Montclarion

The Who-Done-It of the Hills

By Barbara L. Sloane

Hidden away in the Oakland hills lives a woman who has been responsible over the past seven years for killing 500 people. And she hasn't gone to jail yet.

Janet Rudolph considers herself a full-time mystery professional. She writes, produces and directs mystery parties, leads a mystery-book group, edits a mystery journal and sponsors mystery get-togethers.

Rudolph's primary focus is Murder on the Menu, which she subtitles "Parties of Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem." Murder on the Menu events are customized murder mysteries written and staged for conventions, corporation meetings, trade shows and fund raisers.

Clients such as Hewlett Packard, Marriott Hotels, Apple Computer and the Bank of California find Rudolph's Murder on the Menu effective for team building, for getting workers to interact with each other.

As a learning tool, the organizations prefer Rudolph's mysteries over straight seminars because the employees enjoy themselves while still using their problem-solving skills.

When Rudolph "murders" someone, she involves all the people present at the happening. They have to examine, exchange and discuss clues. "Police" interrogate the guests and at evening's end, they solve the crime and accuse the guilty party.

Doing it all

Laying the groundwork for approximately 50 "murders" a year keeps Rudolph busy.

"Each script is fashioned for the organization using it," she explains, "so although I have about 25 basic plots to build on, I'm writing the equivalent of 50 short plays or short stories a year.

"Also, I do all the sales and marketing...I audition and cast the actors we use to keep the action moving. And I do the research necessary to relate our plot to the organization's theme."

As an example, Rudolph tells of an upcoming mystery for a Silicon Valley company. Actors and guests will arrive in 1930s costumes to engage in a drama based on an actual historical event -- the crash of a plane into a San Jose brothel in 1932.

"Each production is unique," says Rudolph. "We always have a new stage and a new audience."

Those stages have been wineries, trains, ships and small mansions. Such locations demand flexibility from director Rudolph and exceptional improvisational actors.

Mystery lover

How does such a pleasant woman become embroiled in a life of suspense and death?

For Janet Rudolph it began with her love of mystery novels and short stories. As a person immersed in the world of mystery, Rudolph is glad that the 600-year-old words of Geoffrey Chaucer still apply: He said simply, "Murder will out."

Most mystery readers don't carry their interest as far as Rudolph has. She earned a joint doctorate from the University of California and the Graduate Theological Union, writing about the connection between murder mysteries and religion.

While earning her doctorate, Rudolph in 1980 organized Mystery Readers International, a group of mystery book readers. The organization now has 2,000 members worldwide.

Members receive a quarterly journal, edited by Rudolph. Thematically-based issues contain reviews, interviews, reading lists, upcoming mystery events and articles written by fans.

The June, 1991, issue "Murder in the Plot" focuses on mysteries ahout gardening. Previous issues dealt with mysteries related to music, academic life, legal matters, food and political themes. "These sell big in Washington," says Rudolph.

National recognition

This April, Rudolph was the guest of honor at the Malice Domestic convention in Washington, D.C. She was recognized by this gathering of aficionados of "cozy crimes" for her success at enriching mystery readers' lives and for her contributions to the field of mystery.

Rudolph also teaches classes about mystery appreciation. Originally she offered the 10-week sessions, four a year, through U.C., St. Mary's and Sana Cruz extension programs. However, in recent years class members have met in the home Rudolph shares with her cats Dashiell Hammett and Bunter and Brady the dog.

The hillside home also serves as the site for monthly "at homes," where Rudolph hosts informal gatherings with guest writers, detectives, forensic scientists and others in the field which dominates her life.

In the coming month Rudolph will be responsible for "murders" at a cosmetic company, two divisions of Apple, a British brokerage firm, and a singles party at the San Ramon Community Center.

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