By Order of the Cryptic Killers – A Peaky Blinders murder mystery

Fun fact: solving murders is apparently the new romantic thing to do. “In the run up to Valentine’s Day, we were outperforming the likes of Herd Mentality and Outsmarted,” says Andy Hobbs, co-founder of LA Brands, the company behind Cryptic Killers games. “We took up the top places, one two and three, online.”

Not bad for a business born during the pandemic, when people stuck at home bingeing Netflix true-crime shows decided an interactive experience might be even more entertaining. But how do you stay at the top?

“To remain number one in our niche, we need to innovate, come up with fresh ideas, try different things and do something bold, licence,” Andy continues. “Peaky Blinders is a perfect fit for Cryptic Killers. Narrative driven, character led, intense and gritty.”

It’s at this point that I find myself at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, an incredible location that feels like stepping back in time. The period setting is remarkable, the local ales are refreshingly good and the dripping-cooked fish and chips are worth the trip alone. We’re here to experience the Peaky Blinders game, playing our own immersive murder mystery with a brilliant troupe of actors.

“And why this venue?” Andy asks. “The museum was used as a filming location for Peaky Blinders, making it a natural home for the Case File. One of the most iconic spots is Charlie’s yard. Walk to the end of the street and you can take in the full set, the canals, the bridge and the rolling mill. Inside the Cradley Heath Workers’ Institute in season three, Tommy visited the armoured vehicle plant.”

Andy also shares a teaser about the Peaky Blinders Case File, which has been kept tightly under wraps. A horse racing jockey has been found dead behind the Garrison and Tommy Shelby has been arrested for the murder. Arthur Shelby tasks you, a newly recruited Peaky Blinder, with examining the evidence, eliminating suspects and uncovering the real killer. Along the way, you’ll encounter horse race fixing, the IRA, corrupt police officers and many familiar characters from the series.

“My favourite part of the game is the puzzle, the interactive element that you have to complete,” Andy explains. “If you don’t, the evidence at the front won’t make sense and I’m not revealing anything more than that. It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this.”

“The creative writer for this Case File, Liam Blackley, is a huge Peaky Blinders fan. He’s created something very special, capturing the atmosphere of seasons one and two and bringing key members of the Shelby family and their stories to life in a way that makes those early series so compelling.”