Peninsula

Mystery Dinner

By Shirley Anderson

Kohl Mansion's mysterious past comes alive with Murder at the Mansion, a black-tie, three-course dinner and participatory murder investigation written by Janet Rudolph, who has created about 500 Murder on the Menu parties in the past 10 years.

"I customize each event," says Rudolph. "When people arrive, they're given a program explaining what has happened and who the main characters are." Clues, such as police reports and newspaper articles, are also passed out. Professional actors play the parts, and the story line is dynamic, with party-goers at each table trying to solve the mystery as they eat.

Elements unique to Kohl mansion are used as integral parts of the mystery. One of us best characters is Frederick Kohl, former owner of the mansion, who survived being shot by the family's French maid but was continually threatened by her until he finally committed suicide in October 1921. His ghost (affectionately called "Freddy") is reputed to wander Kohl Mansion, occasionally operating the elevator at night.

Besides "killing more people in the Bay Area than anyone else and getting away with it," Rudolph, who lives in Oakland, edits a journal for mystery readers, teaches mystery classes and holds small soirees for mystery writers.

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