# Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Mansion Murders ## General Info - **Year Published**: 1983 - **BGG Rating**: 7.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 60 min - **Weight**: 2.62 / 5 - **Designers**: Gary Grady, Raymond Edwards, Suzanne Goldberg, Thomas Cauët - **Artists**: Arnaud Demaegd, Neriac, Stefan Thulin - **Publishers**: Descartes Editeur, Edge Entertainment, KOSMOS, Sleuth Publications, Ystari Games, 二見書房 ( Futami Shobo Publishing Co., Ltd. ) - **Categories**: Deduction, Expansion for Base-game, Murder / Mystery, Novel-based - **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Storytelling ## Verdict For those who love a good classic mystery and want to test their wits without relying on luck.Pure deduction, no diceTotal Victorian London immersionGreat for solo playChallenging and engaging casesRequires the original base gameHeavy reading requirementRECOMMENDED ## Description Dust off your magnifying glass and sharpen your wits, because Victorian London is more dangerous than ever! If you're already a fan of Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, 'The Mansion Murders' (also known as Carlton House & Queen's Park) is the supplement that will expand your investigative horizons. This isn't a game for those looking for luck or dice rolling on the table; here, what matters is your brainpower to connect the dots and read between the lines. In this expansion, you'll dive into ten electrifying new cases that can take you from the luxury of Carlton House to the streets of Queen's Park. You'll have to decide if the tea magnate was a victim of crime or if the case is more complex than it seems, or even uncover secrets that even Watson didn't know. The challenge is purely intellectual: use the map, consult the directory, and try not to be fooled by appearances. It's a pure deduction experience, where every detail read in the newspaper or every conversation with a suspect could be the key to the culprit or a total red herring. Keep in mind that, as an expansion, you'll need the base game to make the most of it (like the map and the London directory). The game works incredibly well whether you want to gather the gang for an intense debate of theories or for the lone detective who prefers to solve enigmas in the silence of their office. It's an invitation to live a classic mystery story, where your greatest adversary isn't another player, but the criminal's own intelligence! ## How to Play Game Objective The objective of the game is to solve a historical mystery in Victorian London, taking on the roles of members of the "Baker Street Irregulars," a group of youngsters who helped Sherlock Holmes gather information. Players must follow clues, consult the map of London, the directory, and newspapers to uncover the truth behind each case. Victory depends on correctly answering the case's questions and comparing the number of leads followed to Holmes's, who always has 100 points. The closer to Holmes's score, the better! Setup To begin, players choose a case together. It is recommended to play in chronological order to avoid spoilers. The map of London is placed in the center of the table. The directory, the list of informants, and the newspapers (up to the case's date) are placed nearby. Each player receives a case book, which contains the introduction, leads, questions, and solutions. One player is chosen as the "lead investigator," who reads the introduction and starts the game. Players cooperate to follow leads, consult resources, and discuss strategies. Game Flow The game progresses in turns. The lead investigator chooses a lead from the case book, reads the description, and notes that the lead has been followed. If the lead does not exist in the case, the player chooses another. After reading, the book is passed to the player on the left, who becomes the new lead investigator. Players can freely access the directory, newspapers, and reread previously visited leads. The game ends when players believe they have solved the case, moving on to the questions section and then to scoring. Actions and How to Play The main actions are: follow a lead (choose a location on the map and read the description in the book), consult the directory (find addresses of people or places), and access newspapers (search for articles or advertisements). Players can also discuss strategies with the team, but the lead investigator has the final say on decisions. There are no specific actions other than following leads and using available resources. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when players answer the case's questions. They then read Holmes's solution and open the envelope to calculate the score. The score is the sum of points from the questions plus the number of leads followed. If players followed more leads than Holmes, they deduct 5 points for each extra lead. If they followed fewer, they add 5 points for each missing lead. Holmes always has 100 points. For example, if players followed 8 leads and obtained 95 points, but Holmes used 6 leads, they deduct 10 points (2 extra leads) and end up with 85 points. Tips for Winning Prioritize leads that connect areas of the map or involve relevant informants, such as the doctor or the criminologist. Use newspapers to find indirect clues, such as advertisements or recent events. Avoid following unnecessary leads, as each extra lead can reduce the score. Consult the manual for details on this section. ## FAQ ### Can I play this game alone? Absolutely! It's perfect for those who enjoy solving enigmas at their own pace, like a true lone detective. ### Do I need the base game? Yes! Since this is an expansion, you will need the original game to access the map and the London directory. ### Does the game use dice or luck? Not at all. The game is 100% based on logic and deduction. If you fail, it's because you missed a clue, not due to bad luck with dice. ### How long does a session last? Each case can take about an hour, depending on the complexity and how quickly your group can connect the clues. ### What is the difficulty level? The weight is moderate, but the intellectual challenge is high. It's not a game of complex rules, but of complex thinking. ### Who do you recommend this to? For Sherlock Holmes fans, deduction game enthusiasts, and groups who love debating theories and stories.