Romance can be murder: Valentine’s gifts for mystery lovers

   

heartUnless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Valentine’s Day is coming up. Yep, the holiday that keeps the greeting card, flower, and chocolate industries afloat until Mother’s Day.

Usually the gifts are simple: chocolates, cards, flowers…maybe a diamond? But what about the special mystery lover in your life? The usual offerings just won’t cut it.

No worries. I have some ideas for you!

Here are my Top 5 Valentine’s Gift Ideas for the Mystery Lover in Your Life (ranked from least-committed to most-committed; I like to make it easy on you guys):

#5: Gun-shaped chocolate. Now you can have your gun and eat it, too.

Image via Amazon.com
Image via Amazon.com

 

#4: Chocolate- or Valentine’s-themed mystery books. Death by Chocolate, anyone? Sally Berneathy has a well-reviewed series by that name. For further options, MysterySequels.com has an extensive list of Valentine’s Day murder mysteries.

Image via Amazon.com
Image via Amazon.com

 

#3: Since Valentine’s is a time of romance, perhaps an undergarment would make a fun gift. Here’s the Sherlock Holmes Quotable Thong from CafePress.com. As the Great Detective says, “You see, but you do not observe.” I’ll forgo any comment on the strategic placement of the quote. This is a PG blog, after all. 😉

 

Image via Cafe Press.
Image via Cafe Press.

#2: Take your beloved to a Broadway show, where “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” is playing. It won the Tony for Best Musical. I’m assuming that was for the music, not the sentiment.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_Gentleman%27s_Guide_to_Love_and_Murder.jpg#mediaviewer/File:A_Gentleman%27s_Guide_to_Love_and_Murder.jpg
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

And finally, the over-the-top Valentine’s gift for the true mystery lover:

#1: A Murder Mystery Bed-and-Breakfast Weekend.

You can see why it’s #1. Committing to an entire weekend, while at the mercy of trouble-loving fellow mystery fans and mischievous B&B hosts?  Who knows what might be in the food?

*gack* *choke*  Give me a moment.

To celebrate our wedding anniversary one year, my hubby and I visited the historic house-turned-B&B Harry Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe, PA for a murder mystery getaway.

Image by Frederikto, via wikimedia commons (CC).
Image by Frederikto, via wikimedia commons (CC). Looks innocent, doesn’t it?

Not only did we stay the weekend in a comfortable suite enjoying gourmet food, we also participated in a murder mystery based upon the history of the Packer family, who once owned the mansion and ran the town.  We were assigned roles shortly after check-in, and the mystery was conducted in three “rounds” over the course of the weekend, with plenty of free time in between to shop and sight-see.  As is customary with such a setup, in each round you get additional bits of information about your own character and others.  However, not even the murderer knew her own identity until the big reveal (’cause, hey, she should have fun, too – right?).  Turned out, I was the murderer.  Bwahaha.

 

So, there you have it – my Top 5, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Your beloved will thank you!

Have you ever given or received an “unusual” Valentine’s gift? I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time,

Kathy

4 people like this post.

14 thoughts on “Romance can be murder: Valentine’s gifts for mystery lovers”

  1. PatriciaPatricia

    All very nice gift suggestions, although I think I’ll forego #2 this year. Hubby doesn’t need any suggestions in the murder department as I am afraid he might try them out on me. Heaven forbid!

    I love the murder mystery weekend at the B & B. In fact, something like that might be in my near future. Stay turned for more information about that.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    02/10/2015
  2. Julie GloverJulie Glover

    That chocolate gun has me drooling. Great ideas, Kathy!

    And I live with mysteries all the time in my house: Like “Who left this bowl of salsa out overnight?” and “Where is my ____?” Good thing, I’m a decent detective. 😉

    02/11/2015
  3. Jess WitkinsJess Witkins

    I want the chocolate gun and the book. Yum!

    02/11/2015
  4. Margot KinbergMargot Kinberg

    These are really creative ideas, Kathy! What fun!!

    02/11/2015
  5. JeanneJeanne

    No guns. Especially ones you shove into orafices. Love murder mysteries, just not in my home. Have a Lovely weekend.

    02/11/2015
  6. Deborah MakariosDeborah Makarios

    My favourite Sherlock quote is “I am an omnivorous reader, with a retentive memory for trifles.” Trifles are not as good as chocolate, but still, not to be trifled with!

    02/11/2015
  7. Kassandra LambKassandra Lamb

    I knew I’d forgotten a blog post I had wanted to read. Glad I found this again. And I’ve bookmarked it for ideas for future books. Bwahaha!!

    02/17/2015

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