The detective stays in one lighted room and waits. Everyone else leaves into the darkened house. The Murderer selects a victim at a time and place of choice, placing the hands gently around the neck of the victim. The victim must count 5 seconds before screaming. The murderer has time to change their position in the dark. Everyone else must freeze immediately they hear the scream and stay in position until interviewed by the detective, who, upon hearing the scream, starts through the house putting on all the lights.

Interviewees must all answer questions truthfully. Only the murderer can lie. Then everyone retires to the `police station' for further refreshments and the detectives findings. The detective only has two tries at naming the Murderer who also must answer truthfully to a direct accusation.

In practice, of course, Aunt Lil screams immediately she is touched on the neck and may also pee herself if she's had one too many Double-Diamonds again. Cousin Brian, in his rush to escape the crime scene treads on the cat's tail and knocks over the flower stand. And Auntie Phil shouts "Bugger" from the stairs.

But all is well when mother cracks open the Green Chartreuse and we repay Lil for spoiling the game with the old fart cushion gambit as she flops into her usual easy chair. Fun times...

You can't be me, I'm taken