anything out if the ordinary but the restaurant was extremely busy and understaffed.


Diners
Spoiler
Lily Feng
Victor Feng' wife. Also a very successful Sim in the business world and was very proud of her husband's new promotion.

Motive: Was there a problem in Victor and Lily's marriage? According to Lily her marriage was good; they were both successful and had money.
According to the Goths, their marriage was more of a business than romantic. They were both very career focused and didn't spend much time together.

Statement: Lily told investigators that after the waiter took their order she went to the restroom and that the food was served shortly after she returned. She claims there was nothing unusual about that evening.

Mortimer Goth
Lives next door to the Fengs. He is a very successful author and tends to keep himself to himself.

Motive: None known.

Statement: Mortimer told investigators that the Goths and the Fengs go out to dinner together regularly. He claims to have never left the table and that nothing seemed different that evening.

Bella Goth
Lives next door to the Fengs and is a stay at home Mother. Reportedly disappeared a few years prior although that does not seem to be relevant to this case.

Motive: None known.

Statement: Bella says that after they ordered their food she went to the bar to get a drink. She claims that she spoke to the waiter briefly, before returning to the table. She was horrified at the sight of Victor's death, and ran outside.

Cassandra Goth
Daughter of Bella and Mortimer Goth. Is said to be a troubled teen, possibly due to her Mother's former disappearance.

Motive: None known.

Statement: Cassandra states that after they ordered she went to the restroom. On her way back to the table she saw her Mother talking with the waiter. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary that evening. After Victor died she followed her Mother outside to comfort her.

Alexander Goth
The youngest child of Bella and Mortimer Goth.

Motive: None known.

Statement: Due to his young age it did not seem appropriate to take a full statement, but he claims to have not seen anything out of the ordinary.

Geoffrey Landgraab
Another powerful resident of San Myshuno who previously ran the city before Victor's latest promotion.

Motive: Had been a political rival of the victim and publicly disagreed with the Simoleons for Everyone cause. With Victor dead, Geoffrey has greater power in San Myshuno and Victor's cause has been thrown out.

Statement: Claims to have been having dinner with his wife when the Fengs and Goths entered the restaurant. He was very angry about losing to Victor and wanted to confront him, but his wife convinced him not to. Instead he went to the restroom to calm down, when he returned Victor was dead at his table.

Nancy Landgraab
Wife of Geoffrey Landgraab

Motive: Her husband was a political rival of the victim.

Statement: Claims that Geoffrey was furious when he spotted Victor but she begged him not to cause a scene. Geoffrey went to the restroom and while he was gone Victor died.


Clues
(I will update this as more clues are uncovered)
Spoiler
- Autopsy Report: Victim died from a fatal poisioning; an examination of his stomach contents reveal Pufferfish Nigiri of a poor quality. Time of death corresponds with witness statements; he died after eating the Pufferfish Nigiri.

- No one else ordered the Pufferfish Nigiri, and it seemed to be a known favourite of the victim:
Lilliana states that only one order of Pufferfish Nigiri was brought to her that evening, but she wasn't sure who it was for. Salim confirms that he did only take one order for that dish and that it was indeed for Victor Feng, in fact, he adds, that's what he always ordered. Lily Feng and the Goths also state that Victor Feng always ordered the Pufferfish Nigiri when they ate at Chez Llama.

- While rooting through Geoffrey's work files you find a file with Victor's name on. Inside the file are photographs of Victor and a woman. The photos are grainy, and look like they were taken through an apartment window. The woman has her back to the camera and is wearing a backless dress.
- Geoffrey Landgraab admits that he hired a Private Investigator to spy on Victor Feng to try and get come dirt on him to smear his campaign. He does not know who the woman in the photo is, it's such a grainy image that it could just be Lily for all he knows, so the photo was useless to him anyway.
- The photo was taken about a week prior to the murder.
- You show Lily the photo. She confirms that it is their apartment but that she is not the woman in the photo...and she can prove it. Lily reveals that she has a tattoo on her back. Although the photo is grainy, the woman in it is wearing a backless dress and clearly has no tattoo.

- New statement from Lilliana:
Lilliana admits to being busy but insists that the Pufferfish Nigiri that she made was of excellent quality! The poor quality one found in Victor Feng's stomach cannot have been the one she made.

- Search of Chez Llama:
Following Lilliana's statement, you decide to search Chez Llama. In a bin outside the front of the restaurant you find a Pufferfish Nigiri of excellent quality. This must be the one that Lilliana made.

- The Goths and Fengs apartments are clean but upon searching their shared trash chute you discover a recipe for Pufferfish Nigiri and a white shirt with a red lipstick stain on it.
The Goths claim to not recognise either item. Lily claims to not recognise the receipe, however, she does recognise the shirt as being one of Victor's, but states that the lipstick on it is not hers!




Arrests
Spoiler
- Lilliana Kealoha is currently being held due to being the only Sim known for a fact to handle Victor's meal. She will be released soon if no further evidence against her comes to light.
Update: After finding the Pufferfish Nigiri of excellent quality that Lilliana made, and with no further evidence against her, she has been released.


Notes
Spoiler
-All suspects reside in San Myshuno

-There were other diners at Chez Llama that evening, but they are not under suspicion and all witness statements corroborate what the suspects have said.

- The bartender is not under suspicion, but confirms that Bella Goth did order a drink at the bar during the evening.

- Upon their arrival, police asked all diners and staff to step out of the restaurant to wait for their statement to be taken before being allowed to go home.

Chez Llama layout with diners' seating plan listed below:
https://i.imgur.com/thFiSMe.jpg
1. Lily Feng 2. Bella Goth 3. Alexander Goth 4. Victor Feng 5. Mortimer Goth 6. Cassandra Goth 7. Nancy Landgraab 8. Geoffrey Landgraab

Picture of Chez Llama:
https://i.imgur.com/RljBJPW.png

A timeline of events during the evening:
6. 00 - Fengs and Goths arrive at Chez Llama
6.08 - Salim takes their order
6.10 - Salim brings order to the kitchen
6.18 - Lily leaves the table to go to the restroom
6.21- Cassandra leaves the table to go to the restroom
6.22 - Bella leaves the table to go to the bar
6.24 - Lily returns to the table
6.24 - After ordering her drink Bella speaks to Salim
6.25 - Lilliana's first call for service (Which Salim does not hear)
6.29 - Cassandra returns to table
6.30 - Geoffrey goes to rest room
6.31 - Lilliana's second call for service (which Salim does hear)
6.31 - Bella returns to table
6.32 - Food is served by Salim
6.52 - Approximate time of death according to the coroner
6.53 - Geoffrey returns to his table

Lilliana's and Salim's relationship with the Fengs/Goths:
- Lilliana (chef) states that she did not know the Fengs or Goths well at all, but they did visit Chez Llama regularly.
- Salim (waiter) also claims to not know either family well but was familiar with Victor Feng's political career. He also states that he is a fan of Mortimer Goth's books, and that he is a huge inspiration to him, although he's never spoken to him apart from to take his order.

What were Salim and Bella discussing?
- According to Salim, Bella approached him to speak about his writing. She was aware that he was an aspiring author and had invited him to visit the Goths' apartment and talk to her husband.
Bella confirms that she invited Salim to her apartment, and that she thought he may enjoy the opportunity to chat with her husband, who is a famous author.

- Lilliana says that she puts prepared dishes on a counter near the door, so that waiters can take them quickly and easily.

- According to Lily her marriage was good; they were both successful and had money.
According to the Goths, their marriage was more of a business than romantic. They were both very career focused and didn't spend much time together.

- After finding the Pufferfish Nigiri of excellent quality that Lilliana made, and with no further evidence against her, she has been released.

- Update
There is a disturbance at the Goth/Feng residence and you've been called to investigate. When you arrive, Lily is arguing with Bella; she has accused her of having an affair with Victor.


Sim Sleuths!
You have full access to the crime scene and suspects. You may search Chez Llama and suspects' homes and you may question the suspects at any time.

Have fun!

Edit: Just to let everyone know, I'm using the forum through my mobile so may occasionally make some mistakes! Please feel free to point them out so I can correct them! It also may take me a little while to write everything out on my phone, so I really appreciate your patience (patience is an important trait for a sleuth to have, after all. :wink: ).

** Just wanted to add, as I don't want to catch anybody out, that although this is a mystery based on TS4, it is a story made up by myself. Some things may occur that can't actually be done in-game (such as detailed conversations between Sims). You may have to suspend your belief and use your imagination at times. :smile:

The Big Reveal (Whodunnit!)
I've put the reveal in a spoiler so that those who have not been able to participate can still read through the clues and have a go at solving it themselves. I also ask that you put any replies/discussion about the reveal in a spoiler too. Thank you!
Spoiler
The Re-enactment:
Armed with the rough timeline of the night of the murder, you decide to take the Goths and Lily back to Chez Llama to re-enact their movements that night.
They all take the same places they were in before, and move around as they claimed to that night as you time them.
Everyone's movements line up with the time line perfectly...apart from one person.
During the re-enactment Cassandra Goth returns to the table six minutes after she left. Yet, according to the original time line, she returned to the table after eight minutes.
What was she doing during those two unaccounted for minutes?

Mystery Solved:
Who: Cassandra Goth has confessed to the premeditated murder of Victor Goth.

Why: Cassandra states that she became aware of her Mother's affair with Victor Goth a while ago when she came home early from school one day and spied on them. She was not surprised by her Mother's behaviour, as she had been known to flirt.
Cassandra also suggests that her Mother's disappearance involved her running away with another man.
She did not care what her Mother got up to, but found it deeply unfair to her Father. She thought that by removing Victor from her Mother's life, her parents could be closer.

How: Cassandra had found a recipe for Pufferfish Nigiri and had been holding onto it until just the right moment. When she found out they would be going to dinner with the Fengs she quickly made a (poor) Pufferfish Nigiri and hid it in her bag.
At Chez Llama Victor ordered the Pufferfish Nigiri as she thought he would, and she waited patiently for the perfect opportunity.
When she came back from the restroom she saw that Salim was distracted by Bella. She knew that the Pufferfish Nigiri should be prepared by now and she snuck into the kitchen and switched the dishes. Lilliana was very busy and did not notice her.
When Bella ran out of the restaurant after Victor's death, Cassandra followed her and this is when she disposed of the excellent Pufferfish Nigiri.



Epilogue - Six Months Later

Spoiler
Cassandra Goth
Currently carrying out a prison sentence for the murder of Victor Feng. She and her Father write to eachother regularly, he has forgiven her.

Bella Goth
Disappeared again. Rumour has it that she is living with another man in Sulani.

Mortimer Goth
Has sold his family's San Myshuno home and now dedicates all of his time to search for Bella.

Alexander Goth
Now attends a boarding school where he is part of an excellent music program, he is doing very well and hopes to become a famous pianist.

Geoffrey and Nancy Landgraab
Nothing much has changed for the Landgraabs. Geoffrey is still currently running San Myshuno with Nancy by his side.

Lily Feng
Despite their marital problems, she realised that Victor's political career and causes could have greatly benefited San Myshuno. She quit her job as a CEO and has decided to run against Geoffrey Landgraab. She plans to reinstate the Simoleons for Everyone cause.

Lilliana Kealoha
Quit her job at Chez Llama and opened her own restaurant in Newcrest. Pufferfish Nigiri is not on the menu.

Salim Benali
Wrote a best selling mystery novel inspired by the murder which earned him enough money to quit his waiter job.
When he is not writing he assists Lily with her political campaign and teaches a Creative Writing course at Britechester.
  • "Pixilated;c-17947995" wrote:
    Wow, we just finished reading it. I don't know how to add spoilers so I won't give any out. This was really good. We really enjoyed trying to figure it all out. It was very detailed and really painted a picture. Thank you for continuing the murder mystery.


    Thank you, and I'm so happy you and your friend enjoyed it!

    To use spoilers simple put and either side of the text you want to hide (without the X). E.g. Hidden text.

    You can also highlight the text you want to hide and then click the drop down at the top of the text box next to the italics symbol and choose spoiler. :smile:
  • @bluedanube You're welcome, I'm glad you liked it!

    If anyone is interested I'd love to keep Sim Sleuths going as a regular thing. I have a couple ideas for new mysteries that I'd like to post at some point but if someone else would like a turn at hosting one, please do!
  • Hello Sim Sleuths!
    Thank you again, so much, for taking part in my mystery!
    I posted a game pack idea revolving around mysteries and sleuthing and thought you may be interested. :smile:

    https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/992614/mysteries-game-pack-idea-detailed