Deadbolt Mystery Society is a monthly subscription box for lovers of mystery and suspense.
Each box is a standalone mystery with puzzles written and designed by escape room creators with immersive scenarios, intriguing characters and original, compelling stories. Imagine yourself as a detective consulting on specific cases.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process to learn about how we review boxes.)
About Deadbolt Mystery Society
The Subscription Box: Deadbolt Mystery Society
The Cost: $24.99/month + shipping. Save with longer subscriptions
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off your first box!
CODE: MSA20
The Products: Clues and puzzles to help solve a murder mystery
Ships to: the US for $4.99, Canada for $16.99 and worldwide (excluding the UK) for $24.99
Deadbolt Mystery Society “Backstage Pass” Review
The first item in my box was an introduction page that gave a general explanation of the contents in the box. It starts off with a link to a checklist to ensure we have everything in the box to solve the mystery, then it instructs us to read everything, look for things that connect to each other and to solve all the puzzles in order to solve the mystery. It also has a link to the hint files (which is very resourceful). It also explains that there are QR codes in most of the boxes, so I made sure to download a QR scanner on my phone before starting the mystery. Lastly, it tells you what any good detective tells you: follow your instincts. Let’s dive into the mystery!
Having clues to actually look at and feel makes this mystery feel even more real. This month, I received a really cool backstage pass, a coaster, a room key and a guitar pick.
Every month, I also receive some sort of Collector’s Card. This month I received a First Edition Dolly. It has a description on the flip side that relates to the case I am working on for a band called Voodoo whose primary member is Mary. Dolly was her voodoo doll she has that she cherishes because she claims it is her good luck idol. While these cards are pretty neat and offer some background to the cases, they aren’t necessarily required to solve the case.
This case file included interviews conducted right after the murder of Voodoo’s manager, Reg. Each interview is on the backside of the interviewee’s photo. There is a lot of good information here.
My case file also included more cards with QR codes. I love these; they always include some sort of audio or images that help me get closer to solving the case. This file included QR codes from Voodoo’s tour bus, a band member’s dressing room and we even had a fingerprint lifted from a car that was used to take Mary to some interview.
Super helpful on where to start, Deadbolt Mystery Society included a “Start” card and an “End” card. We scanned the start card as soon as we sat down to begin the investigation and put the end card aside as we worked through the case.
We received some additional interviews from the bartender at the club where Reg was found. On the other side, there are a series of bottles with letters. We also received some weird card with Dolly and a lot of “x’s” as well as an interview from a hostile witness at the club.
Fingerprint Chart from Bar
Schedule for the Day
Notes from fellow Detective, Benjamin.
Wrinkled Setlist
Tour Dates and Locations for Voodoo Mary
Laptop Image
Lyrics to Jigsaw Heart
Band Case, Band Photo and Playlist at the Carbon Underground
How I Solved The Case:
This month, I decided to host Murder Monday. I made a sangria and a taco bar and invited some of my local detectives (mom friends) and we set out to solve the case. I set up in my dining room and hung up the interviews and set out the clues. On the table, I had a pad of paper and some pens. As people showed up, they grabbed a drink and started reading through the case file for some clues. Once everyone read through everything and ate a bit, we sat down to work the case. It took us a couple of hours to solve, but that is from the moment they showed up to when they left. This was definitely a lot of fun! I loved the way our minds worked in different ways to solve the mystery. We only got stumped once at the end but worked through the case and solved it! We are looking forward to the next case.
Verdict: Deadbolt Mystery Society is by far the coolest interactive box I have ever subbed to. The way this box is put together is very thoughtful and really, really fun. I have been a couch detective since I was 12, through Nancy Drew books, Law & Order cases and probably every Forensic Files episode ever made. This box really brings the thrill of solving a case to life. The box isn’t cheesy and is genuinely fun! I am so excited to start my next case!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will receive the August box. However, this box is available for a one-time purchase. From Deadbolt Mystery Society:
We take subscriptions through the month. The cutoff is the last day of the month. We then mail out all boxes by the 4th of the following month.
Deadbolt Mystery Society also has more of their past boxes for sale.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 20% off your first box!
CODE: MSA20
Check out our other Deadbolt Mystery Society reviews, along with the best horror subscription boxes of 2019!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list of wishlist!
What do you think of Deadbolt Mystery Society?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.